My group and I are playing rise of the runelords and are on the 5th book (a level 14 adventure for 4 players), and constantly we get your butts handed to us. I myself have been playing Dnd for 12 years, other people have been playing for 10 years or so. So we should have our stuff together right? That's what I thought.
I have heard recently (though have been unable to verify) that experienced groups do things much differently then what we do, such as not healing in battle and other such things. Our group consists of a fighter 6/inquister 6, a rogue lvl 12, a negative channeling cleric lvl 12, a mystic threurge lvl 12 using words of power, a lvl 12 chiruegon, and a lvl 12 wizard.
What happens most of the time is that we roll up on the encounter not stealthing, not having the rogue take point, etc (and other such obvious stuff that we as a group are going to identify and change). So the first thing that happens is that we get mowed down, characters dying. Then we spend the next few rounds getting back on our feet, then killing the monsters. There has got to be a different way.
What I am wondering is experienced, advanced tactics. Like that experienced groups never heal in battle. Is this true and if so, then how is it accomplished? And what else do experienced advanced players do that others less experienced do not? What should done in battle, before initial contact, during the fight, and even after? Or is Rise of the Runelords that ridiculously hard? Or is it because instead of being level 14 we are level 12 (even with 6 players).
So please, let me know your experienced, advanced advice. What works for you, what works with your group, and what even works for a higher level classic party of fighter, rogue, cleric, and wizard. Thank you.
