I just started a game with a new DM. We have a fighter, cleric, and a wizard (me) in the party. The first serious encounter was with some Kobolds... So im thinking this shouldnt be too bad, and soon found out that these were special kobolds with 20 AC and a +6 to hit. We are all first level (i have 7 HP), and we were presented with upto 5 of these at a time. Needless to say, things didnt go well for us. As an example, i have to crit with a crossbow when firing into melee to hit one of these guys. After getting lucky and killing a couple we get 200 xp per kobold. Is this unfair or am I seeing it the wrong way?
I just started a game with a new DM. We have a fighter, cleric, and a wizard (me) in the party. The first serious encounter was with some Kobolds... So im thinking this shouldnt be too bad, and soon found out that these were special kobolds with 20 AC and a +6 to hit. We are all first level (i have 7 HP), and we were presented with upto 5 of these at a time. Needless to say, things didnt go well for us. As an example, i have to crit with a crossbow when firing into melee to hit one of these guys. After getting lucky and killing a couple we get 200 xp per kobold. Is this unfair or am I seeing it the wrong way?
Not enough information. By new DM do you mean someone you haven't had as a DM before, or someone new to the job?
Also, how did they get their AC 20? I hope you looted their gear! That BAB smacks of Weapon Finesse to me....
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I just started a game with a new DM. We have a fighter, cleric, and a wizard (me) in the party. The first serious encounter was with some Kobolds... So im thinking this shouldnt be too bad, and soon found out that these were special kobolds with 20 AC and a +6 to hit. We are all first level (i have 7 HP), and we were presented with upto 5 of these at a time. Needless to say, things didnt go well for us. As an example, i have to crit with a crossbow when firing into melee to hit one of these guys. After getting lucky and killing a couple we get 200 xp per kobold. Is this unfair or am I seeing it the wrong way?Not enough information. By new DM do you mean someone you haven't had as a DM before, or someone new to the job?
Also, how did they get their AC 20? I hope you looted their gear! That BAB smacks of Weapon Finesse to me....
Perhaps you were meant to run away from these uber-kobolds...
Regular Kobolds provide 100 XP, have AC 15 and +1/+3 to hit (melee/ranged).
Since these provided 200 XP, they are tougher versions. The DM could have given them the elite array (Dex increased by 4), swapped skill focus for weapon finesse, and given a masterwork weapon to account for the +6 to hit. This would also increase the AC to 17. For the last 3 points of AC, something else would be required. Perhaps an armor-upgrade?
You are a wizard, so ideally you would be casting spells rather than attacking with a crossbow. Learn sleep and magic missile quickly if you don't already have them. They would both do wonders against most low-level opponents.
Of course, your DM might just be a "me-vs-the-party" type DM. Give him a little time to see if he is though, or if this was a one-time thing.
Yes, running away was also an option. Just seems a little odd to make the 1st serious encounter of the campaign into kobolds you're supposed to run from. Kobolds, sure, something to run from, sure, but not both. I suspect you fought kobolds with class levels. As a matter of fact, class levels, more than 1 each, with levels enough that individually they each had a couple levels and a CR of 1 or more.
I'm getting that Humanoids Handbook feeling....
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If he's a first time GM, you need to provide feedback as it is a huge undertaking jumping into the GM'ing pool. The learning curve is quite daunting. If, however, he is an experienced GM, but new to you, it might be that you have to learn each other's play style. He might be used to dealing with munchkins, power/optimizing players, etc. He may also not have realized that with only three players, you are 25% less effective than a standard party of four. After only one session, I think you owe it to each other to talk out your concerns and understand each other's gaming preferences.
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Yeah, I don't see any problem with what he's doing based on what you described. You're PC is 1st level which may mean, among other things, you don't know a Kobold from a Dark Creeper. Or your ass from your elbow.
Part of me says How dare you question anything about the DM's monsters, your PC doesn't know any better.... Become concerned if later on, Kobolds jump in power with no justification (templates, class levels).
A few things:
Knowledge Skills should be your friend. The DM should allow you to use them so that, for example, if his Hobgoblins naturally have SR (like mine), you can roll to see if you've learned it.
If he is inexperienced (like some have suggested), let him learn as he goes and be helpful to him as DM.
If he is a dick as DM and is just trying to kill all your PCs, turtling you guys in the process, let him know what he's doing. Ask him if he's just trying to kill you because he can or if he just doesn't realize how it's coming across.
Sure, metagaming you can say that Kobolds are weaklings (though really just as dangerous as average human), but they`re just as capable of having class levels as Humans are, so the only reason to assume they are a low level threat is meta-gaming on the part of the seasoned D&D player (FAULTY metagaming that assumes Kobolds are just a page in the Monster Manual not a species just as likely as Humans to have dangerous Class Levels or enhanced training/gear)... not from the perspective of the tyro adventurer.
I *ALWAYS* play low level characters as very cautious, to the extent that DMs often are like `really you don`t have to worry about it` but from the perspective of a tyro adventurer, dealing with any number of hardened criminals, murderous dragon-men, etc is crossing the line into territory likely to get one`s self killed, thus something to be avoided as much as possible. Play your character like somebody actually interested in their own safety and acting upon the common assumptions of everyday non-heroes (since you just got your first class level, essentially, you still are mostly a normal Joe) and you have a good start on things. Just because you may have graduated from mage school doesn`t mean you`re a super hero who laughs in the face of danger. Assuming you recognize the creatures AS kobolds (you may not, in which case it should be scarier), well kobolds probably have the reputation for killing people, alongst with evil plots and so forth. Why wouldn`t you freak out, even if a certain area effect/multi-target spell like you learned in mage school is probably the perfect thing to do to survive such an encounter?
Low level play is SUPPOSED to be scary and very swingy.
But talk with your GM...
Why not ask HIM how those encounters were built, and his rationale behind them?
(And BTW, since you didn`t mention it, I take it you all survived huh?
That`s the thing, at low levels if you have a Cleric in the party you probably have a very high proportion of healing to total party HPs. )
The point is, yes, Kobold are a page in the MM. So are Dwarves. So are Humans.
Kobolds are GENERICALLY weaker than Humans, but just as capable of taking Class Levels. If you can complain about Kobolds having Class Levels, why doesn`t the GM complain about measly humans/dwarves/etc having Class Levels and taking down Trolls, Vampires, Dragons, etc which massively outclass mere Humans by CR rating?
The base assumption of the game is that the GM throws challenges at players that actually are challenging, and that all can`t be solved the same way / directly (i.e. running away is usually an option, and sometimes is the best one). Assuming that the GM is for some reason NOT sending you a difficult challenge is contrary to the normal assumptions, and smacks of (short-sighted and faulty) meta-gaming.
Like I said, the OP should ask the GM about the encounters, and how/why they were designed as they were. If they were technically well above CR, then that`s something to discuss with the GM, i.e. maybe the GM over-powered the Kobolds too much by accident, i.e. not checking the ultiamte CR. But adding Elite Array, or Class Levels, including Bonus Feats which are obvious choices given their Stats (Weapon Finesse + DEX) is all well modelled within standard CR, so the GM should be able to run encounters of extra vicious Kobolds without completely overpowering the PCs. (which it sounds like he didn`t, since the OP never complained of PC deaths)
The DM is not new. He used to DM 2.5, etc. I was just suprised to see him throwing mass amounts of heavy hitters at some LVL 1 nubs. I enjoy a challenge but this bordered on silly. Also we did try another path that was laid out for us and ran into the same type of overpowered stuff. That being said, i had fun.. so i guess its all good. It just seems that he is bent on smashing us in to bloody globs for no reason that i can see. As far as our characters, we are not min/maxed etc. We have low rolls (my best was a 15). So i guess i will see where he is going with this...
Oh.. no deaths due to running like hell when needed and returning to the area 3 times in the same session. LOL.
Urk! My players are so adept at the game that they can deconstruct a monster by round two. And Do! Okay, I give exp for helping me out. I have 3 Grognards that maneuver the bag guys in fights and kibitz over what I did wrong at Waffle House post game. They are so hard core the penalyze themselves mid-game (I forgot the bonus to AC for size.).
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That being said, i had fun.. so i guess its all good.
This.
Although, you can always say to him: "Are we always going to face uber-versions of enemies, or do you just have a soft-spot for kobolds?"
If you getfrustrated with always having to flee fights then, again, have a word with your GM.
Most people are grown-ups and know that making sure GM and players are having fun is the way to go.
You are a wizard, so ideally you would be casting spells rather than attacking with a crossbow. Learn sleep and magic missile quickly if you don't already have them. They would both do wonders against most low-level opponents.
This.
Play to your strengths. Don't be afraid to blow most your loot on scrolls, especially at low level. Anything that extends your resources.
And use tactics. Use the terrain to your advantage, cover etc. Even stand behind a better armoured member of your party to gain cover. Then 5' out and cast sleep.
Remember you can have a couple of 2nd lvl scrolls and cast them reasonably reliably as well. Try a Glitterdust and Web for examples.