Ravnica Ramdon Encounter #003 [48*84] (Patreon)

One thing that bothers me is that the combat part in the D&D is sometimes boring, especially at an early stage. (things like my turn, shoot, end my turn. etc) Most D&D class resources are designed for combat, but In terms of pure fighting, the class is not well balanced. Some player always wants to go with the most toxic build, which makes the game become an arms race between the DM and players.

I believe well-designed combat should be dynamic and intensive. The players need to feel the pressure and use their strategy and resources wisely to win the game. In this aspect, Some video games did a really great job, such as the raid boss fighting in some MMORPG.

In this map, the combat would require the player to constantly relocate themselves. there also going to be unique mechanisms that require them to collaborate.

This map is located in Precinct four of the tenth district, at the Izzet territory. An Izzet guildmage is trying to impress the Niv-Mizzet by creating an ultra-fancy storm generator. Unfortunately, the experiment goes wrong and all the devices need to be shut down immediately to reduce further destruction. These experimental devices not only have devastating power, but it also has multiple guardians to protect them. 

There is no enemy from the beginning, but once the players reach Platform B, the experimental device from Platform C will switch to protection mode, and start generating powerful lightning to attack players, it can deal Xd6 damage to anyone trying to get close to it, (X equal to the player's level). 

If one of the players is an Artificer, he/she can try to disarm the entire defense system by passing a DC25 Intelligence check at platform B, but any failed attempt would summon additional guardians to attack the players. (A rogue player can also try to interfere with the defense system by passing a Sleight of Hand check)

There are three types of guardians the system will generate:

• the cyclops is a melee enemy and will only stay next to the experimental devices. it has high AC and HP but low mobility. the piston-fist attack will make the player get a disadvantage when attacking any target other them the cyclops. 
• the weird is a weaker ranged enemy and will always be summoned at different platforms. It will use a super long-range attack from different platforms to harass players. The damage is mediocre but it could be very annoying. The players may need to be split into different platforms to deal with them. 
• the Nivmagus Elemental will be summoned at a random platform and always try to empower the defense system. if players do not kill them quickly, the defense system will become way more powerful and deadly in 2-3 turns. If you think the mechanism is too hard and do not tolerate any mistakes, you can arrange a poor NPC to deal with the system first, give the NPC a pathetic death and warn the player of the consequences.

There are three ways to shut down the system. players can use their brutal power to physically destroy all the devices. the experimental device has 0AC and 200-400HP, it also has resistance to all physical damage and is immune to the lightning damage type. If a player attacks the device directly without disarming the defense system first. the system will strike back with a powerful lightning attack（2d6 lightning damage if the player fails the saving throw). 

The second way is to pass an intelligence check. if one of the players happened to be a member of the Izzet league, he can gain an advantage while rolling the check. but even if they shut down the system this way, players still have to deal with the guardians from each platform.

The third method is the recommended "correct" way to shut down the system. one of the players needs to follow a specific order to go to each platform during the combat phase, passing a series of skill/ability checks on the different machines. you can use some kind of riddles to decide the correct order. (and do add a skill check shortcuts that give the party chances to use their characters to solve it when they are too stu... Having a hard time figuring it out.)

The system will have multiple defense patterns, which can be used to separate the player group, force them to move, or increase the difficulty of the battle. you can use different patterns accordingly.

*All the map variations will be available for the [Blood Witch] and higher tiers.

*This map will also have an animated version and is available for the [Star Performer] and higher tiers. 

The end.

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[All Patrons]Grid & Gridless version 

[Blood Witch]Map variations 

[Star Performer]Animated Map