Was running a high level boss encounter with a necromancer. I figured I would throw in a banshee partway through the fight as a simple 'handle this or it will scream once every couple of turns and become a problem' mechanic to draw some DPS off of the boss and give him a chance of surviving another turn or two. "Eh, my party is high level. This will get their attention, but is unlikely to do lasting damage to 4 level 14s with boss saves!" First Banshee Scream upon creature summon. Party saves: Nat 1 2 on dice 10 total 19 (only person to pass) 3/4 party members eat dirt, leaving the last remaining PC standing there horrified as people start making death saves. Banshees are great at any level!
Your story is one that should be told to all DMs as an example of how easy it is to TPK a party hahah. All it takes is a few bad dice rolls and every encounter becomes TPK worthy!
A classic example of why 'save or die' (rather literally this time) effects are so risky. Always be prepared for the entire party (or at least all but 1) to fall to any given effect, or you'll need to do some major efforts to bail them out. (or they go along with it ending badly, cautionary tale style, I've had that happen before.)
Ran into a banshee the last time I played table top. 6 of us at level 3. We were actually supposed to seek her out to speak to her for information relevant to a quest. We had a gnome rogue in the party who was highly unpredictable and would often do dumb things during dialog, so needless to say I noped out when it came time to enter her tomb and kept a VERY healthy distance while hiding lmao "Don't worry guys, I'll stay here and watch your backs". They knew something was up (most of them had never played before) when I refused to go in if certain members of the party were present, so they were on their best behavior during the encounter ;)
I did exactly what this video suggests (About 2 years ago, though): Gave a Banshee basic cleric and bard spells to cast, then had her use her fly speed and incorporeal form to pass through walls and out of their reach even with spells and ranged attacks. Eventually i had to dial back her tactics and cunning, or it would have been a crushing TPK. If the PCs aren't prepared, and are faced with a Banshee which is played correctly, the chances of a disaster are significant. Total agreement with this video.
The banshee story sounds like that one quest in wow, the duskwood one where you give the banshee lady a mirror and shes all depresso espresso. But honestly What a depressing story, Banshees just cant catch a break.
Glad you enjoyed! And yea this is one of my favorite shirts hahaha. I picked it up at Pax Unplugged this year and I think the company name was "Session-Zero Clothing" or something like that!
This channel will reach 50.000 subscribers by the end of this year, so i have said before on other successful channels and so it will be now. I tip my black hat to you.
Though i love the esthetic of a banshi, i must say i am not the biggest fan of the "elves only" restriction. This part seems kinda arbitrary to me. (This perhaps is tied to the fact that the elves in general have a dofferent way of dying then say humans, the tecnhically reincarnate. A particularly malevolent elf would, therefore, be denied this right until the price of suffering is paid out.) A banshi that i would like to run will not be restricted in this way. Also it would be cool to come up with a specific trigger that would turn a person into a banshi rather than a different undead. For example, only those people who were using their charisma and persuasion to send people to their doom are turned into a banshi. (General evilness is not specific enough for my liking)
Yea, the elf restriction is purely lore based thought so I have no qualms about removing it and just making a banshee and banshee! I also like the idea of having a hard-coded reason for the curse. When I was writing this video i had a few ideas I really liked but unfortunatley my players are way too high leveled for me to just throw a banshee at. It will be another cmapaign for me!
I might have to put this in for a group I am running, could tie in perfectly to their ongoing story Another enemy that I just recently used that could prove a bit of a challenge is the Vrock a couple of nasty AOE abilities that could shut down a squishy party
If you do make sure you let me know how it goes!!! I only ever used a vrock once and it was yearsssss ago from the Out of the Abyss module! I need to revisit that!
Was running a high level boss encounter with a necromancer.
I figured I would throw in a banshee partway through the fight as a simple 'handle this or it will scream once every couple of turns and become a problem' mechanic to draw some DPS off of the boss and give him a chance of surviving another turn or two.
"Eh, my party is high level. This will get their attention, but is unlikely to do lasting damage to 4 level 14s with boss saves!"
First Banshee Scream upon creature summon.
Party saves:
Nat 1
2 on dice
10 total
19 (only person to pass)
3/4 party members eat dirt, leaving the last remaining PC standing there horrified as people start making death saves.
Banshees are great at any level!
Your story is one that should be told to all DMs as an example of how easy it is to TPK a party hahah. All it takes is a few bad dice rolls and every encounter becomes TPK worthy!
A classic example of why 'save or die' (rather literally this time) effects are so risky. Always be prepared for the entire party (or at least all but 1) to fall to any given effect, or you'll need to do some major efforts to bail them out. (or they go along with it ending badly, cautionary tale style, I've had that happen before.)
Ran into a banshee the last time I played table top. 6 of us at level 3. We were actually supposed to seek her out to speak to her for information relevant to a quest. We had a gnome rogue in the party who was highly unpredictable and would often do dumb things during dialog, so needless to say I noped out when it came time to enter her tomb and kept a VERY healthy distance while hiding lmao
"Don't worry guys, I'll stay here and watch your backs". They knew something was up (most of them had never played before) when I refused to go in if certain members of the party were present, so they were on their best behavior during the encounter ;)
Hahah we have all played with that kind of player! But it sounds like you had fun regardless hahah
I did exactly what this video suggests (About 2 years ago, though): Gave a Banshee basic cleric and bard spells to cast, then had her use her fly speed and incorporeal form to pass through walls and out of their reach even with spells and ranged attacks. Eventually i had to dial back her tactics and cunning, or it would have been a crushing TPK.
If the PCs aren't prepared, and are faced with a Banshee which is played correctly, the chances of a disaster are significant. Total agreement with this video.
Awesome! Glad to hear it went well for you hahah. The banshee is one of my favorite monsters to throw at parties but maybe I am just mean =p
Ghosts, screams, fear. You shouldve bring this one up at Halloween.
I never was very good at planning ahead lol
i just saw that you typed "pirecing" LOL nice one Lee@@ThisCrits
As someone with a party of 6 level 1 characters, I hope my DM will let us befriend her cause omg
New ghost friend!
The banshee story sounds like that one quest in wow, the duskwood one where you give the banshee lady a mirror and shes all depresso espresso.
But honestly What a depressing story, Banshees just cant catch a break.
Sylvanas? is that you?
Love the banshee info! Just one question though: where can I get this super cute owl and die t-shirt?
Glad you enjoyed! And yea this is one of my favorite shirts hahaha. I picked it up at Pax Unplugged this year and I think the company name was "Session-Zero Clothing" or something like that!
This channel will reach 50.000 subscribers by the end of this year, so i have said before on other successful channels and so it will be now. I tip my black hat to you.
I sure hope so hahaha Thank you oh wise Black Hat! Praise be to the hat!
I would use a mirror to catch the banshee off guard haha
Mirrors scare me too so be careful!
Though i love the esthetic of a banshi, i must say i am not the biggest fan of the "elves only" restriction. This part seems kinda arbitrary to me. (This perhaps is tied to the fact that the elves in general have a dofferent way of dying then say humans, the tecnhically reincarnate. A particularly malevolent elf would, therefore, be denied this right until the price of suffering is paid out.)
A banshi that i would like to run will not be restricted in this way. Also it would be cool to come up with a specific trigger that would turn a person into a banshi rather than a different undead. For example, only those people who were using their charisma and persuasion to send people to their doom are turned into a banshi. (General evilness is not specific enough for my liking)
Yea, the elf restriction is purely lore based thought so I have no qualms about removing it and just making a banshee and banshee!
I also like the idea of having a hard-coded reason for the curse. When I was writing this video i had a few ideas I really liked but unfortunatley my players are way too high leveled for me to just throw a banshee at. It will be another cmapaign for me!
I might have to put this in for a group I am running, could tie in perfectly to their ongoing story
Another enemy that I just recently used that could prove a bit of a challenge is the Vrock a couple of nasty AOE abilities that could shut down a squishy party
If you do make sure you let me know how it goes!!!
I only ever used a vrock once and it was yearsssss ago from the Out of the Abyss module! I need to revisit that!