BALANCE OF POWER ---------------- 2/13/01 From Richard Grady Brian wrote: : Try numbers..use overrun..attack in swarms of hundreds or more. : Orcs, goblins, kobolds..you name it. Yes, they will rack up beauceaup ep's, : but any charged magic items will begin to be worn down. Sooner or later : even the mightiest warrior will be overborne by weight of numbers. Go a : minimum of 10:1, and don't forget to use magic items of your own. If the : encounters don't equal the challenge of the party, increase the numbers. : Do not let them exit, seal them in if you have to. Allowing them to rest : always lets a party be strong. Actually, this made me think of the "Tucker's Kobolds" editorial from an old Dragon (forget the number). In a nutshell, the story was that higher-level PCs all but ran through the upper levels (where the kobolds resided) in order to get to the safer dungeon levels below. Things to remember about kobolds: they're good miners, who happen to be 2-4 feet high. Why are they going to build tunnels that are tall enough for the average human/elf/half-orc? They're cowards. They attack from behind, drop oil down on adventurers from upper levels. They drop hot lime or sand (which gets into armor quite nicely). They use hit and run tactics, driving powerful opponents (say, anything over 1 HD) into traps and dangerous areas. They're not stupid. They are just as smart as other humaniods, and just as capable as using guard beasts, alarm systems, or luring dangerous predators into isolated areas of their cavern complex. And personally, I think they would go after anyone with darkvision first, and then find ways to snuff everyone else's torches/lamps/whatever.