So I was listening to a podcast about snake bite toxins, and they talked about how each toxin does a different thing, synergizing to, well, kill you.
How cool would it be to have a pair of D&D monsters that, when each has hit you with an attack, they inflict a new, worse effect? Like maybe each one does something minor, but then they mix when you've failed both saving throws.
You lose the old poisoned effect and get something new. Maybe your character is paralyzed or stunned, or they can't cast a spell for a round because their mind is clouded.
— Justice Ramin Arman (@justicearman) August 8, 2021
You could put them on low-level baddies that are more likely to show up in pairs, like a goblin poisoners, grungs, or sprites.
Never underestimate a sprite. Now I feel like I need to make a supplement for synergistic monsters…
— Justice Ramin Arman (@justicearman) August 8, 2021
I use this trick all the time in my home games, but it runs into a few issues. It usually means the enemies are weak and numerous, otherwise my pair of enemies have to gang up on a single player and that feels bad for them. I find it best when applied over multiple encounters. Ooh Taymoor, I love this idea! How do you space these multiple encounters? All within one "adventuring day" with just SRs between? Or within a larger time frame, allowing LRs too?
— Alyssa Visscher (@alyssavisscher) August 8, 2021
An adventuring day is best for poisons I think, but if I want a longer timescale I’ll make them curses that are difficult to get rid of. Getting a few curses and having them interact like mixing toxins is very fun. It’s difficult to justify a poison lasting so long, because magic I like that! The ganging up on one party member is a good point. Maybe it's better for a pair of synergistic bosses, sort of like those witches in LOZ.
— Justice Ramin Arman (@justicearman) August 8, 2021
That could be pretty cool, especially if they have a combo move. Another solution is AOEs, since it wouldn’t target one person and most of your players might save out of the combo effect. The tension of them all being in danger also creates a group moment. I love AoEs, as both a player and a DM, so that seems like another solid option!
— Alyssa Visscher (@alyssavisscher) August 8, 2021