D&D: High Level Combat + Spells (Help) - eviltoast

Hope I’m right here with this, sorry if the question is too specific for this community.

Our long-term D&D campaign has reached PC level 17. Now’s the time for implementing mechanics that fasten up combat (we all don’t like how long it takes), as well as addressing spells that the GM (me) fears to be game-breaking (mostly 9th level spells, full list below).

Sooo… I’d be thankful for any helpful suggestions. My current ideas for the combat aspect include shock damage, Instinct and Morale checks from Worlds Without Number, but those probably don’t suffice yet. And I’m having trouble conveying to the spellcasters that toning down some spells is necessary in order to maintain a functional game that doesn’t tear apart hours of preparation every session. Feel free to point out any potential counter-arguments to my view on that as well.

I’m really determined to keep this game running. Thank you all so much in advance!

List of spells that require revision or more exact definition (in my opinion): Wish, Meteor Swarm, Invulnerability, Gate, True Polymorph, Leomund’s Tiny Hut, Rope Trick

  • Ziggurat@sh.itjust.works
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    9 months ago

    Hope I’m right here with this, sorry if the question is too specific for this community.

    I think the community is small enough to not get split between 4 sub communities. I don’t play D&D but can’t help much ?

    Have you tried to evolve toward a more ? Strategic management game ? I assume that at this level they aren’t anymore the one crawling dungeon but the one hiring NPC to to do. That they own a whole continent if not a whole plane, and even though they could use the nuclear option the political/diplomatic consequences might be to big. (think about real world, and how nuclear power still loose conventional war because of the political price of launching a bunch of nuke and turn a hostile country into a radioactive wasteland) Now is it what your PC want to do ? That’s another issue

    • Aegeus@ttrpg.networkOP
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      9 months ago

      We will dive into that style of play as well, yes. But there are perils left in the game world that can’t be taken care of by lower-level NPC adventurers. Thanks for your feedback!