TOPIC: No free action combat?

I wanted to expand on this idea, but that thread got locked...

Or create a room where everyone gets attacked that uses a free action, or can’t take free actions at all. A litch that casts some variation of time stop?

That sounds like a really cool room design!
Tho, I wouldn't use it for a boss fight, or you'd (again) get folks Mighty Riled Up that they bought this token to be able to do X as a free action, and now they aren't allowed to use it.

Tho, it might be that the Lich is holding an artifact, and if players target the artifact & break it, then they gain access to their Free Action powers again. That'd be an interesting puzzle-in-a-combat.

There could be some kind of magical puzzle box in the room that is distracting players from taking multiple actions (ie. No free actions). You can ignore it and just combat with only standard actions OR the only thing you CAN do with free actions is try to solve the puzzle box.
But then you risk distracting yourself from the combat...as in, literally distracting you. You can still take standard actions while running over with spare time to work on the puzzle, but the combat isn't going to wait for you. MUA-HA-HA-HAH!

This sounds like a ton of fun.

I do like the idea of on nightmare or epic that you need to defeat the monster in combat and solve the puzzle to complete the room. Maybe with the monster giving out clues or pieces of the puzzle as damage is dealt to it.

Yikes. For someone who likes puzzles somewhat this is not something I would like. Combat with all things blazing. Ignore the puzzle. Take push damage to get out pf the room.

I honestly Hadn’t thought much about the implementation when I suggested it. I really like the idea of a real puzzle to work on, maybe something time themed like an hour glass or clock.

If you wanted to encourage more motivation to compete the puzzle, have the monster Get more combat actions as the room progresses.

Ex: round 1 no FA and the monster attacks once.

Round 2 the monster attacks twice.

2 minutes later, the monster attacks again (regardless of round or anything)

1 minute later, monster attacks again.

Normal conditions return when puzzle is solved.

Maybe start the monster with an AoA attack and 5 individual attacks. If you solve the puzzle it removes the AoA. If you don't you just have to overcome it. That would be easier to manage.

How about free flowing combat....the monster attacks at set intervals or does an aoe attack for what would be the damage for not solving the puzzle correctly.

I remember one of the modules had a somewhat hybrid puzzle/combat in the final room. Solving the puzzle gave you various items that either removed negative status effects or gave you items that were a significant boon in the fight against the monster.

This is very cool. and actually, to add to the possible, because its a puzzle and a combat, the construct of a dungeon could be 4 rooms...3 of the double bangers and a boss on the fourth...get the same timings but now the rooms are more intensified because the puzzle/monster interplay.

First pass, use the same setup...once TD knows it works...then the new setup could do a number of things to better manage some real estate at the cons.

Current timing is set to 12 minutes a room to allow more groups to enter. Wouldn't really work with 24 minute rooms.

Adam Guay wrote: Current timing is set to 12 minutes a room to allow more groups to enter. Wouldn't really work with 24 minute rooms.

It sound like we need a VTD True Grind for January.

I guess if there was enough interest....check with Tptb.