Dungeons and Dragons was first introduced in the 70’s and today it’s probably the most popular and accessible the hobby has ever been. Although I’m a long time gamer I didn’t start playing D&D until July 2023, almost 2 years now. While the time spent at the table is always enjoyable there are some big moments that really stand out and have stayed with me. They vary from big story points to character interactions and roleplaying to big combat moments. Love them or hate them but the dice can play a key role in creating these moments and today I want to share with you my most recent combat moment that became epic with the help of the die.
The setting is off the coast of Xen’drik, south of Stormreach, and as the group is sailing we notice a ship in the water. The captain tells us the ship is called the Mistjaw and it’s a ghost ship the locals are afraid of. Naturally we tell the captain to get us close so we can board the ship! My three companions and I find ourselves inside the main quarters of the ship where we find the crew sitting at a table for dinner, their bodies completely frozen and the food long rotten. A curious travel companion of ours let their curiosity get the better of them this night and the pulled a note out of the pocked of the frozen captain. The room exploded into action as spectral forms erupted from the frozen crew and began swirling about the room, eyes full of malice. Combat had begun.
We find ourselves in combat for the first time, surrounded by spectral beings. This is only on our third session into this campaign and none of us have any experience in combat with these characters. What could go wrong?
I’ve always loved combat in D&D and so I was very excited to try my new character out. I’m a Paladin and started next to our Priest, Theo, so when a specter tried attacking him I jumped in with my shield and used Protection to prevent an attack from hitting. I had already cast Protection from Evil and Good above deck on our tiefling druid who was now in the middle of the room fighting two specter’s. Finally, I sent two undead running with my Channel Divinity: Turn the Unholy and I was ready to come to the aid of our druid and really play into that protection paladin role. That is, until I tried jumping over the table.
To prevent a possible opportunity attack the only other option I had to quickly get to my druid friend was to jump over the table, landing me directly in between two specter’s and allowing me to fight side-by-side with our tiefling. My plan was foiled by me failing my athletics check and ending up tripping over the food and plates still piled up on the table and landing, prone, on the floor. Seeing an advantage two spectral beings swooped in and started attacking me. It looks like I wasn’t going to make it to the druid after all.
I started the fight off with a high Armor Class (AC) of 18 since I’m a chain mail wearing paladin and I have a shield equipped. This allowed me to avoid damage initially and I managed to land an attack with my sword on one of the specters. Then things started to go down hill for me.
Both specter’s attack me, the first one swipes and I ducked down, holding up my shield, leaving my side exposed for the other one to clasp at my kidney and I felt the wrenching cold stick into my bones as my skin began to bubble and blacken beneath my mail. 10 points of necrotic damage.
In pain but ready for a fight I swing my shield onto my back, losing 2 AC, and grip my sword with two hands for maximum damage. This was my moment, this was where I become a hero. I am Uthar, Paladin who follows the Sovereign host Boldrei, I will defeat these undead specters once and for all. This is why we play Dungeons and Dragons, for moments like this.
Holding my sword with two hands, standing toe-to-toe with the undead, I take a big two-handed swing at the enemies surrounding me but my blade passes through them with no effect. No damage done. I missed my attack and there I was, surrounded by two specters with almost full health and I was exposed, down 2 armor points in an attempt to try and be a hero. I took a gamble, and may have lost.
Theo, our priest, had just finished off one spectral with the help of our Ranger friend and he ran to my aid. Although he didn’t attack the undead he did use Turned the Unholy and one of the spectral fled. Now it was a one on one fight, good odds for any Paladin.
The remaining undead stared at me, not even flinching at the Priests spell, and reached out to me and touched me. Grabbing at my thigh and digging it’s undead fingers into my flesh, my body screamed in pain and cold. Another 9 points of necrotic damage.
There I was, in the bowels of an Elven made ghost ship with 9 hit points remaining, staring down a specter, and I think my DM set the scene best:
Uthar. Savaged by two strikes from the specters, barely clinging onto life. Perhaps Boldrei has forgotten you in this cold, dark, frigid place.
At this moment I had a choice to make, one that would without a doubt have an impact on my characters story. The safe (smart?) choice here would be to re-equip my shield, gaining 2 AC, bringing me back to 18AC and then to use Lay on Hands to heal myself for 15HP bringing me to 24HP. At that point I’d be more than capable standing against this undead until I or my companions came to finish him off. My other choice? Take another swing.
When you go on an adventure in Dungeons and Dragons sometimes, if everything lines up just right, you get the chance to live out an epic moment. It’s right there in front of you, you can see the possible outcome, the glory and excitement if it works, but at that moment it’s just an idea in your head. In order to make it a reality you have to roll, and then it’s up to chance. So what do you do? Do you take the chance? Do you take another swing?
I’ll be honest, even if I were to land my attack I wasn’t sure that I would be able to kill this specter. I thought there was a good chance I’d still end up on the floor, but no matter what I was going to take my chance.
Bloodied and in bad shape I gripped my two handed sword firmly and shouted for Boldrei’s guidance as I lunged my sword towards the specter. With the dice rolled it was up to fate to decide the outcome. Nat 20. Excitement flooding over me and with my group members cheering me on I went into damage dealing mode. First, my longsword did 6 slashing damage but on top of that I cast Divine Smite allowing my melee weapon to deal extra radiant damage, resulting in 9 extra damage, and because I hit a Nat 20 on my roll I crit allowing me to roll more damage dice resulting in a final 5 points of damage. In total I hit the specter for 20 damage! Was it enough?
Yes, this was going to take destroy the specter! My DM, sensing this was a big moment, helped nudge the greatness of the moment by asking me “What form does your Divine Smite take to remind you of Boldrei’s intervention?” So I took the opportunity presented to me.
As my blade, radiating with the divine might of Boldrei, struck the spectral a bright flame appeared as if a crackling fire would appear in a hearth illuminating and rejuvenating weary travelers. The flames flickering and crackling over the specter, tear through it’s form until there was nothing left of it. The burst of holy energy was so powerful that the icy patches that had formed near me during battle melted away. Still in pain and exhausted from the battle I go down to one knee, laying my sword next to me on the ground as I bow my head and give thanks to Bouldrei for the strength and courage I needed to take that next attack.
The next rolls by other players at the table finished off the remaining specter and then combat was over for the group. I didn’t know what would happen during the fight but I was searching for an opportunity to have a big moment and the dice crafted one for me. I failed to jump over a table, finding myself surrounded by two specters. I failed to hit with my two hander and ended up in taking a few strong hits leaving me wounded. Then I took a chance and rolled the dice one more time and I was rewarded with a Nat 20 and a great DM who gave me a nudge at an even greater story. This is certainly a roll I’m going to remember.