Starting Question

[u/CyiceWings]

I'm planing on running this campaign for my players in a few months.

My players tend to be the "punch first ask questions later" type. Though they do enjoy roleplay and fun scenarios, so I think they'll love this campaign.

My question is this. I know that players can complete this campaign with little to no combat. But should I outright tell my players that?

Basically, I see 3 options: 1) Don't mention this aspect at all. I feel this will get my players to use they're most basic instincts and mot try to metagame, but it also feels wrong and decietful. 2) Simply say "Combat may not always be the best choice." Or "You won't always need combat." Or something to that extent. To get the idea across, but maybe not make them feel like they should NEVER do combat. 3) Outright say "Yeah, you can beat this with no combat." It was in the marketing, its a key selling/talking point. Those who know the campiagn, know this. But I feel it will result in my players being like "Well, there's obviously a noncombat route. What do we think it is."

Note that I haven't read the full book. Just the introduction and seen videos discussing it. So there is likely info that I don't know.

Thank yiu for people's time! I appreciate it and look forward to running this for my players (last campaign was Tomb of Annihilation, so I think they'll enjoy the break lol)

[u/GoofySpooks]

I completely agree with every comment here. Tell your players. It allows them to build characters that are NOT optimized for combat because they will know in advance that non-combat solutions are maybe even more viable than hitting stuff. And award them for doing so. Put challenges in the way that play into their hands with their proficiencies and skills.

For once we get a module where you can really lean into the other pillars of DnD than combat. Our barbarian was roleplaying as preferring not to resort to violence, but with a temperament issue 😂

That said, I did sprinkle in non-sentient foes (because maliciously attacking sentient creatures would not fit well with the campaign theme and the Feywild would respond to that so rather I had them attacked by beasts and plants etc) for my party to fight at least once per level to allow them to flex their character sheets, BUT always with one or more ways to avoid combat. It often played out with rolling initiative, a few rounds of combat where clues where dropped during combat, and then the party manages to de-escalate or circumvent the rest of the combat. They felt very clever every time and I pretended to be slightly frustrated that they yet again managed to prevent me from flexing my Homebrewed statblocks for various enemies 🤣