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How can “mimic phobia” be cured or prevented?


How do you discourage “player knowledge” as a GM?How do I handle a shapeshifter in disguise when the players go into “everyone's a doppelganger, let's murder everyone” mode?How can lycanthropy be cured?How can indefinite madness be cured?Can a Mimic mimic another creature?Curing NPC phobiaCould a Mimic mimic a Simulacrum?Does the appearance of a mimic change in reaction to being enlarged/reduced?Does a petrified creature stay conscious (and mentally sane)?At what level can a party fight a mimic?How to make a mimic a challenging fight for high level party?Can a Mimic (container form) actually hold loot?













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This has actually happened to me as a player, and a player I've DM'ed in a oneshot. In short, when we delve into a dungeon, whenever a DM describes an object in a weird way, we become very cautious to approach the said object. This is very true with objects that usually can be an animated object.



  • "You see a dusty set of armor on the corner of the room." Animated armor

  • "You see an iron chest on the side of the pedestal." Mimic

  • "You see a pair of statues of winged beasts on each side of the stairs." Gargoyle

  • less common, but "You see this corridor is decorated with at least 6-8 paintings of various theme." (was in Curse of Strahd)

The most common response will be "I shoot the [object] with my crossbow/fire bolt", or "I cast detect magic". Less common will be going into melee and smashing it. While this usually results in laughter when the objects are actually not a monster, this usually slows down the exploration.



I've tried:



  1. Only describing important objects.

  2. Describing that they found nothing special about these objects.

First solution usually exacerbates the problem by limiting my ability to describe how the room looks like, and simultaneously highlighting important objects. For example, you automatically try to search the wall for a hidden switch for a secret room or passage because I told you "there is part of the wall that is less dusty", or automatically start buffing and attacking the pair of gargoyle statues because now I describe them, and they must be important.



Second solution is related to first solution, because I can't say the found nothing special with these objects, if they are indeed holding important clues, and of course I don't want to give it away or hiding that they are important.



The problem is this kind of approach slows down the game, and restrict how I as a DM describe environment - can only describe important things, but I want to immerse them too with relevant details. This also gives them essentially free turn before the combat.



As a DM, how can I deal with their constant suspicions with random objects?










share|improve this question











$endgroup$







  • 8




    $begingroup$
    Related, possible duplicate: Curing trap phobia
    $endgroup$
    – Bloodcinder
    Mar 22 at 16:36






  • 9




    $begingroup$
    You're asking about mimic phobia. You have previously asked about trap phobia and NPC phobia. The core issue seems to be a concern that your dungeon crawls are moving a crawl. Have your players complained about this or is it just your concern as the DM?
    $endgroup$
    – krb
    Mar 22 at 20:54







  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Also related: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/53980
    $endgroup$
    – thatgirldm
    Mar 22 at 23:36






  • 7




    $begingroup$
    If your players are scared of objects and areas and people you have an XY problem, I suspect answers to each of these specifically will not help you a lot.
    $endgroup$
    – mxyzplk
    2 days ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    I agree that it's a potential XY problem. Have you considered that, rather than unrelated trap-phobia, NPC-phobia, and mimic-phobia (and who knows what "-phobia" you'll trip over next), there may be some underlying factor leading your players to mistrust you (or your adventure/world), which then manifests as a "phobia of the week"?
    $endgroup$
    – Dave Sherohman
    15 hours ago















44












$begingroup$


This has actually happened to me as a player, and a player I've DM'ed in a oneshot. In short, when we delve into a dungeon, whenever a DM describes an object in a weird way, we become very cautious to approach the said object. This is very true with objects that usually can be an animated object.



  • "You see a dusty set of armor on the corner of the room." Animated armor

  • "You see an iron chest on the side of the pedestal." Mimic

  • "You see a pair of statues of winged beasts on each side of the stairs." Gargoyle

  • less common, but "You see this corridor is decorated with at least 6-8 paintings of various theme." (was in Curse of Strahd)

The most common response will be "I shoot the [object] with my crossbow/fire bolt", or "I cast detect magic". Less common will be going into melee and smashing it. While this usually results in laughter when the objects are actually not a monster, this usually slows down the exploration.



I've tried:



  1. Only describing important objects.

  2. Describing that they found nothing special about these objects.

First solution usually exacerbates the problem by limiting my ability to describe how the room looks like, and simultaneously highlighting important objects. For example, you automatically try to search the wall for a hidden switch for a secret room or passage because I told you "there is part of the wall that is less dusty", or automatically start buffing and attacking the pair of gargoyle statues because now I describe them, and they must be important.



Second solution is related to first solution, because I can't say the found nothing special with these objects, if they are indeed holding important clues, and of course I don't want to give it away or hiding that they are important.



The problem is this kind of approach slows down the game, and restrict how I as a DM describe environment - can only describe important things, but I want to immerse them too with relevant details. This also gives them essentially free turn before the combat.



As a DM, how can I deal with their constant suspicions with random objects?










share|improve this question











$endgroup$







  • 8




    $begingroup$
    Related, possible duplicate: Curing trap phobia
    $endgroup$
    – Bloodcinder
    Mar 22 at 16:36






  • 9




    $begingroup$
    You're asking about mimic phobia. You have previously asked about trap phobia and NPC phobia. The core issue seems to be a concern that your dungeon crawls are moving a crawl. Have your players complained about this or is it just your concern as the DM?
    $endgroup$
    – krb
    Mar 22 at 20:54







  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Also related: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/53980
    $endgroup$
    – thatgirldm
    Mar 22 at 23:36






  • 7




    $begingroup$
    If your players are scared of objects and areas and people you have an XY problem, I suspect answers to each of these specifically will not help you a lot.
    $endgroup$
    – mxyzplk
    2 days ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    I agree that it's a potential XY problem. Have you considered that, rather than unrelated trap-phobia, NPC-phobia, and mimic-phobia (and who knows what "-phobia" you'll trip over next), there may be some underlying factor leading your players to mistrust you (or your adventure/world), which then manifests as a "phobia of the week"?
    $endgroup$
    – Dave Sherohman
    15 hours ago













44












44








44


5



$begingroup$


This has actually happened to me as a player, and a player I've DM'ed in a oneshot. In short, when we delve into a dungeon, whenever a DM describes an object in a weird way, we become very cautious to approach the said object. This is very true with objects that usually can be an animated object.



  • "You see a dusty set of armor on the corner of the room." Animated armor

  • "You see an iron chest on the side of the pedestal." Mimic

  • "You see a pair of statues of winged beasts on each side of the stairs." Gargoyle

  • less common, but "You see this corridor is decorated with at least 6-8 paintings of various theme." (was in Curse of Strahd)

The most common response will be "I shoot the [object] with my crossbow/fire bolt", or "I cast detect magic". Less common will be going into melee and smashing it. While this usually results in laughter when the objects are actually not a monster, this usually slows down the exploration.



I've tried:



  1. Only describing important objects.

  2. Describing that they found nothing special about these objects.

First solution usually exacerbates the problem by limiting my ability to describe how the room looks like, and simultaneously highlighting important objects. For example, you automatically try to search the wall for a hidden switch for a secret room or passage because I told you "there is part of the wall that is less dusty", or automatically start buffing and attacking the pair of gargoyle statues because now I describe them, and they must be important.



Second solution is related to first solution, because I can't say the found nothing special with these objects, if they are indeed holding important clues, and of course I don't want to give it away or hiding that they are important.



The problem is this kind of approach slows down the game, and restrict how I as a DM describe environment - can only describe important things, but I want to immerse them too with relevant details. This also gives them essentially free turn before the combat.



As a DM, how can I deal with their constant suspicions with random objects?










share|improve this question











$endgroup$




This has actually happened to me as a player, and a player I've DM'ed in a oneshot. In short, when we delve into a dungeon, whenever a DM describes an object in a weird way, we become very cautious to approach the said object. This is very true with objects that usually can be an animated object.



  • "You see a dusty set of armor on the corner of the room." Animated armor

  • "You see an iron chest on the side of the pedestal." Mimic

  • "You see a pair of statues of winged beasts on each side of the stairs." Gargoyle

  • less common, but "You see this corridor is decorated with at least 6-8 paintings of various theme." (was in Curse of Strahd)

The most common response will be "I shoot the [object] with my crossbow/fire bolt", or "I cast detect magic". Less common will be going into melee and smashing it. While this usually results in laughter when the objects are actually not a monster, this usually slows down the exploration.



I've tried:



  1. Only describing important objects.

  2. Describing that they found nothing special about these objects.

First solution usually exacerbates the problem by limiting my ability to describe how the room looks like, and simultaneously highlighting important objects. For example, you automatically try to search the wall for a hidden switch for a secret room or passage because I told you "there is part of the wall that is less dusty", or automatically start buffing and attacking the pair of gargoyle statues because now I describe them, and they must be important.



Second solution is related to first solution, because I can't say the found nothing special with these objects, if they are indeed holding important clues, and of course I don't want to give it away or hiding that they are important.



The problem is this kind of approach slows down the game, and restrict how I as a DM describe environment - can only describe important things, but I want to immerse them too with relevant details. This also gives them essentially free turn before the combat.



As a DM, how can I deal with their constant suspicions with random objects?







dnd-5e gm-techniques objects mimic






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Mar 23 at 0:36









KorvinStarmast

82.5k20257444




82.5k20257444










asked Mar 22 at 16:27









VylixVylix

13.9k258161




13.9k258161







  • 8




    $begingroup$
    Related, possible duplicate: Curing trap phobia
    $endgroup$
    – Bloodcinder
    Mar 22 at 16:36






  • 9




    $begingroup$
    You're asking about mimic phobia. You have previously asked about trap phobia and NPC phobia. The core issue seems to be a concern that your dungeon crawls are moving a crawl. Have your players complained about this or is it just your concern as the DM?
    $endgroup$
    – krb
    Mar 22 at 20:54







  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Also related: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/53980
    $endgroup$
    – thatgirldm
    Mar 22 at 23:36






  • 7




    $begingroup$
    If your players are scared of objects and areas and people you have an XY problem, I suspect answers to each of these specifically will not help you a lot.
    $endgroup$
    – mxyzplk
    2 days ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    I agree that it's a potential XY problem. Have you considered that, rather than unrelated trap-phobia, NPC-phobia, and mimic-phobia (and who knows what "-phobia" you'll trip over next), there may be some underlying factor leading your players to mistrust you (or your adventure/world), which then manifests as a "phobia of the week"?
    $endgroup$
    – Dave Sherohman
    15 hours ago












  • 8




    $begingroup$
    Related, possible duplicate: Curing trap phobia
    $endgroup$
    – Bloodcinder
    Mar 22 at 16:36






  • 9




    $begingroup$
    You're asking about mimic phobia. You have previously asked about trap phobia and NPC phobia. The core issue seems to be a concern that your dungeon crawls are moving a crawl. Have your players complained about this or is it just your concern as the DM?
    $endgroup$
    – krb
    Mar 22 at 20:54







  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Also related: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/53980
    $endgroup$
    – thatgirldm
    Mar 22 at 23:36






  • 7




    $begingroup$
    If your players are scared of objects and areas and people you have an XY problem, I suspect answers to each of these specifically will not help you a lot.
    $endgroup$
    – mxyzplk
    2 days ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    I agree that it's a potential XY problem. Have you considered that, rather than unrelated trap-phobia, NPC-phobia, and mimic-phobia (and who knows what "-phobia" you'll trip over next), there may be some underlying factor leading your players to mistrust you (or your adventure/world), which then manifests as a "phobia of the week"?
    $endgroup$
    – Dave Sherohman
    15 hours ago







8




8




$begingroup$
Related, possible duplicate: Curing trap phobia
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
Mar 22 at 16:36




$begingroup$
Related, possible duplicate: Curing trap phobia
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
Mar 22 at 16:36




9




9




$begingroup$
You're asking about mimic phobia. You have previously asked about trap phobia and NPC phobia. The core issue seems to be a concern that your dungeon crawls are moving a crawl. Have your players complained about this or is it just your concern as the DM?
$endgroup$
– krb
Mar 22 at 20:54





$begingroup$
You're asking about mimic phobia. You have previously asked about trap phobia and NPC phobia. The core issue seems to be a concern that your dungeon crawls are moving a crawl. Have your players complained about this or is it just your concern as the DM?
$endgroup$
– krb
Mar 22 at 20:54





3




3




$begingroup$
Also related: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/53980
$endgroup$
– thatgirldm
Mar 22 at 23:36




$begingroup$
Also related: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/53980
$endgroup$
– thatgirldm
Mar 22 at 23:36




7




7




$begingroup$
If your players are scared of objects and areas and people you have an XY problem, I suspect answers to each of these specifically will not help you a lot.
$endgroup$
– mxyzplk
2 days ago




$begingroup$
If your players are scared of objects and areas and people you have an XY problem, I suspect answers to each of these specifically will not help you a lot.
$endgroup$
– mxyzplk
2 days ago




3




3




$begingroup$
I agree that it's a potential XY problem. Have you considered that, rather than unrelated trap-phobia, NPC-phobia, and mimic-phobia (and who knows what "-phobia" you'll trip over next), there may be some underlying factor leading your players to mistrust you (or your adventure/world), which then manifests as a "phobia of the week"?
$endgroup$
– Dave Sherohman
15 hours ago




$begingroup$
I agree that it's a potential XY problem. Have you considered that, rather than unrelated trap-phobia, NPC-phobia, and mimic-phobia (and who knows what "-phobia" you'll trip over next), there may be some underlying factor leading your players to mistrust you (or your adventure/world), which then manifests as a "phobia of the week"?
$endgroup$
– Dave Sherohman
15 hours ago










9 Answers
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I try to add a mundane description to every scene.



If your "odd" descriptions are normal for your scenes, then they won't be suspicious.




  • You leave the forest, slightly the worse for wear, but alive. An old tree catches your eye; its bark vaguely resembles a wizened face.




  • The old tavern matches the description given to you by the beggar. Your eyes take a moment to adjust from the bright sunlight to the dim interior; the nearest table still has the remnants of the previous customer's meal.




  • You make your way to the room you paid for. A banded chest sits in the corner; the metal straps seem oddly clean.



Just to state some examples.



It's about a greater overall effort to be more descriptive. The point being that if you describe the scene adequately all the time (or at least often), then "a chest sits in the corner" won't be as weird or suspicious.




It's important to note that this is in conjunction with not overusing hidden enemies. No amount of normalizing descriptions is going to abate suspicion if every other room has a mimic.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$








  • 8




    $begingroup$
    @NautArch Really, it's about a greater overall effort to be more descriptive. The point being that if you describe the scene adequately all the time (or at least often), then "a chest sits in the corner" won't be as weird or suspicious.
    $endgroup$
    – goodguy5
    Mar 22 at 18:14






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @NautArch You aren't highlighting what they should be looking at and when, you're just describing the scene. If you always just say "you enter the tavern" except that one time where you say "and notice x", then you're drawing attention and highlighting something. But if you always describe the scene in detail ("You enter the tavern, noticing a group of disheveled people sitting in a corner quietly whispering, with a barmaid making her way to them carrying drinks") then that description becomes normal. If it's normal, the fact that x is there isn't being highlighted any more than usual.
    $endgroup$
    – Doc
    8 hours ago



















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Embrace the madness: that genie's out of the bottle



Mimics are an iconic monster/trap in D&D, and have been for about four decades. There are a variety of memes and jokes associated with them, including this one.



enter image description here



As a player or as a DM, don't be annoyed by player paranoia. Roll with it




...your arrows bounce off of the chest...




and proceed with the narration. Keep your own focus; that's a thing that you can do.



Actionable suggestion for a DM: don't use gratuitous mimics



As a DM, rarely use them, or never use them, if you find their existence in the game world to be a problem. You never have to have one in your game. They aren't a required monster in your game world.



  • If you do use one, place it with care. Make its location and existence fit the scenario that you have created. Mimics survive because they surprise things and eat them.

You can't stop players from some meta gaming.



As the memes, and jokes, that your players have access to spread via word of mouth, reading the books, or at various internet sources, you'll only frustrate yourself if you try to control that. Save yourself the effort.



The same is true for lurker's above, animated armor, gargoyles, rugs of smothering, and various plants that come alive to eat the PCs.

Hey, look, I found a magic carpet! Let's go flying!
enter image description here
oops, rug of smothering




A note on Lore, meta gaming and mimics(and similar monsters/hazards):



As the DM, you control the spread of lore in your world. This kind of "general" versus "specialized" knowledge would include a sense of 'how well known is the existence of mimics' (if it is known at all) in this campaign world? @TimothyAWiseman points out that if your world is one in which the existence of mimics is well known, then testing for them is (1) not metagaming, and (2) is a valid in-character action by any adventurer and should not be seen as an obstacle to play.






share|improve this answer











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  • $begingroup$
    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    $endgroup$
    – mxyzplk
    Mar 23 at 3:02






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Enjoy your shiny new populist badge ^_^
    $endgroup$
    – goodguy5
    15 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @goodguy5 I owe it all to you. :)
    $endgroup$
    – KorvinStarmast
    15 hours ago


















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Don't give the players anything to fear



Part of what causes mimic-phobia is the constant threat of things like animated armor, gargoyles, mimics, skeletons that animate from the floor, etc.



I had a player that was constantly afraid of anything statue related, which is when I realized that the only time I ever describe statues is when they will animate and attack the players. The way I got around this was simple. I didn't use gargoyles for a long time. Eventually, he forgot gargoyles were a threat or didn't think I'd use them again, with the same result: he wasn't afraid of statues anymore.



So for a while, don't use any monsters like this. There are plenty of other dungeon-crawling monsters to use, so the use of mimics, gargoyles, animated objects, ropers, etc. isn't necessary for every dungeon. Perhaps try a water-themed dungeon with sahuagin and myconids, or the lair of a large fire creature that has salamander and newt servants.



Then, if you want them to start fearing the environment again, you can bring back the mimics and gargoyles.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Doesn't using mimic/gargoyle after a while kinda trying to put the players in "gotcha" position?
    $endgroup$
    – Vylix
    Mar 22 at 18:39






  • 4




    $begingroup$
    For sure. But that's only if you want them to start fearing the environment again (like they are in your question).
    $endgroup$
    – Blake Steel
    Mar 22 at 19:25






  • 6




    $begingroup$
    "The way I got around this was simple. I didn't use gargoyles for a long time." it's also fine to just sit down and say something like "I am not going to be using gargoyles, because otherwise the game slows down when you try to examine all statues. I want us to keep a faster pace." and OOC explain the situation and assure the players there won't be any. But do not under any circumstances then go and add one just to catch them off-guard.
    $endgroup$
    – VLAZ
    19 hours ago


















16












$begingroup$

The common theme throughout these types of the questions is that the DM will generally only call out things that are important. So if the DM says, "there are statues flanking the stairs," that must be important. Your description should not be on just the things the players need to interact with, but with what their focus would be.



Describe how a rug is placed oddly in the room, that the cabinet sits with one door swinging in the wind, and the paint is flaking off the north wall. All of this has nothing to do with the story; it's just flavor.




"You open the door and see a rather chaotic room. Although the room is unlit, there is some light coming from the moon outside the only window not boarded up. The floor is mostly carpeted, except in the center where it looks worn away. There are upturned tables and chairs pushed to the walls, emphasizing the clearing in the center of the room. Sitting in the center of the room is a large, wooden table, very different design than all the other furniture in the room. The light from the moon almost seems to spotlight the table. It has no chairs near it, nor any objects upon its surface. What do you do?"




Turns out the table is completely normal and was brought in there on purpose by thieves. They placed it there to make it very suspicious so that adventures would waste time and spells. However all the thieves are hiding behind the tables pushed against the wall (less likely to be hit by Area of Effect spells), and a couple that hide behind the now open door. When a few adventures do finally enter, they slam the doors shut, and lock the doors separating the party.



Note how the description is keyed to the focus of the room. When the players enter the room, highlight what is obvious, and downplay the rest (mundane and threat alike). In my example, if you walked into a room with a single table, bathed in moonlight, with no furniture, not even the carpet within 10' of it, that is where the their perception will focus. I didn't NOT talk about the tables the thieves were hiding behind, but wouldn't be the perceived danger.



The key is to change up how you describe rooms. Drawing attention whatever is the focus of the room, and down play everything else.




"As you enter the ballroom, you are overwhelmed by the immense size. This grand room could fit the house you grew up in. Streamers litter the floor in a paper spiderweb. The chandeliers reflect the light from your torches across everything. The twinkling lights make it hard to focus. You can see a few dusty suits of armor to the south and north. There is a bar in the back where you can only imagine once held a buffet. Between the streamers, you can make out the tile floor a checkerboard of black and a light green; matching the drapes that cover the most of the walls. In the center you can make out what could be a dead body, partially covered by streamers."




Can you guess the threat?



It was the imps hanging in the chandeliers.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    I feel like I'm missing something here. If the players are always afraid and testing things to be things they aren't...how is this helping?It appears to just attempt to redirect what they test via misdirection.
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    Mar 22 at 18:00






  • 7




    $begingroup$
    It's not updating the "gotcha" factor. It's describing the room as it is seen, not as it it important. Use the same "focal point" descriptions for every room, not just ones that have threats. By saying, "You enter a room, there is a table, two chairs, and a chest", you are basically saying, "There is object a, b, and c in the room. Which would you like to interact with first?" Of course they are going to be wary of things, because that's all there is in the room to examine. If you give them more to look at, they have to really think about where to direct their attention.
    $endgroup$
    – MivaScott
    Mar 22 at 21:34






  • 12




    $begingroup$
    I think this is missing an important element: include rooms that have no threat. The method currently described just makes players more paranoid because the threat is definitely there but now they can’t tell where at a glance. Their paranoia isn’t alleviated, it’s just made more anxious. By having rooms where there are no imps in the chandeliers and no thieves behind the furniture, players won’t expect every room to be a threat, and will begin to accept that sometimes a description is just a description. It also gives them opportunities to engage with rooms in non-lethal contexts.
    $endgroup$
    – SevenSidedDie
    Mar 22 at 21:46







  • 3




    $begingroup$
    @MarkWells It's an old school style of play to be that paranoid when entering the dungeon, or Tegel Manor, or anywhere. Some folks like it, some don't care for it.
    $endgroup$
    – KorvinStarmast
    Mar 23 at 0:33






  • 4




    $begingroup$
    @KorvinStarmast It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you.
    $endgroup$
    – R.M.
    2 days ago


















9












$begingroup$

The nuclear option: just tell your players there aren't going to be any more mimics



If things get bad enough and nothing in-game will solve their paranoia, you can just flat out, as a DM, tell your players that there are not any mimics in this room or dungeon. Of course, your players may think that you are trying to lower their guard so that you can surprise them with a mimic in the next dungeon.



In that case, you may have to take the nuclear option and just tell your players that no more mimics will appear for the rest of your campaign, and their characters should stop expecting them. If they look for mimics, tell them out-of-game that you are still holding to this. Eventually, they will learn and you can get back to your game.



If you did want to reintroduce mimics after banning them, give them plenty of warning, either in-game (this sorcerer is known to keep one of the last mimics known to man) or out-of-game (hey guys, I'm temporarily suspending the no-mimics rule and have placed two mimics somewhere in this dungeon). But of course, that might reintroduce the problematic behavior again.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$








  • 7




    $begingroup$
    Well of course, if you were actually a mimic, this is EXACTLY the advice you would give.
    $endgroup$
    – barbecue
    23 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Yes, this is good advice. Remember that you can just be direct with players. If it takes too long as they search each thing for traps or mimics, just tell them "look, there aren't any". If you don't want them to do that all the time, tell them "there won't be any in the future". This is fine. Being direct solves a lot of problems that a players/GMs for some reason try to do indirectly by hints and maybe story. Hints aren't a great way to put your point across - they can work but can also backfire or simply be missed.
    $endgroup$
    – VLAZ
    19 hours ago


















8












$begingroup$

If you want a party who is not paranoid, in spite of being repeatedly attacked by mimics, the only way to get it is to metagame, in cooperation with the players.



Many of the answers here consist of variations on "don't use mimics" or "don't ambush your players with mimics. What if you want to be able to use mimics, but at the same time have your PCs not be paranoid about them all the time? Well, that's going to take some metagaming. After all, if you say you want your players to be surprised the twelfth time you hit them with a suit of animated armor, you're basically saying that you want the emotional and social payoff of consistently outsmarting your friends without actually having to put in the work to come up with anything novel. That's both mean and somewhat lazy.



On the other hand, maybe what you really want isn't to constantly count coup over your friends at the table, but instead just to have the experience of a moderately foolish party who is constantly getting surprised by mimics because it makes for an interesting tactical experience. That is the sort of thing you can talk out with the party, and potentially get them to agree to, especially if you're willing to promise that the mimic-style encounters will have some other benefit. Perhaps you lard a bit more treasure into them, or you make them a bit under-leveled or something. You'd essentially be giving all of your PCs the flaw "insufficiently paranoid about mimics", and then rewarding them when they RP it properly. That could actually be a pretty entertaining game, especially if everyone was okay with playing it up a bit for humor value.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$




















    3












    $begingroup$

    Give them a simple way to detect creatures disguised as objects.



    Give one of the characters a dagger that hums when drawn if mimics, gargoyles, animated objects or other creatures disguised as seemingly-innocuous objects are near and in plain sight. I name this weapon Stone-Like.



    Most of the time, when they suspect such a thing, they'll draw the weapon and clear any suspicion:




    "The roof is lined with grotesque statuary, which--"



    "Gargoyles?! I draw Stone-Like."



    "Nothing."



    "Okay, lets move on."




    But when it does work:




    "Four suits of full plate stand upright in the corner."



    "I draw Stone-Like."



    "Hummm.... Initiative!"







    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$








    • 9




      $begingroup$
      My concern about this is that this mechanic basically bypasses wanting to use those monsters in the first place.
      $endgroup$
      – NautArch
      Mar 22 at 17:24










    • $begingroup$
      @NautArch so do all of the "well then don't use mimics" answers... and this one works faster.
      $endgroup$
      – Ben Barden
      Mar 22 at 21:30






    • 5




      $begingroup$
      @NautArch (and the 7 people who upvoted their comment) - At no point does the asker say they want to use mimics. Their problem is paranoid players frequently mistaking objects for mimics and de-railing the game. My solution directly fixes the stated problem by allowing players to quickly and freely dispel their paranoia.
      $endgroup$
      – Quadratic Wizard
      Mar 22 at 22:07










    • $begingroup$
      @QuadraticWizard correct. As KorvinStarmast says in another comment, why or how they being paranoid seems to be irrelevant in this context. I don't use mimic-like monster, but I want to be able later to use one. This answer the core of the question.
      $endgroup$
      – Vylix
      Mar 23 at 3:48


















    2












    $begingroup$

    You should occasionally have a cost for using combat to solve any potential problem. Examples:



    • You attack the chest and you break items inside.


    • They blast the armor and it triggers a trap when they weren't ready
      for the trap.


    • The stone statues were inert but the arrow shoot knocked them off the
      roof- duck for cover.


    • You destroy the valuable painting.



      This will help tone down the mimic-phobia: shooting everything endangers them, loses money and items.







    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$












    • $begingroup$
      Have you done this kind of thing as a DM, or seen it from the players' perspective? The edit was mostly for organization and a little flow in your opening sentence.
      $endgroup$
      – KorvinStarmast
      yesterday











    • $begingroup$
      Should probably emphasize that all consequences for these actions shouldn't be "penalty for penalties sake", but a more "well what else did you expect to happen?" If they use firebolt on a wooden chest, the chest/lock/contents can be destroyed, but if it was next to a fireplace there is no way it was filled with gunpowder! All consequences of their actions should be things the player doing the action could have reasonably predicted would happen. Done right, this can be hilarious; done wrong and this one of the most frustrating things a DM can do.
      $endgroup$
      – Tezra
      10 hours ago


















    -5












    $begingroup$

    The old-school response would be: Make sure that these actions by the party take up some kind of resource. Aspects of that would be:



    • Assess wandering monster checks strictly; either according to some fixed-real time schedule, or every time PCs start attacking in this manner, etc.

    • Systemically have spell-like abilities (fire bolt, detect magic... even track crossbow bolts) strictly limited by gaming session.

    If none of these are applicable in 5E, then it's possible that the game is inherently broken. :-)






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$












    • $begingroup$
      Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
      $endgroup$
      – mxyzplk
      7 hours ago










    Your Answer





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    9 Answers
    9






    active

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    9 Answers
    9






    active

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    33












    $begingroup$

    I try to add a mundane description to every scene.



    If your "odd" descriptions are normal for your scenes, then they won't be suspicious.




    • You leave the forest, slightly the worse for wear, but alive. An old tree catches your eye; its bark vaguely resembles a wizened face.




    • The old tavern matches the description given to you by the beggar. Your eyes take a moment to adjust from the bright sunlight to the dim interior; the nearest table still has the remnants of the previous customer's meal.




    • You make your way to the room you paid for. A banded chest sits in the corner; the metal straps seem oddly clean.



    Just to state some examples.



    It's about a greater overall effort to be more descriptive. The point being that if you describe the scene adequately all the time (or at least often), then "a chest sits in the corner" won't be as weird or suspicious.




    It's important to note that this is in conjunction with not overusing hidden enemies. No amount of normalizing descriptions is going to abate suspicion if every other room has a mimic.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$








    • 8




      $begingroup$
      @NautArch Really, it's about a greater overall effort to be more descriptive. The point being that if you describe the scene adequately all the time (or at least often), then "a chest sits in the corner" won't be as weird or suspicious.
      $endgroup$
      – goodguy5
      Mar 22 at 18:14






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @NautArch You aren't highlighting what they should be looking at and when, you're just describing the scene. If you always just say "you enter the tavern" except that one time where you say "and notice x", then you're drawing attention and highlighting something. But if you always describe the scene in detail ("You enter the tavern, noticing a group of disheveled people sitting in a corner quietly whispering, with a barmaid making her way to them carrying drinks") then that description becomes normal. If it's normal, the fact that x is there isn't being highlighted any more than usual.
      $endgroup$
      – Doc
      8 hours ago
















    33












    $begingroup$

    I try to add a mundane description to every scene.



    If your "odd" descriptions are normal for your scenes, then they won't be suspicious.




    • You leave the forest, slightly the worse for wear, but alive. An old tree catches your eye; its bark vaguely resembles a wizened face.




    • The old tavern matches the description given to you by the beggar. Your eyes take a moment to adjust from the bright sunlight to the dim interior; the nearest table still has the remnants of the previous customer's meal.




    • You make your way to the room you paid for. A banded chest sits in the corner; the metal straps seem oddly clean.



    Just to state some examples.



    It's about a greater overall effort to be more descriptive. The point being that if you describe the scene adequately all the time (or at least often), then "a chest sits in the corner" won't be as weird or suspicious.




    It's important to note that this is in conjunction with not overusing hidden enemies. No amount of normalizing descriptions is going to abate suspicion if every other room has a mimic.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$








    • 8




      $begingroup$
      @NautArch Really, it's about a greater overall effort to be more descriptive. The point being that if you describe the scene adequately all the time (or at least often), then "a chest sits in the corner" won't be as weird or suspicious.
      $endgroup$
      – goodguy5
      Mar 22 at 18:14






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @NautArch You aren't highlighting what they should be looking at and when, you're just describing the scene. If you always just say "you enter the tavern" except that one time where you say "and notice x", then you're drawing attention and highlighting something. But if you always describe the scene in detail ("You enter the tavern, noticing a group of disheveled people sitting in a corner quietly whispering, with a barmaid making her way to them carrying drinks") then that description becomes normal. If it's normal, the fact that x is there isn't being highlighted any more than usual.
      $endgroup$
      – Doc
      8 hours ago














    33












    33








    33





    $begingroup$

    I try to add a mundane description to every scene.



    If your "odd" descriptions are normal for your scenes, then they won't be suspicious.




    • You leave the forest, slightly the worse for wear, but alive. An old tree catches your eye; its bark vaguely resembles a wizened face.




    • The old tavern matches the description given to you by the beggar. Your eyes take a moment to adjust from the bright sunlight to the dim interior; the nearest table still has the remnants of the previous customer's meal.




    • You make your way to the room you paid for. A banded chest sits in the corner; the metal straps seem oddly clean.



    Just to state some examples.



    It's about a greater overall effort to be more descriptive. The point being that if you describe the scene adequately all the time (or at least often), then "a chest sits in the corner" won't be as weird or suspicious.




    It's important to note that this is in conjunction with not overusing hidden enemies. No amount of normalizing descriptions is going to abate suspicion if every other room has a mimic.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$



    I try to add a mundane description to every scene.



    If your "odd" descriptions are normal for your scenes, then they won't be suspicious.




    • You leave the forest, slightly the worse for wear, but alive. An old tree catches your eye; its bark vaguely resembles a wizened face.




    • The old tavern matches the description given to you by the beggar. Your eyes take a moment to adjust from the bright sunlight to the dim interior; the nearest table still has the remnants of the previous customer's meal.




    • You make your way to the room you paid for. A banded chest sits in the corner; the metal straps seem oddly clean.



    Just to state some examples.



    It's about a greater overall effort to be more descriptive. The point being that if you describe the scene adequately all the time (or at least often), then "a chest sits in the corner" won't be as weird or suspicious.




    It's important to note that this is in conjunction with not overusing hidden enemies. No amount of normalizing descriptions is going to abate suspicion if every other room has a mimic.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 15 hours ago

























    answered Mar 22 at 18:02









    goodguy5goodguy5

    9,58723577




    9,58723577







    • 8




      $begingroup$
      @NautArch Really, it's about a greater overall effort to be more descriptive. The point being that if you describe the scene adequately all the time (or at least often), then "a chest sits in the corner" won't be as weird or suspicious.
      $endgroup$
      – goodguy5
      Mar 22 at 18:14






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @NautArch You aren't highlighting what they should be looking at and when, you're just describing the scene. If you always just say "you enter the tavern" except that one time where you say "and notice x", then you're drawing attention and highlighting something. But if you always describe the scene in detail ("You enter the tavern, noticing a group of disheveled people sitting in a corner quietly whispering, with a barmaid making her way to them carrying drinks") then that description becomes normal. If it's normal, the fact that x is there isn't being highlighted any more than usual.
      $endgroup$
      – Doc
      8 hours ago













    • 8




      $begingroup$
      @NautArch Really, it's about a greater overall effort to be more descriptive. The point being that if you describe the scene adequately all the time (or at least often), then "a chest sits in the corner" won't be as weird or suspicious.
      $endgroup$
      – goodguy5
      Mar 22 at 18:14






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @NautArch You aren't highlighting what they should be looking at and when, you're just describing the scene. If you always just say "you enter the tavern" except that one time where you say "and notice x", then you're drawing attention and highlighting something. But if you always describe the scene in detail ("You enter the tavern, noticing a group of disheveled people sitting in a corner quietly whispering, with a barmaid making her way to them carrying drinks") then that description becomes normal. If it's normal, the fact that x is there isn't being highlighted any more than usual.
      $endgroup$
      – Doc
      8 hours ago








    8




    8




    $begingroup$
    @NautArch Really, it's about a greater overall effort to be more descriptive. The point being that if you describe the scene adequately all the time (or at least often), then "a chest sits in the corner" won't be as weird or suspicious.
    $endgroup$
    – goodguy5
    Mar 22 at 18:14




    $begingroup$
    @NautArch Really, it's about a greater overall effort to be more descriptive. The point being that if you describe the scene adequately all the time (or at least often), then "a chest sits in the corner" won't be as weird or suspicious.
    $endgroup$
    – goodguy5
    Mar 22 at 18:14




    1




    1




    $begingroup$
    @NautArch You aren't highlighting what they should be looking at and when, you're just describing the scene. If you always just say "you enter the tavern" except that one time where you say "and notice x", then you're drawing attention and highlighting something. But if you always describe the scene in detail ("You enter the tavern, noticing a group of disheveled people sitting in a corner quietly whispering, with a barmaid making her way to them carrying drinks") then that description becomes normal. If it's normal, the fact that x is there isn't being highlighted any more than usual.
    $endgroup$
    – Doc
    8 hours ago





    $begingroup$
    @NautArch You aren't highlighting what they should be looking at and when, you're just describing the scene. If you always just say "you enter the tavern" except that one time where you say "and notice x", then you're drawing attention and highlighting something. But if you always describe the scene in detail ("You enter the tavern, noticing a group of disheveled people sitting in a corner quietly whispering, with a barmaid making her way to them carrying drinks") then that description becomes normal. If it's normal, the fact that x is there isn't being highlighted any more than usual.
    $endgroup$
    – Doc
    8 hours ago














    50












    $begingroup$

    Embrace the madness: that genie's out of the bottle



    Mimics are an iconic monster/trap in D&D, and have been for about four decades. There are a variety of memes and jokes associated with them, including this one.



    enter image description here



    As a player or as a DM, don't be annoyed by player paranoia. Roll with it




    ...your arrows bounce off of the chest...




    and proceed with the narration. Keep your own focus; that's a thing that you can do.



    Actionable suggestion for a DM: don't use gratuitous mimics



    As a DM, rarely use them, or never use them, if you find their existence in the game world to be a problem. You never have to have one in your game. They aren't a required monster in your game world.



    • If you do use one, place it with care. Make its location and existence fit the scenario that you have created. Mimics survive because they surprise things and eat them.

    You can't stop players from some meta gaming.



    As the memes, and jokes, that your players have access to spread via word of mouth, reading the books, or at various internet sources, you'll only frustrate yourself if you try to control that. Save yourself the effort.



    The same is true for lurker's above, animated armor, gargoyles, rugs of smothering, and various plants that come alive to eat the PCs.

    Hey, look, I found a magic carpet! Let's go flying!
    enter image description here
    oops, rug of smothering




    A note on Lore, meta gaming and mimics(and similar monsters/hazards):



    As the DM, you control the spread of lore in your world. This kind of "general" versus "specialized" knowledge would include a sense of 'how well known is the existence of mimics' (if it is known at all) in this campaign world? @TimothyAWiseman points out that if your world is one in which the existence of mimics is well known, then testing for them is (1) not metagaming, and (2) is a valid in-character action by any adventurer and should not be seen as an obstacle to play.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$












    • $begingroup$
      Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
      $endgroup$
      – mxyzplk
      Mar 23 at 3:02






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      Enjoy your shiny new populist badge ^_^
      $endgroup$
      – goodguy5
      15 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @goodguy5 I owe it all to you. :)
      $endgroup$
      – KorvinStarmast
      15 hours ago















    50












    $begingroup$

    Embrace the madness: that genie's out of the bottle



    Mimics are an iconic monster/trap in D&D, and have been for about four decades. There are a variety of memes and jokes associated with them, including this one.



    enter image description here



    As a player or as a DM, don't be annoyed by player paranoia. Roll with it




    ...your arrows bounce off of the chest...




    and proceed with the narration. Keep your own focus; that's a thing that you can do.



    Actionable suggestion for a DM: don't use gratuitous mimics



    As a DM, rarely use them, or never use them, if you find their existence in the game world to be a problem. You never have to have one in your game. They aren't a required monster in your game world.



    • If you do use one, place it with care. Make its location and existence fit the scenario that you have created. Mimics survive because they surprise things and eat them.

    You can't stop players from some meta gaming.



    As the memes, and jokes, that your players have access to spread via word of mouth, reading the books, or at various internet sources, you'll only frustrate yourself if you try to control that. Save yourself the effort.



    The same is true for lurker's above, animated armor, gargoyles, rugs of smothering, and various plants that come alive to eat the PCs.

    Hey, look, I found a magic carpet! Let's go flying!
    enter image description here
    oops, rug of smothering




    A note on Lore, meta gaming and mimics(and similar monsters/hazards):



    As the DM, you control the spread of lore in your world. This kind of "general" versus "specialized" knowledge would include a sense of 'how well known is the existence of mimics' (if it is known at all) in this campaign world? @TimothyAWiseman points out that if your world is one in which the existence of mimics is well known, then testing for them is (1) not metagaming, and (2) is a valid in-character action by any adventurer and should not be seen as an obstacle to play.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$












    • $begingroup$
      Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
      $endgroup$
      – mxyzplk
      Mar 23 at 3:02






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      Enjoy your shiny new populist badge ^_^
      $endgroup$
      – goodguy5
      15 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @goodguy5 I owe it all to you. :)
      $endgroup$
      – KorvinStarmast
      15 hours ago













    50












    50








    50





    $begingroup$

    Embrace the madness: that genie's out of the bottle



    Mimics are an iconic monster/trap in D&D, and have been for about four decades. There are a variety of memes and jokes associated with them, including this one.



    enter image description here



    As a player or as a DM, don't be annoyed by player paranoia. Roll with it




    ...your arrows bounce off of the chest...




    and proceed with the narration. Keep your own focus; that's a thing that you can do.



    Actionable suggestion for a DM: don't use gratuitous mimics



    As a DM, rarely use them, or never use them, if you find their existence in the game world to be a problem. You never have to have one in your game. They aren't a required monster in your game world.



    • If you do use one, place it with care. Make its location and existence fit the scenario that you have created. Mimics survive because they surprise things and eat them.

    You can't stop players from some meta gaming.



    As the memes, and jokes, that your players have access to spread via word of mouth, reading the books, or at various internet sources, you'll only frustrate yourself if you try to control that. Save yourself the effort.



    The same is true for lurker's above, animated armor, gargoyles, rugs of smothering, and various plants that come alive to eat the PCs.

    Hey, look, I found a magic carpet! Let's go flying!
    enter image description here
    oops, rug of smothering




    A note on Lore, meta gaming and mimics(and similar monsters/hazards):



    As the DM, you control the spread of lore in your world. This kind of "general" versus "specialized" knowledge would include a sense of 'how well known is the existence of mimics' (if it is known at all) in this campaign world? @TimothyAWiseman points out that if your world is one in which the existence of mimics is well known, then testing for them is (1) not metagaming, and (2) is a valid in-character action by any adventurer and should not be seen as an obstacle to play.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$



    Embrace the madness: that genie's out of the bottle



    Mimics are an iconic monster/trap in D&D, and have been for about four decades. There are a variety of memes and jokes associated with them, including this one.



    enter image description here



    As a player or as a DM, don't be annoyed by player paranoia. Roll with it




    ...your arrows bounce off of the chest...




    and proceed with the narration. Keep your own focus; that's a thing that you can do.



    Actionable suggestion for a DM: don't use gratuitous mimics



    As a DM, rarely use them, or never use them, if you find their existence in the game world to be a problem. You never have to have one in your game. They aren't a required monster in your game world.



    • If you do use one, place it with care. Make its location and existence fit the scenario that you have created. Mimics survive because they surprise things and eat them.

    You can't stop players from some meta gaming.



    As the memes, and jokes, that your players have access to spread via word of mouth, reading the books, or at various internet sources, you'll only frustrate yourself if you try to control that. Save yourself the effort.



    The same is true for lurker's above, animated armor, gargoyles, rugs of smothering, and various plants that come alive to eat the PCs.

    Hey, look, I found a magic carpet! Let's go flying!
    enter image description here
    oops, rug of smothering




    A note on Lore, meta gaming and mimics(and similar monsters/hazards):



    As the DM, you control the spread of lore in your world. This kind of "general" versus "specialized" knowledge would include a sense of 'how well known is the existence of mimics' (if it is known at all) in this campaign world? @TimothyAWiseman points out that if your world is one in which the existence of mimics is well known, then testing for them is (1) not metagaming, and (2) is a valid in-character action by any adventurer and should not be seen as an obstacle to play.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Mar 23 at 0:45

























    answered Mar 22 at 17:02









    KorvinStarmastKorvinStarmast

    82.5k20257444




    82.5k20257444











    • $begingroup$
      Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
      $endgroup$
      – mxyzplk
      Mar 23 at 3:02






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      Enjoy your shiny new populist badge ^_^
      $endgroup$
      – goodguy5
      15 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @goodguy5 I owe it all to you. :)
      $endgroup$
      – KorvinStarmast
      15 hours ago
















    • $begingroup$
      Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
      $endgroup$
      – mxyzplk
      Mar 23 at 3:02






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      Enjoy your shiny new populist badge ^_^
      $endgroup$
      – goodguy5
      15 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @goodguy5 I owe it all to you. :)
      $endgroup$
      – KorvinStarmast
      15 hours ago















    $begingroup$
    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    $endgroup$
    – mxyzplk
    Mar 23 at 3:02




    $begingroup$
    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    $endgroup$
    – mxyzplk
    Mar 23 at 3:02




    1




    1




    $begingroup$
    Enjoy your shiny new populist badge ^_^
    $endgroup$
    – goodguy5
    15 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    Enjoy your shiny new populist badge ^_^
    $endgroup$
    – goodguy5
    15 hours ago












    $begingroup$
    @goodguy5 I owe it all to you. :)
    $endgroup$
    – KorvinStarmast
    15 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    @goodguy5 I owe it all to you. :)
    $endgroup$
    – KorvinStarmast
    15 hours ago











    23












    $begingroup$

    Don't give the players anything to fear



    Part of what causes mimic-phobia is the constant threat of things like animated armor, gargoyles, mimics, skeletons that animate from the floor, etc.



    I had a player that was constantly afraid of anything statue related, which is when I realized that the only time I ever describe statues is when they will animate and attack the players. The way I got around this was simple. I didn't use gargoyles for a long time. Eventually, he forgot gargoyles were a threat or didn't think I'd use them again, with the same result: he wasn't afraid of statues anymore.



    So for a while, don't use any monsters like this. There are plenty of other dungeon-crawling monsters to use, so the use of mimics, gargoyles, animated objects, ropers, etc. isn't necessary for every dungeon. Perhaps try a water-themed dungeon with sahuagin and myconids, or the lair of a large fire creature that has salamander and newt servants.



    Then, if you want them to start fearing the environment again, you can bring back the mimics and gargoyles.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$












    • $begingroup$
      Doesn't using mimic/gargoyle after a while kinda trying to put the players in "gotcha" position?
      $endgroup$
      – Vylix
      Mar 22 at 18:39






    • 4




      $begingroup$
      For sure. But that's only if you want them to start fearing the environment again (like they are in your question).
      $endgroup$
      – Blake Steel
      Mar 22 at 19:25






    • 6




      $begingroup$
      "The way I got around this was simple. I didn't use gargoyles for a long time." it's also fine to just sit down and say something like "I am not going to be using gargoyles, because otherwise the game slows down when you try to examine all statues. I want us to keep a faster pace." and OOC explain the situation and assure the players there won't be any. But do not under any circumstances then go and add one just to catch them off-guard.
      $endgroup$
      – VLAZ
      19 hours ago















    23












    $begingroup$

    Don't give the players anything to fear



    Part of what causes mimic-phobia is the constant threat of things like animated armor, gargoyles, mimics, skeletons that animate from the floor, etc.



    I had a player that was constantly afraid of anything statue related, which is when I realized that the only time I ever describe statues is when they will animate and attack the players. The way I got around this was simple. I didn't use gargoyles for a long time. Eventually, he forgot gargoyles were a threat or didn't think I'd use them again, with the same result: he wasn't afraid of statues anymore.



    So for a while, don't use any monsters like this. There are plenty of other dungeon-crawling monsters to use, so the use of mimics, gargoyles, animated objects, ropers, etc. isn't necessary for every dungeon. Perhaps try a water-themed dungeon with sahuagin and myconids, or the lair of a large fire creature that has salamander and newt servants.



    Then, if you want them to start fearing the environment again, you can bring back the mimics and gargoyles.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$












    • $begingroup$
      Doesn't using mimic/gargoyle after a while kinda trying to put the players in "gotcha" position?
      $endgroup$
      – Vylix
      Mar 22 at 18:39






    • 4




      $begingroup$
      For sure. But that's only if you want them to start fearing the environment again (like they are in your question).
      $endgroup$
      – Blake Steel
      Mar 22 at 19:25






    • 6




      $begingroup$
      "The way I got around this was simple. I didn't use gargoyles for a long time." it's also fine to just sit down and say something like "I am not going to be using gargoyles, because otherwise the game slows down when you try to examine all statues. I want us to keep a faster pace." and OOC explain the situation and assure the players there won't be any. But do not under any circumstances then go and add one just to catch them off-guard.
      $endgroup$
      – VLAZ
      19 hours ago













    23












    23








    23





    $begingroup$

    Don't give the players anything to fear



    Part of what causes mimic-phobia is the constant threat of things like animated armor, gargoyles, mimics, skeletons that animate from the floor, etc.



    I had a player that was constantly afraid of anything statue related, which is when I realized that the only time I ever describe statues is when they will animate and attack the players. The way I got around this was simple. I didn't use gargoyles for a long time. Eventually, he forgot gargoyles were a threat or didn't think I'd use them again, with the same result: he wasn't afraid of statues anymore.



    So for a while, don't use any monsters like this. There are plenty of other dungeon-crawling monsters to use, so the use of mimics, gargoyles, animated objects, ropers, etc. isn't necessary for every dungeon. Perhaps try a water-themed dungeon with sahuagin and myconids, or the lair of a large fire creature that has salamander and newt servants.



    Then, if you want them to start fearing the environment again, you can bring back the mimics and gargoyles.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$



    Don't give the players anything to fear



    Part of what causes mimic-phobia is the constant threat of things like animated armor, gargoyles, mimics, skeletons that animate from the floor, etc.



    I had a player that was constantly afraid of anything statue related, which is when I realized that the only time I ever describe statues is when they will animate and attack the players. The way I got around this was simple. I didn't use gargoyles for a long time. Eventually, he forgot gargoyles were a threat or didn't think I'd use them again, with the same result: he wasn't afraid of statues anymore.



    So for a while, don't use any monsters like this. There are plenty of other dungeon-crawling monsters to use, so the use of mimics, gargoyles, animated objects, ropers, etc. isn't necessary for every dungeon. Perhaps try a water-themed dungeon with sahuagin and myconids, or the lair of a large fire creature that has salamander and newt servants.



    Then, if you want them to start fearing the environment again, you can bring back the mimics and gargoyles.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Mar 22 at 18:26









    NathanS

    26.8k9125281




    26.8k9125281










    answered Mar 22 at 17:01









    Blake SteelBlake Steel

    3,9981948




    3,9981948











    • $begingroup$
      Doesn't using mimic/gargoyle after a while kinda trying to put the players in "gotcha" position?
      $endgroup$
      – Vylix
      Mar 22 at 18:39






    • 4




      $begingroup$
      For sure. But that's only if you want them to start fearing the environment again (like they are in your question).
      $endgroup$
      – Blake Steel
      Mar 22 at 19:25






    • 6




      $begingroup$
      "The way I got around this was simple. I didn't use gargoyles for a long time." it's also fine to just sit down and say something like "I am not going to be using gargoyles, because otherwise the game slows down when you try to examine all statues. I want us to keep a faster pace." and OOC explain the situation and assure the players there won't be any. But do not under any circumstances then go and add one just to catch them off-guard.
      $endgroup$
      – VLAZ
      19 hours ago
















    • $begingroup$
      Doesn't using mimic/gargoyle after a while kinda trying to put the players in "gotcha" position?
      $endgroup$
      – Vylix
      Mar 22 at 18:39






    • 4




      $begingroup$
      For sure. But that's only if you want them to start fearing the environment again (like they are in your question).
      $endgroup$
      – Blake Steel
      Mar 22 at 19:25






    • 6




      $begingroup$
      "The way I got around this was simple. I didn't use gargoyles for a long time." it's also fine to just sit down and say something like "I am not going to be using gargoyles, because otherwise the game slows down when you try to examine all statues. I want us to keep a faster pace." and OOC explain the situation and assure the players there won't be any. But do not under any circumstances then go and add one just to catch them off-guard.
      $endgroup$
      – VLAZ
      19 hours ago















    $begingroup$
    Doesn't using mimic/gargoyle after a while kinda trying to put the players in "gotcha" position?
    $endgroup$
    – Vylix
    Mar 22 at 18:39




    $begingroup$
    Doesn't using mimic/gargoyle after a while kinda trying to put the players in "gotcha" position?
    $endgroup$
    – Vylix
    Mar 22 at 18:39




    4




    4




    $begingroup$
    For sure. But that's only if you want them to start fearing the environment again (like they are in your question).
    $endgroup$
    – Blake Steel
    Mar 22 at 19:25




    $begingroup$
    For sure. But that's only if you want them to start fearing the environment again (like they are in your question).
    $endgroup$
    – Blake Steel
    Mar 22 at 19:25




    6




    6




    $begingroup$
    "The way I got around this was simple. I didn't use gargoyles for a long time." it's also fine to just sit down and say something like "I am not going to be using gargoyles, because otherwise the game slows down when you try to examine all statues. I want us to keep a faster pace." and OOC explain the situation and assure the players there won't be any. But do not under any circumstances then go and add one just to catch them off-guard.
    $endgroup$
    – VLAZ
    19 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    "The way I got around this was simple. I didn't use gargoyles for a long time." it's also fine to just sit down and say something like "I am not going to be using gargoyles, because otherwise the game slows down when you try to examine all statues. I want us to keep a faster pace." and OOC explain the situation and assure the players there won't be any. But do not under any circumstances then go and add one just to catch them off-guard.
    $endgroup$
    – VLAZ
    19 hours ago











    16












    $begingroup$

    The common theme throughout these types of the questions is that the DM will generally only call out things that are important. So if the DM says, "there are statues flanking the stairs," that must be important. Your description should not be on just the things the players need to interact with, but with what their focus would be.



    Describe how a rug is placed oddly in the room, that the cabinet sits with one door swinging in the wind, and the paint is flaking off the north wall. All of this has nothing to do with the story; it's just flavor.




    "You open the door and see a rather chaotic room. Although the room is unlit, there is some light coming from the moon outside the only window not boarded up. The floor is mostly carpeted, except in the center where it looks worn away. There are upturned tables and chairs pushed to the walls, emphasizing the clearing in the center of the room. Sitting in the center of the room is a large, wooden table, very different design than all the other furniture in the room. The light from the moon almost seems to spotlight the table. It has no chairs near it, nor any objects upon its surface. What do you do?"




    Turns out the table is completely normal and was brought in there on purpose by thieves. They placed it there to make it very suspicious so that adventures would waste time and spells. However all the thieves are hiding behind the tables pushed against the wall (less likely to be hit by Area of Effect spells), and a couple that hide behind the now open door. When a few adventures do finally enter, they slam the doors shut, and lock the doors separating the party.



    Note how the description is keyed to the focus of the room. When the players enter the room, highlight what is obvious, and downplay the rest (mundane and threat alike). In my example, if you walked into a room with a single table, bathed in moonlight, with no furniture, not even the carpet within 10' of it, that is where the their perception will focus. I didn't NOT talk about the tables the thieves were hiding behind, but wouldn't be the perceived danger.



    The key is to change up how you describe rooms. Drawing attention whatever is the focus of the room, and down play everything else.




    "As you enter the ballroom, you are overwhelmed by the immense size. This grand room could fit the house you grew up in. Streamers litter the floor in a paper spiderweb. The chandeliers reflect the light from your torches across everything. The twinkling lights make it hard to focus. You can see a few dusty suits of armor to the south and north. There is a bar in the back where you can only imagine once held a buffet. Between the streamers, you can make out the tile floor a checkerboard of black and a light green; matching the drapes that cover the most of the walls. In the center you can make out what could be a dead body, partially covered by streamers."




    Can you guess the threat?



    It was the imps hanging in the chandeliers.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$








    • 2




      $begingroup$
      I feel like I'm missing something here. If the players are always afraid and testing things to be things they aren't...how is this helping?It appears to just attempt to redirect what they test via misdirection.
      $endgroup$
      – NautArch
      Mar 22 at 18:00






    • 7




      $begingroup$
      It's not updating the "gotcha" factor. It's describing the room as it is seen, not as it it important. Use the same "focal point" descriptions for every room, not just ones that have threats. By saying, "You enter a room, there is a table, two chairs, and a chest", you are basically saying, "There is object a, b, and c in the room. Which would you like to interact with first?" Of course they are going to be wary of things, because that's all there is in the room to examine. If you give them more to look at, they have to really think about where to direct their attention.
      $endgroup$
      – MivaScott
      Mar 22 at 21:34






    • 12




      $begingroup$
      I think this is missing an important element: include rooms that have no threat. The method currently described just makes players more paranoid because the threat is definitely there but now they can’t tell where at a glance. Their paranoia isn’t alleviated, it’s just made more anxious. By having rooms where there are no imps in the chandeliers and no thieves behind the furniture, players won’t expect every room to be a threat, and will begin to accept that sometimes a description is just a description. It also gives them opportunities to engage with rooms in non-lethal contexts.
      $endgroup$
      – SevenSidedDie
      Mar 22 at 21:46







    • 3




      $begingroup$
      @MarkWells It's an old school style of play to be that paranoid when entering the dungeon, or Tegel Manor, or anywhere. Some folks like it, some don't care for it.
      $endgroup$
      – KorvinStarmast
      Mar 23 at 0:33






    • 4




      $begingroup$
      @KorvinStarmast It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you.
      $endgroup$
      – R.M.
      2 days ago















    16












    $begingroup$

    The common theme throughout these types of the questions is that the DM will generally only call out things that are important. So if the DM says, "there are statues flanking the stairs," that must be important. Your description should not be on just the things the players need to interact with, but with what their focus would be.



    Describe how a rug is placed oddly in the room, that the cabinet sits with one door swinging in the wind, and the paint is flaking off the north wall. All of this has nothing to do with the story; it's just flavor.




    "You open the door and see a rather chaotic room. Although the room is unlit, there is some light coming from the moon outside the only window not boarded up. The floor is mostly carpeted, except in the center where it looks worn away. There are upturned tables and chairs pushed to the walls, emphasizing the clearing in the center of the room. Sitting in the center of the room is a large, wooden table, very different design than all the other furniture in the room. The light from the moon almost seems to spotlight the table. It has no chairs near it, nor any objects upon its surface. What do you do?"




    Turns out the table is completely normal and was brought in there on purpose by thieves. They placed it there to make it very suspicious so that adventures would waste time and spells. However all the thieves are hiding behind the tables pushed against the wall (less likely to be hit by Area of Effect spells), and a couple that hide behind the now open door. When a few adventures do finally enter, they slam the doors shut, and lock the doors separating the party.



    Note how the description is keyed to the focus of the room. When the players enter the room, highlight what is obvious, and downplay the rest (mundane and threat alike). In my example, if you walked into a room with a single table, bathed in moonlight, with no furniture, not even the carpet within 10' of it, that is where the their perception will focus. I didn't NOT talk about the tables the thieves were hiding behind, but wouldn't be the perceived danger.



    The key is to change up how you describe rooms. Drawing attention whatever is the focus of the room, and down play everything else.




    "As you enter the ballroom, you are overwhelmed by the immense size. This grand room could fit the house you grew up in. Streamers litter the floor in a paper spiderweb. The chandeliers reflect the light from your torches across everything. The twinkling lights make it hard to focus. You can see a few dusty suits of armor to the south and north. There is a bar in the back where you can only imagine once held a buffet. Between the streamers, you can make out the tile floor a checkerboard of black and a light green; matching the drapes that cover the most of the walls. In the center you can make out what could be a dead body, partially covered by streamers."




    Can you guess the threat?



    It was the imps hanging in the chandeliers.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$








    • 2




      $begingroup$
      I feel like I'm missing something here. If the players are always afraid and testing things to be things they aren't...how is this helping?It appears to just attempt to redirect what they test via misdirection.
      $endgroup$
      – NautArch
      Mar 22 at 18:00






    • 7




      $begingroup$
      It's not updating the "gotcha" factor. It's describing the room as it is seen, not as it it important. Use the same "focal point" descriptions for every room, not just ones that have threats. By saying, "You enter a room, there is a table, two chairs, and a chest", you are basically saying, "There is object a, b, and c in the room. Which would you like to interact with first?" Of course they are going to be wary of things, because that's all there is in the room to examine. If you give them more to look at, they have to really think about where to direct their attention.
      $endgroup$
      – MivaScott
      Mar 22 at 21:34






    • 12




      $begingroup$
      I think this is missing an important element: include rooms that have no threat. The method currently described just makes players more paranoid because the threat is definitely there but now they can’t tell where at a glance. Their paranoia isn’t alleviated, it’s just made more anxious. By having rooms where there are no imps in the chandeliers and no thieves behind the furniture, players won’t expect every room to be a threat, and will begin to accept that sometimes a description is just a description. It also gives them opportunities to engage with rooms in non-lethal contexts.
      $endgroup$
      – SevenSidedDie
      Mar 22 at 21:46







    • 3




      $begingroup$
      @MarkWells It's an old school style of play to be that paranoid when entering the dungeon, or Tegel Manor, or anywhere. Some folks like it, some don't care for it.
      $endgroup$
      – KorvinStarmast
      Mar 23 at 0:33






    • 4




      $begingroup$
      @KorvinStarmast It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you.
      $endgroup$
      – R.M.
      2 days ago













    16












    16








    16





    $begingroup$

    The common theme throughout these types of the questions is that the DM will generally only call out things that are important. So if the DM says, "there are statues flanking the stairs," that must be important. Your description should not be on just the things the players need to interact with, but with what their focus would be.



    Describe how a rug is placed oddly in the room, that the cabinet sits with one door swinging in the wind, and the paint is flaking off the north wall. All of this has nothing to do with the story; it's just flavor.




    "You open the door and see a rather chaotic room. Although the room is unlit, there is some light coming from the moon outside the only window not boarded up. The floor is mostly carpeted, except in the center where it looks worn away. There are upturned tables and chairs pushed to the walls, emphasizing the clearing in the center of the room. Sitting in the center of the room is a large, wooden table, very different design than all the other furniture in the room. The light from the moon almost seems to spotlight the table. It has no chairs near it, nor any objects upon its surface. What do you do?"




    Turns out the table is completely normal and was brought in there on purpose by thieves. They placed it there to make it very suspicious so that adventures would waste time and spells. However all the thieves are hiding behind the tables pushed against the wall (less likely to be hit by Area of Effect spells), and a couple that hide behind the now open door. When a few adventures do finally enter, they slam the doors shut, and lock the doors separating the party.



    Note how the description is keyed to the focus of the room. When the players enter the room, highlight what is obvious, and downplay the rest (mundane and threat alike). In my example, if you walked into a room with a single table, bathed in moonlight, with no furniture, not even the carpet within 10' of it, that is where the their perception will focus. I didn't NOT talk about the tables the thieves were hiding behind, but wouldn't be the perceived danger.



    The key is to change up how you describe rooms. Drawing attention whatever is the focus of the room, and down play everything else.




    "As you enter the ballroom, you are overwhelmed by the immense size. This grand room could fit the house you grew up in. Streamers litter the floor in a paper spiderweb. The chandeliers reflect the light from your torches across everything. The twinkling lights make it hard to focus. You can see a few dusty suits of armor to the south and north. There is a bar in the back where you can only imagine once held a buffet. Between the streamers, you can make out the tile floor a checkerboard of black and a light green; matching the drapes that cover the most of the walls. In the center you can make out what could be a dead body, partially covered by streamers."




    Can you guess the threat?



    It was the imps hanging in the chandeliers.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$



    The common theme throughout these types of the questions is that the DM will generally only call out things that are important. So if the DM says, "there are statues flanking the stairs," that must be important. Your description should not be on just the things the players need to interact with, but with what their focus would be.



    Describe how a rug is placed oddly in the room, that the cabinet sits with one door swinging in the wind, and the paint is flaking off the north wall. All of this has nothing to do with the story; it's just flavor.




    "You open the door and see a rather chaotic room. Although the room is unlit, there is some light coming from the moon outside the only window not boarded up. The floor is mostly carpeted, except in the center where it looks worn away. There are upturned tables and chairs pushed to the walls, emphasizing the clearing in the center of the room. Sitting in the center of the room is a large, wooden table, very different design than all the other furniture in the room. The light from the moon almost seems to spotlight the table. It has no chairs near it, nor any objects upon its surface. What do you do?"




    Turns out the table is completely normal and was brought in there on purpose by thieves. They placed it there to make it very suspicious so that adventures would waste time and spells. However all the thieves are hiding behind the tables pushed against the wall (less likely to be hit by Area of Effect spells), and a couple that hide behind the now open door. When a few adventures do finally enter, they slam the doors shut, and lock the doors separating the party.



    Note how the description is keyed to the focus of the room. When the players enter the room, highlight what is obvious, and downplay the rest (mundane and threat alike). In my example, if you walked into a room with a single table, bathed in moonlight, with no furniture, not even the carpet within 10' of it, that is where the their perception will focus. I didn't NOT talk about the tables the thieves were hiding behind, but wouldn't be the perceived danger.



    The key is to change up how you describe rooms. Drawing attention whatever is the focus of the room, and down play everything else.




    "As you enter the ballroom, you are overwhelmed by the immense size. This grand room could fit the house you grew up in. Streamers litter the floor in a paper spiderweb. The chandeliers reflect the light from your torches across everything. The twinkling lights make it hard to focus. You can see a few dusty suits of armor to the south and north. There is a bar in the back where you can only imagine once held a buffet. Between the streamers, you can make out the tile floor a checkerboard of black and a light green; matching the drapes that cover the most of the walls. In the center you can make out what could be a dead body, partially covered by streamers."




    Can you guess the threat?



    It was the imps hanging in the chandeliers.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Mar 22 at 18:50

























    answered Mar 22 at 17:39









    MivaScottMivaScott

    6,50911346




    6,50911346







    • 2




      $begingroup$
      I feel like I'm missing something here. If the players are always afraid and testing things to be things they aren't...how is this helping?It appears to just attempt to redirect what they test via misdirection.
      $endgroup$
      – NautArch
      Mar 22 at 18:00






    • 7




      $begingroup$
      It's not updating the "gotcha" factor. It's describing the room as it is seen, not as it it important. Use the same "focal point" descriptions for every room, not just ones that have threats. By saying, "You enter a room, there is a table, two chairs, and a chest", you are basically saying, "There is object a, b, and c in the room. Which would you like to interact with first?" Of course they are going to be wary of things, because that's all there is in the room to examine. If you give them more to look at, they have to really think about where to direct their attention.
      $endgroup$
      – MivaScott
      Mar 22 at 21:34






    • 12




      $begingroup$
      I think this is missing an important element: include rooms that have no threat. The method currently described just makes players more paranoid because the threat is definitely there but now they can’t tell where at a glance. Their paranoia isn’t alleviated, it’s just made more anxious. By having rooms where there are no imps in the chandeliers and no thieves behind the furniture, players won’t expect every room to be a threat, and will begin to accept that sometimes a description is just a description. It also gives them opportunities to engage with rooms in non-lethal contexts.
      $endgroup$
      – SevenSidedDie
      Mar 22 at 21:46







    • 3




      $begingroup$
      @MarkWells It's an old school style of play to be that paranoid when entering the dungeon, or Tegel Manor, or anywhere. Some folks like it, some don't care for it.
      $endgroup$
      – KorvinStarmast
      Mar 23 at 0:33






    • 4




      $begingroup$
      @KorvinStarmast It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you.
      $endgroup$
      – R.M.
      2 days ago












    • 2




      $begingroup$
      I feel like I'm missing something here. If the players are always afraid and testing things to be things they aren't...how is this helping?It appears to just attempt to redirect what they test via misdirection.
      $endgroup$
      – NautArch
      Mar 22 at 18:00






    • 7




      $begingroup$
      It's not updating the "gotcha" factor. It's describing the room as it is seen, not as it it important. Use the same "focal point" descriptions for every room, not just ones that have threats. By saying, "You enter a room, there is a table, two chairs, and a chest", you are basically saying, "There is object a, b, and c in the room. Which would you like to interact with first?" Of course they are going to be wary of things, because that's all there is in the room to examine. If you give them more to look at, they have to really think about where to direct their attention.
      $endgroup$
      – MivaScott
      Mar 22 at 21:34






    • 12




      $begingroup$
      I think this is missing an important element: include rooms that have no threat. The method currently described just makes players more paranoid because the threat is definitely there but now they can’t tell where at a glance. Their paranoia isn’t alleviated, it’s just made more anxious. By having rooms where there are no imps in the chandeliers and no thieves behind the furniture, players won’t expect every room to be a threat, and will begin to accept that sometimes a description is just a description. It also gives them opportunities to engage with rooms in non-lethal contexts.
      $endgroup$
      – SevenSidedDie
      Mar 22 at 21:46







    • 3




      $begingroup$
      @MarkWells It's an old school style of play to be that paranoid when entering the dungeon, or Tegel Manor, or anywhere. Some folks like it, some don't care for it.
      $endgroup$
      – KorvinStarmast
      Mar 23 at 0:33






    • 4




      $begingroup$
      @KorvinStarmast It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you.
      $endgroup$
      – R.M.
      2 days ago







    2




    2




    $begingroup$
    I feel like I'm missing something here. If the players are always afraid and testing things to be things they aren't...how is this helping?It appears to just attempt to redirect what they test via misdirection.
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    Mar 22 at 18:00




    $begingroup$
    I feel like I'm missing something here. If the players are always afraid and testing things to be things they aren't...how is this helping?It appears to just attempt to redirect what they test via misdirection.
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    Mar 22 at 18:00




    7




    7




    $begingroup$
    It's not updating the "gotcha" factor. It's describing the room as it is seen, not as it it important. Use the same "focal point" descriptions for every room, not just ones that have threats. By saying, "You enter a room, there is a table, two chairs, and a chest", you are basically saying, "There is object a, b, and c in the room. Which would you like to interact with first?" Of course they are going to be wary of things, because that's all there is in the room to examine. If you give them more to look at, they have to really think about where to direct their attention.
    $endgroup$
    – MivaScott
    Mar 22 at 21:34




    $begingroup$
    It's not updating the "gotcha" factor. It's describing the room as it is seen, not as it it important. Use the same "focal point" descriptions for every room, not just ones that have threats. By saying, "You enter a room, there is a table, two chairs, and a chest", you are basically saying, "There is object a, b, and c in the room. Which would you like to interact with first?" Of course they are going to be wary of things, because that's all there is in the room to examine. If you give them more to look at, they have to really think about where to direct their attention.
    $endgroup$
    – MivaScott
    Mar 22 at 21:34




    12




    12




    $begingroup$
    I think this is missing an important element: include rooms that have no threat. The method currently described just makes players more paranoid because the threat is definitely there but now they can’t tell where at a glance. Their paranoia isn’t alleviated, it’s just made more anxious. By having rooms where there are no imps in the chandeliers and no thieves behind the furniture, players won’t expect every room to be a threat, and will begin to accept that sometimes a description is just a description. It also gives them opportunities to engage with rooms in non-lethal contexts.
    $endgroup$
    – SevenSidedDie
    Mar 22 at 21:46





    $begingroup$
    I think this is missing an important element: include rooms that have no threat. The method currently described just makes players more paranoid because the threat is definitely there but now they can’t tell where at a glance. Their paranoia isn’t alleviated, it’s just made more anxious. By having rooms where there are no imps in the chandeliers and no thieves behind the furniture, players won’t expect every room to be a threat, and will begin to accept that sometimes a description is just a description. It also gives them opportunities to engage with rooms in non-lethal contexts.
    $endgroup$
    – SevenSidedDie
    Mar 22 at 21:46





    3




    3




    $begingroup$
    @MarkWells It's an old school style of play to be that paranoid when entering the dungeon, or Tegel Manor, or anywhere. Some folks like it, some don't care for it.
    $endgroup$
    – KorvinStarmast
    Mar 23 at 0:33




    $begingroup$
    @MarkWells It's an old school style of play to be that paranoid when entering the dungeon, or Tegel Manor, or anywhere. Some folks like it, some don't care for it.
    $endgroup$
    – KorvinStarmast
    Mar 23 at 0:33




    4




    4




    $begingroup$
    @KorvinStarmast It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you.
    $endgroup$
    – R.M.
    2 days ago




    $begingroup$
    @KorvinStarmast It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you.
    $endgroup$
    – R.M.
    2 days ago











    9












    $begingroup$

    The nuclear option: just tell your players there aren't going to be any more mimics



    If things get bad enough and nothing in-game will solve their paranoia, you can just flat out, as a DM, tell your players that there are not any mimics in this room or dungeon. Of course, your players may think that you are trying to lower their guard so that you can surprise them with a mimic in the next dungeon.



    In that case, you may have to take the nuclear option and just tell your players that no more mimics will appear for the rest of your campaign, and their characters should stop expecting them. If they look for mimics, tell them out-of-game that you are still holding to this. Eventually, they will learn and you can get back to your game.



    If you did want to reintroduce mimics after banning them, give them plenty of warning, either in-game (this sorcerer is known to keep one of the last mimics known to man) or out-of-game (hey guys, I'm temporarily suspending the no-mimics rule and have placed two mimics somewhere in this dungeon). But of course, that might reintroduce the problematic behavior again.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$








    • 7




      $begingroup$
      Well of course, if you were actually a mimic, this is EXACTLY the advice you would give.
      $endgroup$
      – barbecue
      23 hours ago






    • 2




      $begingroup$
      Yes, this is good advice. Remember that you can just be direct with players. If it takes too long as they search each thing for traps or mimics, just tell them "look, there aren't any". If you don't want them to do that all the time, tell them "there won't be any in the future". This is fine. Being direct solves a lot of problems that a players/GMs for some reason try to do indirectly by hints and maybe story. Hints aren't a great way to put your point across - they can work but can also backfire or simply be missed.
      $endgroup$
      – VLAZ
      19 hours ago















    9












    $begingroup$

    The nuclear option: just tell your players there aren't going to be any more mimics



    If things get bad enough and nothing in-game will solve their paranoia, you can just flat out, as a DM, tell your players that there are not any mimics in this room or dungeon. Of course, your players may think that you are trying to lower their guard so that you can surprise them with a mimic in the next dungeon.



    In that case, you may have to take the nuclear option and just tell your players that no more mimics will appear for the rest of your campaign, and their characters should stop expecting them. If they look for mimics, tell them out-of-game that you are still holding to this. Eventually, they will learn and you can get back to your game.



    If you did want to reintroduce mimics after banning them, give them plenty of warning, either in-game (this sorcerer is known to keep one of the last mimics known to man) or out-of-game (hey guys, I'm temporarily suspending the no-mimics rule and have placed two mimics somewhere in this dungeon). But of course, that might reintroduce the problematic behavior again.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$








    • 7




      $begingroup$
      Well of course, if you were actually a mimic, this is EXACTLY the advice you would give.
      $endgroup$
      – barbecue
      23 hours ago






    • 2




      $begingroup$
      Yes, this is good advice. Remember that you can just be direct with players. If it takes too long as they search each thing for traps or mimics, just tell them "look, there aren't any". If you don't want them to do that all the time, tell them "there won't be any in the future". This is fine. Being direct solves a lot of problems that a players/GMs for some reason try to do indirectly by hints and maybe story. Hints aren't a great way to put your point across - they can work but can also backfire or simply be missed.
      $endgroup$
      – VLAZ
      19 hours ago













    9












    9








    9





    $begingroup$

    The nuclear option: just tell your players there aren't going to be any more mimics



    If things get bad enough and nothing in-game will solve their paranoia, you can just flat out, as a DM, tell your players that there are not any mimics in this room or dungeon. Of course, your players may think that you are trying to lower their guard so that you can surprise them with a mimic in the next dungeon.



    In that case, you may have to take the nuclear option and just tell your players that no more mimics will appear for the rest of your campaign, and their characters should stop expecting them. If they look for mimics, tell them out-of-game that you are still holding to this. Eventually, they will learn and you can get back to your game.



    If you did want to reintroduce mimics after banning them, give them plenty of warning, either in-game (this sorcerer is known to keep one of the last mimics known to man) or out-of-game (hey guys, I'm temporarily suspending the no-mimics rule and have placed two mimics somewhere in this dungeon). But of course, that might reintroduce the problematic behavior again.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$



    The nuclear option: just tell your players there aren't going to be any more mimics



    If things get bad enough and nothing in-game will solve their paranoia, you can just flat out, as a DM, tell your players that there are not any mimics in this room or dungeon. Of course, your players may think that you are trying to lower their guard so that you can surprise them with a mimic in the next dungeon.



    In that case, you may have to take the nuclear option and just tell your players that no more mimics will appear for the rest of your campaign, and their characters should stop expecting them. If they look for mimics, tell them out-of-game that you are still holding to this. Eventually, they will learn and you can get back to your game.



    If you did want to reintroduce mimics after banning them, give them plenty of warning, either in-game (this sorcerer is known to keep one of the last mimics known to man) or out-of-game (hey guys, I'm temporarily suspending the no-mimics rule and have placed two mimics somewhere in this dungeon). But of course, that might reintroduce the problematic behavior again.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered yesterday









    ThunderforgeThunderforge

    11.6k74598




    11.6k74598







    • 7




      $begingroup$
      Well of course, if you were actually a mimic, this is EXACTLY the advice you would give.
      $endgroup$
      – barbecue
      23 hours ago






    • 2




      $begingroup$
      Yes, this is good advice. Remember that you can just be direct with players. If it takes too long as they search each thing for traps or mimics, just tell them "look, there aren't any". If you don't want them to do that all the time, tell them "there won't be any in the future". This is fine. Being direct solves a lot of problems that a players/GMs for some reason try to do indirectly by hints and maybe story. Hints aren't a great way to put your point across - they can work but can also backfire or simply be missed.
      $endgroup$
      – VLAZ
      19 hours ago












    • 7




      $begingroup$
      Well of course, if you were actually a mimic, this is EXACTLY the advice you would give.
      $endgroup$
      – barbecue
      23 hours ago






    • 2




      $begingroup$
      Yes, this is good advice. Remember that you can just be direct with players. If it takes too long as they search each thing for traps or mimics, just tell them "look, there aren't any". If you don't want them to do that all the time, tell them "there won't be any in the future". This is fine. Being direct solves a lot of problems that a players/GMs for some reason try to do indirectly by hints and maybe story. Hints aren't a great way to put your point across - they can work but can also backfire or simply be missed.
      $endgroup$
      – VLAZ
      19 hours ago







    7




    7




    $begingroup$
    Well of course, if you were actually a mimic, this is EXACTLY the advice you would give.
    $endgroup$
    – barbecue
    23 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    Well of course, if you were actually a mimic, this is EXACTLY the advice you would give.
    $endgroup$
    – barbecue
    23 hours ago




    2




    2




    $begingroup$
    Yes, this is good advice. Remember that you can just be direct with players. If it takes too long as they search each thing for traps or mimics, just tell them "look, there aren't any". If you don't want them to do that all the time, tell them "there won't be any in the future". This is fine. Being direct solves a lot of problems that a players/GMs for some reason try to do indirectly by hints and maybe story. Hints aren't a great way to put your point across - they can work but can also backfire or simply be missed.
    $endgroup$
    – VLAZ
    19 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    Yes, this is good advice. Remember that you can just be direct with players. If it takes too long as they search each thing for traps or mimics, just tell them "look, there aren't any". If you don't want them to do that all the time, tell them "there won't be any in the future". This is fine. Being direct solves a lot of problems that a players/GMs for some reason try to do indirectly by hints and maybe story. Hints aren't a great way to put your point across - they can work but can also backfire or simply be missed.
    $endgroup$
    – VLAZ
    19 hours ago











    8












    $begingroup$

    If you want a party who is not paranoid, in spite of being repeatedly attacked by mimics, the only way to get it is to metagame, in cooperation with the players.



    Many of the answers here consist of variations on "don't use mimics" or "don't ambush your players with mimics. What if you want to be able to use mimics, but at the same time have your PCs not be paranoid about them all the time? Well, that's going to take some metagaming. After all, if you say you want your players to be surprised the twelfth time you hit them with a suit of animated armor, you're basically saying that you want the emotional and social payoff of consistently outsmarting your friends without actually having to put in the work to come up with anything novel. That's both mean and somewhat lazy.



    On the other hand, maybe what you really want isn't to constantly count coup over your friends at the table, but instead just to have the experience of a moderately foolish party who is constantly getting surprised by mimics because it makes for an interesting tactical experience. That is the sort of thing you can talk out with the party, and potentially get them to agree to, especially if you're willing to promise that the mimic-style encounters will have some other benefit. Perhaps you lard a bit more treasure into them, or you make them a bit under-leveled or something. You'd essentially be giving all of your PCs the flaw "insufficiently paranoid about mimics", and then rewarding them when they RP it properly. That could actually be a pretty entertaining game, especially if everyone was okay with playing it up a bit for humor value.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$

















      8












      $begingroup$

      If you want a party who is not paranoid, in spite of being repeatedly attacked by mimics, the only way to get it is to metagame, in cooperation with the players.



      Many of the answers here consist of variations on "don't use mimics" or "don't ambush your players with mimics. What if you want to be able to use mimics, but at the same time have your PCs not be paranoid about them all the time? Well, that's going to take some metagaming. After all, if you say you want your players to be surprised the twelfth time you hit them with a suit of animated armor, you're basically saying that you want the emotional and social payoff of consistently outsmarting your friends without actually having to put in the work to come up with anything novel. That's both mean and somewhat lazy.



      On the other hand, maybe what you really want isn't to constantly count coup over your friends at the table, but instead just to have the experience of a moderately foolish party who is constantly getting surprised by mimics because it makes for an interesting tactical experience. That is the sort of thing you can talk out with the party, and potentially get them to agree to, especially if you're willing to promise that the mimic-style encounters will have some other benefit. Perhaps you lard a bit more treasure into them, or you make them a bit under-leveled or something. You'd essentially be giving all of your PCs the flaw "insufficiently paranoid about mimics", and then rewarding them when they RP it properly. That could actually be a pretty entertaining game, especially if everyone was okay with playing it up a bit for humor value.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$















        8












        8








        8





        $begingroup$

        If you want a party who is not paranoid, in spite of being repeatedly attacked by mimics, the only way to get it is to metagame, in cooperation with the players.



        Many of the answers here consist of variations on "don't use mimics" or "don't ambush your players with mimics. What if you want to be able to use mimics, but at the same time have your PCs not be paranoid about them all the time? Well, that's going to take some metagaming. After all, if you say you want your players to be surprised the twelfth time you hit them with a suit of animated armor, you're basically saying that you want the emotional and social payoff of consistently outsmarting your friends without actually having to put in the work to come up with anything novel. That's both mean and somewhat lazy.



        On the other hand, maybe what you really want isn't to constantly count coup over your friends at the table, but instead just to have the experience of a moderately foolish party who is constantly getting surprised by mimics because it makes for an interesting tactical experience. That is the sort of thing you can talk out with the party, and potentially get them to agree to, especially if you're willing to promise that the mimic-style encounters will have some other benefit. Perhaps you lard a bit more treasure into them, or you make them a bit under-leveled or something. You'd essentially be giving all of your PCs the flaw "insufficiently paranoid about mimics", and then rewarding them when they RP it properly. That could actually be a pretty entertaining game, especially if everyone was okay with playing it up a bit for humor value.






        share|improve this answer











        $endgroup$



        If you want a party who is not paranoid, in spite of being repeatedly attacked by mimics, the only way to get it is to metagame, in cooperation with the players.



        Many of the answers here consist of variations on "don't use mimics" or "don't ambush your players with mimics. What if you want to be able to use mimics, but at the same time have your PCs not be paranoid about them all the time? Well, that's going to take some metagaming. After all, if you say you want your players to be surprised the twelfth time you hit them with a suit of animated armor, you're basically saying that you want the emotional and social payoff of consistently outsmarting your friends without actually having to put in the work to come up with anything novel. That's both mean and somewhat lazy.



        On the other hand, maybe what you really want isn't to constantly count coup over your friends at the table, but instead just to have the experience of a moderately foolish party who is constantly getting surprised by mimics because it makes for an interesting tactical experience. That is the sort of thing you can talk out with the party, and potentially get them to agree to, especially if you're willing to promise that the mimic-style encounters will have some other benefit. Perhaps you lard a bit more treasure into them, or you make them a bit under-leveled or something. You'd essentially be giving all of your PCs the flaw "insufficiently paranoid about mimics", and then rewarding them when they RP it properly. That could actually be a pretty entertaining game, especially if everyone was okay with playing it up a bit for humor value.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited Mar 23 at 0:38









        V2Blast

        25.6k488158




        25.6k488158










        answered Mar 22 at 21:29









        Ben BardenBen Barden

        11.6k12866




        11.6k12866





















            3












            $begingroup$

            Give them a simple way to detect creatures disguised as objects.



            Give one of the characters a dagger that hums when drawn if mimics, gargoyles, animated objects or other creatures disguised as seemingly-innocuous objects are near and in plain sight. I name this weapon Stone-Like.



            Most of the time, when they suspect such a thing, they'll draw the weapon and clear any suspicion:




            "The roof is lined with grotesque statuary, which--"



            "Gargoyles?! I draw Stone-Like."



            "Nothing."



            "Okay, lets move on."




            But when it does work:




            "Four suits of full plate stand upright in the corner."



            "I draw Stone-Like."



            "Hummm.... Initiative!"







            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$








            • 9




              $begingroup$
              My concern about this is that this mechanic basically bypasses wanting to use those monsters in the first place.
              $endgroup$
              – NautArch
              Mar 22 at 17:24










            • $begingroup$
              @NautArch so do all of the "well then don't use mimics" answers... and this one works faster.
              $endgroup$
              – Ben Barden
              Mar 22 at 21:30






            • 5




              $begingroup$
              @NautArch (and the 7 people who upvoted their comment) - At no point does the asker say they want to use mimics. Their problem is paranoid players frequently mistaking objects for mimics and de-railing the game. My solution directly fixes the stated problem by allowing players to quickly and freely dispel their paranoia.
              $endgroup$
              – Quadratic Wizard
              Mar 22 at 22:07










            • $begingroup$
              @QuadraticWizard correct. As KorvinStarmast says in another comment, why or how they being paranoid seems to be irrelevant in this context. I don't use mimic-like monster, but I want to be able later to use one. This answer the core of the question.
              $endgroup$
              – Vylix
              Mar 23 at 3:48















            3












            $begingroup$

            Give them a simple way to detect creatures disguised as objects.



            Give one of the characters a dagger that hums when drawn if mimics, gargoyles, animated objects or other creatures disguised as seemingly-innocuous objects are near and in plain sight. I name this weapon Stone-Like.



            Most of the time, when they suspect such a thing, they'll draw the weapon and clear any suspicion:




            "The roof is lined with grotesque statuary, which--"



            "Gargoyles?! I draw Stone-Like."



            "Nothing."



            "Okay, lets move on."




            But when it does work:




            "Four suits of full plate stand upright in the corner."



            "I draw Stone-Like."



            "Hummm.... Initiative!"







            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$








            • 9




              $begingroup$
              My concern about this is that this mechanic basically bypasses wanting to use those monsters in the first place.
              $endgroup$
              – NautArch
              Mar 22 at 17:24










            • $begingroup$
              @NautArch so do all of the "well then don't use mimics" answers... and this one works faster.
              $endgroup$
              – Ben Barden
              Mar 22 at 21:30






            • 5




              $begingroup$
              @NautArch (and the 7 people who upvoted their comment) - At no point does the asker say they want to use mimics. Their problem is paranoid players frequently mistaking objects for mimics and de-railing the game. My solution directly fixes the stated problem by allowing players to quickly and freely dispel their paranoia.
              $endgroup$
              – Quadratic Wizard
              Mar 22 at 22:07










            • $begingroup$
              @QuadraticWizard correct. As KorvinStarmast says in another comment, why or how they being paranoid seems to be irrelevant in this context. I don't use mimic-like monster, but I want to be able later to use one. This answer the core of the question.
              $endgroup$
              – Vylix
              Mar 23 at 3:48













            3












            3








            3





            $begingroup$

            Give them a simple way to detect creatures disguised as objects.



            Give one of the characters a dagger that hums when drawn if mimics, gargoyles, animated objects or other creatures disguised as seemingly-innocuous objects are near and in plain sight. I name this weapon Stone-Like.



            Most of the time, when they suspect such a thing, they'll draw the weapon and clear any suspicion:




            "The roof is lined with grotesque statuary, which--"



            "Gargoyles?! I draw Stone-Like."



            "Nothing."



            "Okay, lets move on."




            But when it does work:




            "Four suits of full plate stand upright in the corner."



            "I draw Stone-Like."



            "Hummm.... Initiative!"







            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$



            Give them a simple way to detect creatures disguised as objects.



            Give one of the characters a dagger that hums when drawn if mimics, gargoyles, animated objects or other creatures disguised as seemingly-innocuous objects are near and in plain sight. I name this weapon Stone-Like.



            Most of the time, when they suspect such a thing, they'll draw the weapon and clear any suspicion:




            "The roof is lined with grotesque statuary, which--"



            "Gargoyles?! I draw Stone-Like."



            "Nothing."



            "Okay, lets move on."




            But when it does work:




            "Four suits of full plate stand upright in the corner."



            "I draw Stone-Like."



            "Hummm.... Initiative!"








            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Mar 22 at 17:14









            Quadratic WizardQuadratic Wizard

            30.2k399163




            30.2k399163







            • 9




              $begingroup$
              My concern about this is that this mechanic basically bypasses wanting to use those monsters in the first place.
              $endgroup$
              – NautArch
              Mar 22 at 17:24










            • $begingroup$
              @NautArch so do all of the "well then don't use mimics" answers... and this one works faster.
              $endgroup$
              – Ben Barden
              Mar 22 at 21:30






            • 5




              $begingroup$
              @NautArch (and the 7 people who upvoted their comment) - At no point does the asker say they want to use mimics. Their problem is paranoid players frequently mistaking objects for mimics and de-railing the game. My solution directly fixes the stated problem by allowing players to quickly and freely dispel their paranoia.
              $endgroup$
              – Quadratic Wizard
              Mar 22 at 22:07










            • $begingroup$
              @QuadraticWizard correct. As KorvinStarmast says in another comment, why or how they being paranoid seems to be irrelevant in this context. I don't use mimic-like monster, but I want to be able later to use one. This answer the core of the question.
              $endgroup$
              – Vylix
              Mar 23 at 3:48












            • 9




              $begingroup$
              My concern about this is that this mechanic basically bypasses wanting to use those monsters in the first place.
              $endgroup$
              – NautArch
              Mar 22 at 17:24










            • $begingroup$
              @NautArch so do all of the "well then don't use mimics" answers... and this one works faster.
              $endgroup$
              – Ben Barden
              Mar 22 at 21:30






            • 5




              $begingroup$
              @NautArch (and the 7 people who upvoted their comment) - At no point does the asker say they want to use mimics. Their problem is paranoid players frequently mistaking objects for mimics and de-railing the game. My solution directly fixes the stated problem by allowing players to quickly and freely dispel their paranoia.
              $endgroup$
              – Quadratic Wizard
              Mar 22 at 22:07










            • $begingroup$
              @QuadraticWizard correct. As KorvinStarmast says in another comment, why or how they being paranoid seems to be irrelevant in this context. I don't use mimic-like monster, but I want to be able later to use one. This answer the core of the question.
              $endgroup$
              – Vylix
              Mar 23 at 3:48







            9




            9




            $begingroup$
            My concern about this is that this mechanic basically bypasses wanting to use those monsters in the first place.
            $endgroup$
            – NautArch
            Mar 22 at 17:24




            $begingroup$
            My concern about this is that this mechanic basically bypasses wanting to use those monsters in the first place.
            $endgroup$
            – NautArch
            Mar 22 at 17:24












            $begingroup$
            @NautArch so do all of the "well then don't use mimics" answers... and this one works faster.
            $endgroup$
            – Ben Barden
            Mar 22 at 21:30




            $begingroup$
            @NautArch so do all of the "well then don't use mimics" answers... and this one works faster.
            $endgroup$
            – Ben Barden
            Mar 22 at 21:30




            5




            5




            $begingroup$
            @NautArch (and the 7 people who upvoted their comment) - At no point does the asker say they want to use mimics. Their problem is paranoid players frequently mistaking objects for mimics and de-railing the game. My solution directly fixes the stated problem by allowing players to quickly and freely dispel their paranoia.
            $endgroup$
            – Quadratic Wizard
            Mar 22 at 22:07




            $begingroup$
            @NautArch (and the 7 people who upvoted their comment) - At no point does the asker say they want to use mimics. Their problem is paranoid players frequently mistaking objects for mimics and de-railing the game. My solution directly fixes the stated problem by allowing players to quickly and freely dispel their paranoia.
            $endgroup$
            – Quadratic Wizard
            Mar 22 at 22:07












            $begingroup$
            @QuadraticWizard correct. As KorvinStarmast says in another comment, why or how they being paranoid seems to be irrelevant in this context. I don't use mimic-like monster, but I want to be able later to use one. This answer the core of the question.
            $endgroup$
            – Vylix
            Mar 23 at 3:48




            $begingroup$
            @QuadraticWizard correct. As KorvinStarmast says in another comment, why or how they being paranoid seems to be irrelevant in this context. I don't use mimic-like monster, but I want to be able later to use one. This answer the core of the question.
            $endgroup$
            – Vylix
            Mar 23 at 3:48











            2












            $begingroup$

            You should occasionally have a cost for using combat to solve any potential problem. Examples:



            • You attack the chest and you break items inside.


            • They blast the armor and it triggers a trap when they weren't ready
              for the trap.


            • The stone statues were inert but the arrow shoot knocked them off the
              roof- duck for cover.


            • You destroy the valuable painting.



              This will help tone down the mimic-phobia: shooting everything endangers them, loses money and items.







            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$












            • $begingroup$
              Have you done this kind of thing as a DM, or seen it from the players' perspective? The edit was mostly for organization and a little flow in your opening sentence.
              $endgroup$
              – KorvinStarmast
              yesterday











            • $begingroup$
              Should probably emphasize that all consequences for these actions shouldn't be "penalty for penalties sake", but a more "well what else did you expect to happen?" If they use firebolt on a wooden chest, the chest/lock/contents can be destroyed, but if it was next to a fireplace there is no way it was filled with gunpowder! All consequences of their actions should be things the player doing the action could have reasonably predicted would happen. Done right, this can be hilarious; done wrong and this one of the most frustrating things a DM can do.
              $endgroup$
              – Tezra
              10 hours ago















            2












            $begingroup$

            You should occasionally have a cost for using combat to solve any potential problem. Examples:



            • You attack the chest and you break items inside.


            • They blast the armor and it triggers a trap when they weren't ready
              for the trap.


            • The stone statues were inert but the arrow shoot knocked them off the
              roof- duck for cover.


            • You destroy the valuable painting.



              This will help tone down the mimic-phobia: shooting everything endangers them, loses money and items.







            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$












            • $begingroup$
              Have you done this kind of thing as a DM, or seen it from the players' perspective? The edit was mostly for organization and a little flow in your opening sentence.
              $endgroup$
              – KorvinStarmast
              yesterday











            • $begingroup$
              Should probably emphasize that all consequences for these actions shouldn't be "penalty for penalties sake", but a more "well what else did you expect to happen?" If they use firebolt on a wooden chest, the chest/lock/contents can be destroyed, but if it was next to a fireplace there is no way it was filled with gunpowder! All consequences of their actions should be things the player doing the action could have reasonably predicted would happen. Done right, this can be hilarious; done wrong and this one of the most frustrating things a DM can do.
              $endgroup$
              – Tezra
              10 hours ago













            2












            2








            2





            $begingroup$

            You should occasionally have a cost for using combat to solve any potential problem. Examples:



            • You attack the chest and you break items inside.


            • They blast the armor and it triggers a trap when they weren't ready
              for the trap.


            • The stone statues were inert but the arrow shoot knocked them off the
              roof- duck for cover.


            • You destroy the valuable painting.



              This will help tone down the mimic-phobia: shooting everything endangers them, loses money and items.







            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$



            You should occasionally have a cost for using combat to solve any potential problem. Examples:



            • You attack the chest and you break items inside.


            • They blast the armor and it triggers a trap when they weren't ready
              for the trap.


            • The stone statues were inert but the arrow shoot knocked them off the
              roof- duck for cover.


            • You destroy the valuable painting.



              This will help tone down the mimic-phobia: shooting everything endangers them, loses money and items.








            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited yesterday









            KorvinStarmast

            82.5k20257444




            82.5k20257444










            answered yesterday









            user2617804user2617804

            324215




            324215











            • $begingroup$
              Have you done this kind of thing as a DM, or seen it from the players' perspective? The edit was mostly for organization and a little flow in your opening sentence.
              $endgroup$
              – KorvinStarmast
              yesterday











            • $begingroup$
              Should probably emphasize that all consequences for these actions shouldn't be "penalty for penalties sake", but a more "well what else did you expect to happen?" If they use firebolt on a wooden chest, the chest/lock/contents can be destroyed, but if it was next to a fireplace there is no way it was filled with gunpowder! All consequences of their actions should be things the player doing the action could have reasonably predicted would happen. Done right, this can be hilarious; done wrong and this one of the most frustrating things a DM can do.
              $endgroup$
              – Tezra
              10 hours ago
















            • $begingroup$
              Have you done this kind of thing as a DM, or seen it from the players' perspective? The edit was mostly for organization and a little flow in your opening sentence.
              $endgroup$
              – KorvinStarmast
              yesterday











            • $begingroup$
              Should probably emphasize that all consequences for these actions shouldn't be "penalty for penalties sake", but a more "well what else did you expect to happen?" If they use firebolt on a wooden chest, the chest/lock/contents can be destroyed, but if it was next to a fireplace there is no way it was filled with gunpowder! All consequences of their actions should be things the player doing the action could have reasonably predicted would happen. Done right, this can be hilarious; done wrong and this one of the most frustrating things a DM can do.
              $endgroup$
              – Tezra
              10 hours ago















            $begingroup$
            Have you done this kind of thing as a DM, or seen it from the players' perspective? The edit was mostly for organization and a little flow in your opening sentence.
            $endgroup$
            – KorvinStarmast
            yesterday





            $begingroup$
            Have you done this kind of thing as a DM, or seen it from the players' perspective? The edit was mostly for organization and a little flow in your opening sentence.
            $endgroup$
            – KorvinStarmast
            yesterday













            $begingroup$
            Should probably emphasize that all consequences for these actions shouldn't be "penalty for penalties sake", but a more "well what else did you expect to happen?" If they use firebolt on a wooden chest, the chest/lock/contents can be destroyed, but if it was next to a fireplace there is no way it was filled with gunpowder! All consequences of their actions should be things the player doing the action could have reasonably predicted would happen. Done right, this can be hilarious; done wrong and this one of the most frustrating things a DM can do.
            $endgroup$
            – Tezra
            10 hours ago




            $begingroup$
            Should probably emphasize that all consequences for these actions shouldn't be "penalty for penalties sake", but a more "well what else did you expect to happen?" If they use firebolt on a wooden chest, the chest/lock/contents can be destroyed, but if it was next to a fireplace there is no way it was filled with gunpowder! All consequences of their actions should be things the player doing the action could have reasonably predicted would happen. Done right, this can be hilarious; done wrong and this one of the most frustrating things a DM can do.
            $endgroup$
            – Tezra
            10 hours ago











            -5












            $begingroup$

            The old-school response would be: Make sure that these actions by the party take up some kind of resource. Aspects of that would be:



            • Assess wandering monster checks strictly; either according to some fixed-real time schedule, or every time PCs start attacking in this manner, etc.

            • Systemically have spell-like abilities (fire bolt, detect magic... even track crossbow bolts) strictly limited by gaming session.

            If none of these are applicable in 5E, then it's possible that the game is inherently broken. :-)






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$












            • $begingroup$
              Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
              $endgroup$
              – mxyzplk
              7 hours ago















            -5












            $begingroup$

            The old-school response would be: Make sure that these actions by the party take up some kind of resource. Aspects of that would be:



            • Assess wandering monster checks strictly; either according to some fixed-real time schedule, or every time PCs start attacking in this manner, etc.

            • Systemically have spell-like abilities (fire bolt, detect magic... even track crossbow bolts) strictly limited by gaming session.

            If none of these are applicable in 5E, then it's possible that the game is inherently broken. :-)






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$












            • $begingroup$
              Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
              $endgroup$
              – mxyzplk
              7 hours ago













            -5












            -5








            -5





            $begingroup$

            The old-school response would be: Make sure that these actions by the party take up some kind of resource. Aspects of that would be:



            • Assess wandering monster checks strictly; either according to some fixed-real time schedule, or every time PCs start attacking in this manner, etc.

            • Systemically have spell-like abilities (fire bolt, detect magic... even track crossbow bolts) strictly limited by gaming session.

            If none of these are applicable in 5E, then it's possible that the game is inherently broken. :-)






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$



            The old-school response would be: Make sure that these actions by the party take up some kind of resource. Aspects of that would be:



            • Assess wandering monster checks strictly; either according to some fixed-real time schedule, or every time PCs start attacking in this manner, etc.

            • Systemically have spell-like abilities (fire bolt, detect magic... even track crossbow bolts) strictly limited by gaming session.

            If none of these are applicable in 5E, then it's possible that the game is inherently broken. :-)







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 2 days ago









            Daniel R. CollinsDaniel R. Collins

            1,877615




            1,877615











            • $begingroup$
              Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
              $endgroup$
              – mxyzplk
              7 hours ago
















            • $begingroup$
              Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
              $endgroup$
              – mxyzplk
              7 hours ago















            $begingroup$
            Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
            $endgroup$
            – mxyzplk
            7 hours ago




            $begingroup$
            Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
            $endgroup$
            – mxyzplk
            7 hours ago

















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