Firebrand Marauder Monsters
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Fire is a primal tool and fearsome foe. Small bands of raiders suddenly pose threats to entire settlements. Noncombatants in hiding can be trapped by flames. And familar monsters suddenly deploy novel tactics and menace more characters at once. The key mechanic these five remimagined monsters deploy is a torch strike. On average¸ a single hit does less damage than a conventional hit¸ but Firebrand Marauders wield fire so well¸ they can swing at as many targets as they can see in melee range. Not only does this wear down closely packed adventurers¸ a torch strike can simultaneously hit enemies and structures¸ oil-soaked ground or strategically-placed flammable supplies. A Dungeon Master can add the Firebrand Marauder Monsters to any encounter deepened by a fire-wielding melee combatant. As a boss monster or as part of the pack¸ they are tougher¸ tactically different¸ and could add an element of spreading flames to the encounter. As a result¸ the Firebrands must be simple enough for a Dungeon Master to run easily. This design approach is more streamlined than adding class levels to a monster¸ or creating an NPC for scratch. The hope is that DM's can take these monsters ready-made and focus on the elements they need for engaging encounters and compelling storytelling.