@AskTheDevil I think I like a mixed approach- especially if there are multiple ways to avoid a confrontation. It makes the world I created feel a lot more perilous, which is tough to do sometimes. Especially given the fact that in 5e you can recover from death's door in a single night's sleep.
@aspecurian A confrontation they can get through without combat isn't above their level!
: )
@AskTheDevil Depends how they approach the scenario.
My players once found themselves in the elemental plane of Mud. Found a big mud-fountain inhabited by an elemental, with a treasure chest bobbing on the top. Elemental couldn't leave the fountain. They could easily have found a way to get the chest- a simple rope and grapple would have done the job!- but instead they literally waded in and got TPK'ed.
@aspecurian The one monster it is difficult for the GM to protect the party from is the party.
@aspecurian Since my style focuses on a collaborative story, whatever challenges they encounter are a function of the plot threads they pull and follow. If they go pick a fight with something far tougher than them... well, that was their choice, and they'll reach the Finding Out stage of their actions :)
@lenaoflune I think ensuring that they can beat anything they come up against destroys verisimilitude.
If you disregard the warnings and wander the woods near Silvergate during the dark of the moon, you're going to have a bad time. Even the most powerful heroes fear the Feywild. 😼
@aspecurian Absolutely! I've had players pick a fight with the Prince of a city, or go try to hunt down legendary dragons.
And as we all know, the greater the value of Fucking Around, the greater the value of Finding Out 🤣
"Why are you spending so much time describing the exits?"
"Oh, I dunno. I just figure you might need that momentarily."
@aspecurian Typically I keep encounters level appropriate. Why would I send them up against stuff they cannot deal with?
I occasionally have a big bad show up to nya-ha-ha at the party while they're still too powerful, but I don't actually make them fight or anything.