This is for D&D 5e.
I’m currently making a reoccurring antagonist NPC that is a master thief. It’s CR 6 and I want it to be capable of making three attacks per round like multiattack but also have their thief subclass’s enhanced cunning action with fast hands.
This would normally mean they’d get 3 attacks and a varying options for bonus actions, however I’d want them to be able to trade up to three if these attacks to have more uses of cunning action (this would of course stack the ability to dash 4 times per round but I’d just not do that while running the monster). They also have a special once per day ability that I’d want them to be able to swap a single attack for.
It got me thinking, instead of trying to make an unwieldy combination of multiattack, a special action and cunning action, could I just give them three actions?
The simple way this NPC works that I want them to pick 3 options from:
- Dagger
- Crossbow
- Special action
- Dash
- Disengage
- Hide
- Make an ability check
- Use an object
- Use a set of tools
At this point, what do I actually lose from letting them take 3 actions? They aren’t a Spellcaster so I’m not worried about them throwing out three fireballs or the like.
Things to consider when having a single enemy have multiple actions: how much can they do without any possible player input. Can they 100->0 a player with 3 attacks? Can they get into range, attack, move out of range, so on their turns the melee players have to dash and never get to attack? Legendary actions split the bosses turn into multiple initiative steps to allow players to react in between actions.
It could be a cool fight, if the boss gets to do one thing after every player turn (either move, action, or bonus action). It completely changes the fight dynamic and might run into problems for actions that also use movement etc but it feels more interactive than getting hit by an enemy that always runs out of your movent range after every attack.
I initially built them as having multiattack before thinking of this, and they’d only get as many actions as the number of attacks, so they wouldn’t be risking instantly downing a PC more than any creature with standard multiattack.
As for yo-yoing on the edge of their attack range, I think I’ll lower their weapon range and their special ability basically requires them to consistently read aloud from a grimour, so I’ll half their movement while that’s active (they’ll either be retreating entirely or using the book).
The main reason I’m hesitant with legendary actions is that I already use the MCDM villain actions and this NPC is going to be encountered with basically a heist team, so I don’t want to manage too much for this creature off their turn.
Edit: Thinking about it more, I’m happy not making it all happen in a turn and giving them two legendary actions, however for the sake of versatility, I don’t see an issue with making those legendary actions “The thief takes an action”.