The opening fight scene from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has inspired a creative battle plan for boss fights and large monsters in Dungeons and Dragons.A blog post by ThinkDM strategically maps out what requirements and conditions must be met to determine whether players can emulate Drax the Destroyer's tactics in D&D. The guide takes into account the monsters that can swallow players in fifth edition D&D, the Armour Class of said creatures and even if attacks from inside the beast would be burdened with disadvantage on attack rolls.
After naming a few notable beasts large enough to swallow players, ThinkDM lists four considerations for this strategy: how much damage they deal and take, both inside and outside the monster. For the former, the author sets the precedent that one must know the total amounts from both inside and outside of the enemy. This is done so players "can establish a baseline to determine whether it’s better to be attacking from the inside." These calculations take into account both the player's and monster's AC, respectively.
ThinkDM even ponders whether players would be considered "blinded" when swallowed. Ordinarily, a creature suffering from the status effect would receive disadvantage on an attack roll. However, the writer notes that since both the swallowed and swallower can be considered blinded, the disadvantages cancel each other out. This means any damage roll is the same both inside and outside the creature.
How a monster attacks those it swallows has also been taken into account. ThinkDM states, "If you’re in a monster’s belly, it can’t attack you with its regular attacks!" While this can also prevent the creature from performing regular attacks against others, the swallowed player may still take damage from environmental hazards, such as stomach acid. Ultimately, ThinkDM concludes that it probably isn't too advantageous to mimic the actions of Drax the Destroyer.
The intro scene to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 sees the ragtag group of heroes fight an interdimensional beast, known as an Abilisk. While Groot dances around to "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra, the rest of the Guardians struggle to defeat the creature. Drax suddenly realizes that the Abilisk's skin is impenetrable and that the only way to kill it is from the inside. As Quill and Gamora note in the scene, this is ill-advised as the skin will be just as thick inside as it is outside. While Drax's actions don't help, the idea inspired ThinkDM to work out how to best implement the tactic in Dungeons & Dragons.
Dubbed the "Drax Technique," this move went somewhat viral on social media. GotG Vol. 2 make-ep FX artist, Jon Moore, tweeted his pleasure at the strategy being considered viable in D&D. Moore even had a reply from the film's director, James Gunn, further infamizing the unconventional tactic.
Source: ThinkDM