@akjeWell, the way I like to look at it is this: Alula's moon death beam of orphanage devastation only blinded the ettin, but your midget with a sword he can only swing around haphazardly gutted him like a pig.
There's also the matter of you landed a series of successive hits and controlling the ettin and its actions. I'm by no means criticizing you, it's just that even if the ettin was only a mini-boss, it might need GM approval for you to go Leeroy Jenkins and downright slaughter it.
Yeah, I thought about all of those.
I don't know about the moon beam: I expected it to do more than blind the Ettin.
The sword gutting him: well yeah, If you are lying flat on your back and the heated sword falls point down it'll go in. I made a point out of Furnace not using swordplay but instead relying on the weight of the blade. Note that I wouldn't be surprised if the sword is ruined after this.
NPC control: I've been hesitant to do that, but I've seen other players control NPC's as well, including in combat, so I guess I'd use it because the combat would take days otherwise and I was hoping we could wrap this scene up before I have to leave for vacation.
I'm not sure if I'm trying to make a point here, I'm just writing down my thought process. Here's why I think Furnace had an incredible advantage in this scene.
Furnace Vs. Ettin breakdown:Size: Both are extremes on each side of the spectrum, while Furnace is harder to hit the Ettin is easy to hit, and while Furnace doesn't hit with much physical force, the Ettin could probably punt him the distance of a soccer field.
Area: the area they are fighting is rapidly heating up and scattered with 'land mines' of molten metal.
Thus, difficult terrain and ongoing damage to everyone not used to high temperatures and serious pain for everyone not nimble or perceptive enough to avoid liquid metal.
Weapons: The Ettin wields a flail, which, having a chain, is very susceptible to the constant sundering going on.
Furnace grabs his sword. Though it would lose some metal with every swing (like a melting Popsicle) it is the most viable weapon in this situation. Even if it'll be ruined after.
So in conclusion: While the Ettin has better combat abilities and chances than Furnace. Furnace was in his element here (litteraly).
By deciding to charge into the fire effect on a dirt road littered with burning corpses and rubble the Ettin condemned itself to:
- ongoing fire damage
- high chances of stepping on something painful, resulting in falling and more damage.
- having all his gear burn/melt
Thats a bunch of penalties to hit and to AC.