I could use some assistance in mending a frail and shattered group dynamic.
Earlier, I had run my first session of a D&D 4e campaign. Two players had a smidge of experience with the system, and two were totally new. I had known all four players on as long-time contacts, and they knew me reasonably well.
I had thought that the first encounter would be easy enough, and indeed, I knew to be gentle on the party initially. I even made a conscious effort to avoid any and all action denial effects.
However, try as they might, they could not win. I overestimated their tactical prowess, the enemies had good initiative, and the enemies were exactly the type to capitalize on high initiative results by alpha striking.
It does not help that I am always the type to have intelligent enemies use optimal tactics that I as a player was familiar with, so the players constantly found themselves outmaneuvered and tactically screwed over by these enemies that were not that much stronger by them.
Perhaps an additional source of frustration was that there was just enough hope to pull through and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, but those extra rounds of playing out the encounter were futile.
All players were deeply resentful, and one player had quit the game. The group dynamic has all but disintegrated by now.
We tried to discuss potential solutions after the session, but I do not think much progress was made. I am not the type to have intelligent monsters use suboptimal tactics, because it simply does not satisfy me, and my tactical RPG instincts are too strong for me to consciously dial down. I could use weaker monsters or less monsters, but one player has complained that it means that the heroes will *not* be the one using their wits and cunning to take down stronger foes. I suppose I could try to sell that for these enemies, much of their might lies in their keen battle instincts, and therefore, overcoming them in battle is a great accomplishment.
How might I fix this?