I’m thinking of introducing the big bad of my campaign to my players via a flashback sequence, but using a magic item that lets them “experience another party’s final moment as if they were living it themselves.” Essentially, I’ll let them have control of NPCs that are a higher level than they currently are at the start of a combat encounter. If they do decent before they get wiped, they’ll “learn” of a wound that the big bad got during that fight that they can exploit later.

I was thinking that this will let my players try classes that they don’t usually play as, and I can tease magic items for them to hunt for in the enemy’s camp if I choose to give that party any.

Thoughts?