CR's versus players and loot tables [Archive] - Wizards Community

CR's versus players and loot tables [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ikuraut
07-22-07, 03:45 AM I'm having a slight problem gauging my players and what they should be able to handle. Its my first time running a campaign and I'm starting the players at lvl6 with 5 players in the party.
Given the CR system in the DM guide for planning encounters my players are supposed to be able to take on monsters that have a CR equal to the ECL of all my players added up? Well thats what the wording looked like.
Also a second question. The loot tables for random loot given in the Magic Item compendium aren't terribly clear on how to hand out loot for each table. Say you have 3 CR3 mobs in an encounter are you supposed to roll 3 times (once for each) on the CR3 table or once on the CR9 or what?
Seems like a very noob question I realize but I'm a bit confused on how to set this up. I don't want to set up my players for failure by throwing too heavy a mob at them, yet I don't want them to just smack each with a sword and walk out with awesome loot.

P.S. I realize using the reasoning of my first question my players should be able to take on a CR 30 monster which is definitely flawed logic.
Heros_Backpack
07-22-07, 04:32 AM I'm having a slight problem gauging my players and what they should be able to handle. Its my first time running a campaign and I'm starting the players at lvl6 with 5 players in the party.
Given the CR system in the DM guide for planning encounters my players are supposed to be able to take on monsters that have a CR equal to the ECL of all my players added up? Well thats what the wording looked like.

The CR system is based on 4 characters in the party and puts them up against monsters equal to their average ECL. In this case, CR6 would match it.

Alternatively, since you have 5 characters in the party, try adding up all the ECLs and dividing by 4 (To work out the average if it was a 4-person party) This gives you a CR7.5 target, or rounded down as usual, CR7.

Also a second question. The loot tables for random loot given in the Magic Item compendium aren't terribly clear on how to hand out loot for each table. Say you have 3 CR3 mobs in an encounter are you supposed to roll 3 times (once for each) on the CR3 table or once on the CR9 or what?
Seems like a very noob question I realize but I'm a bit confused on how to set this up. I don't want to set up my players for failure by throwing too heavy a mob at them, yet I don't want them to just smack each with a sword and walk out with awesome loot.

I don't know about the Magic Item Compendium, but the DMG expects you to roll for the individual CRs on its treasure tables. In the case of those mobs, you would roll three times on the CR3 table.

Hope this helps.
Ikuraut
07-22-07, 04:47 AM Ahh kk. So I should pit them against CR 6's (1 per) for a tough fight? Or 1 CR 6 monster is good for a group of 4?
Heros_Backpack
07-22-07, 04:57 AM A CR6 fight should make them use up about 20-25% of their resources, and an average party should be able to cope with about 4 of these a day.

A one off tough fight might be a CR7 or CR8.

There is also an Encounter Calculator here (http://www.penpaperpixel.org/tools/d20encountercalculator.htm) that you might find useful. Just enter the character levels and the CR of the monsters and it will work out how hard it is and how much the resulting treasure should be worth.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ikuraut 07-22-07, 03:45 AM	I'm having a slight problem gauging my players and what they should be able to handle. Its my first time running a campaign and I'm starting the players at lvl6 with 5 players in the party. Given the CR system in the DM guide for planning encounters my players are supposed to be able to take on monsters that have a CR equal to the ECL of all my players added up? Well thats what the wording looked like. Also a second question. The loot tables for random loot given in the Magic Item compendium aren't terribly clear on how to hand out loot for each table. Say you have 3 CR3 mobs in an encounter are you supposed to roll 3 times (once for each) on the CR3 table or once on the CR9 or what? Seems like a very noob question I realize but I'm a bit confused on how to set this up. I don't want to set up my players for failure by throwing too heavy a mob at them, yet I don't want them to just smack each with a sword and walk out with awesome loot. P.S. I realize using the reasoning of my first question my players should be able to take on a CR 30 monster which is definitely flawed logic.
Heros_Backpack 07-22-07, 04:32 AM	I'm having a slight problem gauging my players and what they should be able to handle. Its my first time running a campaign and I'm starting the players at lvl6 with 5 players in the party. Given the CR system in the DM guide for planning encounters my players are supposed to be able to take on monsters that have a CR equal to the ECL of all my players added up? Well thats what the wording looked like. The CR system is based on 4 characters in the party and puts them up against monsters equal to their average ECL. In this case, CR6 would match it. Alternatively, since you have 5 characters in the party, try adding up all the ECLs and dividing by 4 (To work out the average if it was a 4-person party) This gives you a CR7.5 target, or rounded down as usual, CR7. Also a second question. The loot tables for random loot given in the Magic Item compendium aren't terribly clear on how to hand out loot for each table. Say you have 3 CR3 mobs in an encounter are you supposed to roll 3 times (once for each) on the CR3 table or once on the CR9 or what? Seems like a very noob question I realize but I'm a bit confused on how to set this up. I don't want to set up my players for failure by throwing too heavy a mob at them, yet I don't want them to just smack each with a sword and walk out with awesome loot. I don't know about the Magic Item Compendium, but the DMG expects you to roll for the individual CRs on its treasure tables. In the case of those mobs, you would roll three times on the CR3 table. Hope this helps.
Ikuraut 07-22-07, 04:47 AM	Ahh kk. So I should pit them against CR 6's (1 per) for a tough fight? Or 1 CR 6 monster is good for a group of 4?
Heros_Backpack 07-22-07, 04:57 AM	A CR6 fight should make them use up about 20-25% of their resources, and an average party should be able to cope with about 4 of these a day. A one off tough fight might be a CR7 or CR8. There is also an Encounter Calculator here (http://www.penpaperpixel.org/tools/d20encountercalculator.htm) that you might find useful. Just enter the character levels and the CR of the monsters and it will work out how hard it is and how much the resulting treasure should be worth.