Fair Challenge Rating? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Fair Challenge Rating? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Esswer
06-07-04, 11:20 AM I am about to drop an Ogre in an encounter against my PC's. My problem is that the party is 5 characters level 2, and the Ogre is CR 3.
I know the PC's will handle the encounter without much trouble, but where is the sense in that? In previous encounters the party also handled two CR3's while being at level 1. It seems to me that I must think about every encounter, no randomness there, no. I want the characters to fear every encounter, but if I suddenly throw in a CR 6 monster, and kill off everybody, I won't be DM'ing next time!

What are your experience about thing issue? Are there any houserules you made about the issue?
ieattrollsforbreakfast
06-07-04, 12:02 PM Remeber that CR is a guideline. When looking at monsters I first look at CR to find something that might fit the flavour. I will usually look 1 to 2 CRs higher or lower than the party level and then when I see something I like have a good look at it to see if it will be challenging or a walkover. Different parties will have different abilities that will help them in different encounters. A party full of fire immunity spells/potions etc. will not have nearly as much trouble from a fire elemental as most people, so keep things like that in mind.
MetalGemini
06-07-04, 12:48 PM I'm in the exact same situation (except my PCs just went up to level 3). I just used trial and error to figure out what they good totally destory and what was a challenge. Start at a CR 3, then 4, 5, CR 3 x2, etc

I think the biggest factor was the abilities of the monster. The CR 5s weren't so bad, unless they had special abilities like DR, poison, etc that could take out a character very fast.

I think its easier to have the encounter be a little too easy, and then fudge it a bit and have reinforcements come.
n-butyl lithium
06-07-04, 01:46 PM Also, an encounter is supposed to use about a fifth of the party's resources, I think. So one encounter that may seem overwhelming on paper could only be difficult or fair given the PCs' preparation or tactics.

nBuLi

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Esswer 06-07-04, 11:20 AM	I am about to drop an Ogre in an encounter against my PC's. My problem is that the party is 5 characters level 2, and the Ogre is CR 3. I know the PC's will handle the encounter without much trouble, but where is the sense in that? In previous encounters the party also handled two CR3's while being at level 1. It seems to me that I must think about every encounter, no randomness there, no. I want the characters to fear every encounter, but if I suddenly throw in a CR 6 monster, and kill off everybody, I won't be DM'ing next time! What are your experience about thing issue? Are there any houserules you made about the issue?
ieattrollsforbreakfast 06-07-04, 12:02 PM	Remeber that CR is a guideline. When looking at monsters I first look at CR to find something that might fit the flavour. I will usually look 1 to 2 CRs higher or lower than the party level and then when I see something I like have a good look at it to see if it will be challenging or a walkover. Different parties will have different abilities that will help them in different encounters. A party full of fire immunity spells/potions etc. will not have nearly as much trouble from a fire elemental as most people, so keep things like that in mind.
MetalGemini 06-07-04, 12:48 PM	I'm in the exact same situation (except my PCs just went up to level 3). I just used trial and error to figure out what they good totally destory and what was a challenge. Start at a CR 3, then 4, 5, CR 3 x2, etc I think the biggest factor was the abilities of the monster. The CR 5s weren't so bad, unless they had special abilities like DR, poison, etc that could take out a character very fast. I think its easier to have the encounter be a little too easy, and then fudge it a bit and have reinforcements come.
n-butyl lithium 06-07-04, 01:46 PM	Also, an encounter is supposed to use about a fifth of the party's resources, I think. So one encounter that may seem overwhelming on paper could only be difficult or fair given the PCs' preparation or tactics. nBuLi