Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Keebler 02-28-05, 11:32 PM	I have been playing with only one player for quite a while, and helping him along by having another character (essentially a cohort) join him to fight. I allow gestalt to try and balance this out a bit, but I never seem to be able to figure out what kind of CR encounters to throw at him. Iv'e been doing about 1 below his character level (as it's 2 gestalts, which i figure is about the same power as 3 normal), but he seems to be getting nearly ripped to shreds almost constantly. I try and find the right cr to keep it challenging and fun, but I haven't been able to figure out the right figure. Can any of you help me?
odhen 03-01-05, 12:32 AM	Well, if 1 below is too much, have you tried 2 below?
Keebler 03-02-05, 07:24 PM	I have, but then the encounters seem too easy, like he beats the enemy within 2 rounds. That plus the fact that when they beat encounters of that low level, they gain very little experience.
Manwe1977 03-02-05, 07:37 PM	I've been having the same problem. I run for two players, so they're running gestalts to give the party more of a broad spectrum of skills and abilities, but estimating good encounters is difficult. The rule of thumb I've been using lately, and seems to work for the most part, is I calculate their individual CR by multiplying their level total by .75 (the rationale being, they aren't quite the sum of all their levels). So a 2/2 gestalt is a CR 3, a 4/4 is a CR 6, etc. It's an inexact science, as it doesn't work every time. If anyone else has worked this out better, I'd also be interested in hearing about it. The main thing that kills a small party is a lack of actions/options, and fewer targets to divide opposing forces, and gestalt doesn't really help that. My players are both opposed to playing two characters, however.
psychognome42 03-02-05, 07:51 PM	i'm DMing the same kinda campaign, with only one player but three NPCs who come along as part of the party. i havent really had a problem, so what i just suggest is maybe adding in another cohort if you cant figur out the right CR you want.
Keebler 03-02-05, 09:25 PM	what I was thinking was that since a party is supposed to be 4 characters, that would add 4 to the CR of the party, right? (2 doublings) So a normal party should usually have encounters of a CR 4 below their party level. So if a gestalt gives a 2 person party cr +1, the party CR would be about 3 above their level, so then 4 below that is 1 below their cr, which still ends up a bit too hard. WE need to figure out a formula that works more than what we have now I guess.
Lopez 03-02-05, 09:41 PM	The difference between two Gestalts and a party of four is three words...Amounts of Actions. Four party members are about eight actions move then attack, draw and attack, etc. While a two Gestalts have better options on what to do in the end they only get half as many attacks. Easy way to look at it... Four Members= Four Attacks Two Gestalts= Two attacks That is why psychognome42 sees no problems with his using cohorts and why you see disadvantages. So somehow when you try to configure the CR put into account that you are doing less actions per round. -Sam