Adventure Level Adjustment [Archive] - Wizards Community

Adventure Level Adjustment [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
djpika
06-21-05, 02:27 PM I know this has been asnwered before, but I couldn't recall what the thread title was. *sorry*

If the adventure is recommended for a party of four 6 level characters and I have 6 party members, what levels should I make the PC's? I think it's easier to bump the pc's down a level as opposed to upping all the CR's of the encounters.

Thanks.
Telperion
06-21-05, 02:45 PM The easiest thing to do, IMO, is add a couple of monsters here and there. The adventure should be quite challenging enough even though you have a slightly larger group than what is suggested in the adventure box / booklet / etc...

For example:
if there are 4 ghouls (EL 4) in a graveyard just throw in 5 - 6 (EL 5), and so forth. Removing a level from each of the party members feels like a bit too drastic, because that's a lot of resources you are taking away from the party. Fewer resources means the party won't be able to take on so many challenges, which eventually just dampens the fun.
Lord Ian Stark
06-21-05, 03:44 PM I would (and have done without problem) make them all start at 4th level.

I use the method where if you add or subtract a number to the party you do the same for there CR.

In other words if you have five 4th level characters then they are equivilant to the CR 5 creatures for an average encounter. (Remember the CR is not an even match but one that takes up only 20% of the parties resources of the equivilant level.)
TwistedShadow
06-22-05, 04:39 PM I have to agree, you should probly ramp up the challenge rating of the group by 1 for every 2 PC's past 4 that you have in the party. Its really up to determine what might be challenging. I usually recommend that you keep at least a copy of your PC's information, and then try to guage your challenges based on what you feel they could reasonably handle
astute1
06-22-05, 04:48 PM I would suggest multiplying the number of monsters in each encounter by 1.5 - for bosses and other encounters (traps), just increase the CR by one for each encounter. This can be a bit harder than having your players make their characters a lower level, but I find it gives a more balanced feel to the adventure. Especially in fights, since a party of six might be bored fighting one or two monsters - but with three monsters there is plenty to go around!
yonman
06-22-05, 06:20 PM I know this has been asnwered before, but I couldn't recall what the thread title was. *sorry*

If the adventure is recommended for a party of four 6 level characters and I have 6 party members, what levels should I make the PC's? I think it's easier to bump the pc's down a level as opposed to upping all the CR's of the encounters.

Thanks.

Just use this Encounter Calculator and ramp up the encounters in the adventure by 1 additional CR. If you calculate it your effective Party level is 7.2 so just increase your adventure accordingly.
Either that or just make them all 5th level characters which would make the effective Party Level 6.2

http://www.d20srd.org/encounterCalculator.htm
djpika
06-22-05, 06:47 PM Ok - I was thinking of calculating the net xp per player per encounter and calculating backwards using the increased player count to determine the needed CR's - although that seems painful to do upfront.
astute1
06-23-05, 12:40 AM It's also a waste of time. Just remember that doubling the number of creatures adds +2 to the CR and doubles the XP award. 1.5 times the creatures = 1.5 times the XP award. If you have six players, that's what you need to do.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
djpika 06-21-05, 02:27 PM	I know this has been asnwered before, but I couldn't recall what the thread title was. sorry If the adventure is recommended for a party of four 6 level characters and I have 6 party members, what levels should I make the PC's? I think it's easier to bump the pc's down a level as opposed to upping all the CR's of the encounters. Thanks.
Telperion 06-21-05, 02:45 PM	The easiest thing to do, IMO, is add a couple of monsters here and there. The adventure should be quite challenging enough even though you have a slightly larger group than what is suggested in the adventure box / booklet / etc... For example: if there are 4 ghouls (EL 4) in a graveyard just throw in 5 - 6 (EL 5), and so forth. Removing a level from each of the party members feels like a bit too drastic, because that's a lot of resources you are taking away from the party. Fewer resources means the party won't be able to take on so many challenges, which eventually just dampens the fun.
Lord Ian Stark 06-21-05, 03:44 PM	I would (and have done without problem) make them all start at 4th level. I use the method where if you add or subtract a number to the party you do the same for there CR. In other words if you have five 4th level characters then they are equivilant to the CR 5 creatures for an average encounter. (Remember the CR is not an even match but one that takes up only 20% of the parties resources of the equivilant level.)
TwistedShadow 06-22-05, 04:39 PM	I have to agree, you should probly ramp up the challenge rating of the group by 1 for every 2 PC's past 4 that you have in the party. Its really up to determine what might be challenging. I usually recommend that you keep at least a copy of your PC's information, and then try to guage your challenges based on what you feel they could reasonably handle
astute1 06-22-05, 04:48 PM	I would suggest multiplying the number of monsters in each encounter by 1.5 - for bosses and other encounters (traps), just increase the CR by one for each encounter. This can be a bit harder than having your players make their characters a lower level, but I find it gives a more balanced feel to the adventure. Especially in fights, since a party of six might be bored fighting one or two monsters - but with three monsters there is plenty to go around!
yonman 06-22-05, 06:20 PM	I know this has been asnwered before, but I couldn't recall what the thread title was. sorry If the adventure is recommended for a party of four 6 level characters and I have 6 party members, what levels should I make the PC's? I think it's easier to bump the pc's down a level as opposed to upping all the CR's of the encounters. Thanks. Just use this Encounter Calculator and ramp up the encounters in the adventure by 1 additional CR. If you calculate it your effective Party level is 7.2 so just increase your adventure accordingly. Either that or just make them all 5th level characters which would make the effective Party Level 6.2 http://www.d20srd.org/encounterCalculator.htm
djpika 06-22-05, 06:47 PM	Ok - I was thinking of calculating the net xp per player per encounter and calculating backwards using the increased player count to determine the needed CR's - although that seems painful to do upfront.
astute1 06-23-05, 12:40 AM	It's also a waste of time. Just remember that doubling the number of creatures adds +2 to the CR and doubles the XP award. 1.5 times the creatures = 1.5 times the XP award. If you have six players, that's what you need to do.