Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 OrwellianHaggis Mar 15, 2015 6:40:30	Is it as simple to pit one character against a monster as it is a full four man party? A CR4 creature, I believe, should be a challenge for four PCs of fourth level. Does that mean a single level sixteen character would find it the same challenge?
#2 iserith Mar 15, 2015 6:48:13	By the numbers, a CR 4 monster against a single 16th-level PC would be an Easy encounter.   But if you're smart about your scenario design, you can still create an effective challenge even when there is huge disparity between the level of the PC and the CR/XP value of the monster. See, for example, Sea Horse Run where CR 0, 0 XP, 0-damage sea horses give the PCs a run for their money!
#3 OrwellianHaggis Mar 15, 2015 7:10:46	I've read that, and have to say I love it. The reason I'm asking is because I'm trying to encourage my wife to try DMing a game. I'm sure she'd be great at it, and if she does it a few times I'm sure her confidence will soar. To that end, I'm writing the encounter where a warlock faces her patron. At first I was going to make it a one on one encounter, but I wasn't sure how the CR would work. Perhaps I should consider a less combat focused challenge, as you so often do. My PC must break the source of the patron's power? I could refluff your seahorse encounter...
#4 iserith Mar 15, 2015 7:15:01	Who is her patron and why are they in conflict?
#5 OrwellianHaggis Mar 15, 2015 7:29:24	It's been a while since I looked at this...   Her patron is a lesser demon. They're in conflict because she was given to him by his cult, and she's spent all her time between furthering his cause (to allay suspicion) and working to defeat him. He has impregnated her, and one the boy is born he plans on killing her as she'll be no more use to him. His half-mortal son will be able to carve out a physical world empire for him. She wants to keep her baby safe and keep herself alive to mother him.