Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Aetherium Nov 29, 2014 10:17:36	My party has cruised to 4th level after 5 sessions but I still want to use templates from the MM for things like bandits, which are 1/8 Challenge. I know I can just add more and more bandits to make encounters more challenging, but at some point it will become ridiculous... How do you scale-up the Challenge rating of a mob so that it's stats are more in-line with a higher level creature? For example, how do I bump a single bandit's stat block from 1/8 to 1?
#2 Daydreamer80 Nov 29, 2014 10:29:10	Well, one easy thing you can do to throw tougher bandits at them is to use another template that is similarily styled in the same role.   For example, upgrading bandits, to thug would singificantly increase the individual bandits strength.   You could then use spy's for some of them so they are good at ranged attacks.   Then later on you can use temples like berseker or gladiator.      To flavor it, the heros have gained in power and reputation.  Regular bandits generaly know better than to mess with people like the pcs.  They are attracting a better class of villian .
(Reply to #2) Aetherium	Great approach! Thanks   Daydreamer80 wrote:
#4 bonethug0108 Nov 29, 2014 11:25:21	I know it doesn't help if you don't have it yet, but the DMG will have rules to help scale baddies also. Humanoids thankfully have a bunch of varieties in the back of the MM, but for other critters those scaling rules will help.   But as a quick rule you can do stuff like add 1-2 to ac and their hit bonuses, add a couple of hit die to their HP, and add one die of damage to their attacks.
(Reply to #4) Aetherium	Gonna pick up the DMG today after I finish some story writing for tomorrow's session!   bonethug0108 wrote:
#6 bonethug0108 Nov 29, 2014 11:36:57	Awesome! That will be a lot more specific then. Unfortunately I have no early release here. But patience is a virtue.
#7 Rhenny Nov 29, 2014 11:45:40	DM can just give a weak monster better armor, class levels or just pick a special feat or two and throw it on the critter.   Imagine the players' surprise when they try to move around a kobold and the kobold attacks because it has the Sentinal feat.   To make a critter an elite warrior give them just 2 levels of fighter.   That would add 12+ hp plus con bonus and give them second wind, and action surge.   It is still easy to manage for the DM.   I like to do this kind of think with a leader type monster that directs or controls a unit.   Remember, the entries in the monster manual are average creatures.   There can be some specimens with 50% more hit points or 50% less hit points too.
#8 Zalbarthemad Nov 29, 2014 14:31:20	One of the things that I notice a lot is that DMs rarely, if ever, use monsters to their full advantage. The classic example of this is in Lost Mine of Phandelver with the opening encounter being an ambush by 4 goblins. Used to the full potention of their abilities (bonus action: disengage/hide) the encounter turns very deadly. If you use the goblins as melee fodder then it's an easy win for the PC's. Use tactics. The Bandit Captain is up front with 2 thugs blocking the PCs while the bandits in the back fire crossbows. Have, bandits use the dodge action while others move to flank. Set traps. Add in magic users. Poison. Traps. Use terrain and cover. The one thing to always keep in mind is that you shouldn't ever fall into the trap of becoming adverserial. The PC's are not the enemy, and you are not their opponent. The point of designing challenging encounters is for everyone to have fun.
#9 MechaPilot Nov 29, 2014 15:24:53	The DMG also has rules for mobs.  The basic concept is that you figure out what the D20 roll the members of the mod need to roll to hit their target, and a table tells you how many of them must attack that target for one of them to hit it.  No attack rolls, just every X attackers at required roll of Y means one of them hits (the one that does the most damage if there is a difference).
#10 bonethug0108 Nov 29, 2014 15:26:39	That definitely would help speed up play if you throw a large low level ambush at a high level party.
#11 sleypy Nov 29, 2014 15:39:28	Zalbarthemad wrote: