Encounters, XP and Leveling - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Encounters, XP and Leveling

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Wick
Dec 14, 2008 13:10:43 I know I read something a while back about this but I can't find it right now. I am building my campaign and am looking for a framework of how many encounters, on average, PCs go through for each level and tier. I know that if vague but I am looking for an average framework to build around. I thought there was something in the DMG but I can't find it.

My campaign is built around three major quests. I want one to be at Heroic tier, the second to be at paragon, and the third and final to be at epic.

Thanks
#2
aranos
Dec 14, 2008 18:08:19 Well It helps to have some kind of idea as to how long your sessions are and how many players you have.

In general my players gaines a level every 2 sessions through the heroic tier, there are 7 of them and we play from 5pm to about 3am. I take the xp of an average critter of equal level to the party and multiply it be 7, that is the xp I give them each for a typical encounter. They get more for harder encounters. By harder I mean an encounter that takes a very long time or causes two or more PCs to go down to 0 hp.
#3
Wick
Dec 14, 2008 20:18:40 Thanks for the information but here is the type of thing I was looking for.

Encounter outline:

* One encounter "1 level below the party's level"
* Three encounters "at the party's level"
* Three encounters "1 level above the party's level"
* One encounter "3 levels above the party's level"
* One major quest XP reward
#4
aranos
Dec 14, 2008 20:43:39 OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Sorry.

Hmm I usually end up with

2 Encounters at party level
1 At party level +2-3
1 Major Quest
A few misc rewards for roleplaying, traps, puzzles and minor quests

I never bother with encounters below party level. My players have too easy of a time with opponents of equal level.
#5
hellgrammite00
Dec 15, 2008 20:45:41 Sounds pretty good.

How much do you hand out gold and magical weapons?

My recent 4e campaign started at 3rd level characters, and I gave everybody 2,000gp to start out with. They thought it was alittle high, but looking at the DM guide, it looks like money, and especially magic weapons, are handed out liberally.
#6
aranos
Dec 15, 2008 22:10:17 I like my party to stay nice and desperate for gold, so I hand out a 3rd of what the DMG suggests. For magic items, I follow the dmg strictly.
#7
Goober4473
Dec 16, 2008 22:13:49 10 encounters of equal level worth of XP is a level, so you can use that as a baseline. If encounters average to about party level, and you have some quest rewards, maybe 7-9 encounters per level?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Wick Dec 14, 2008 13:10:43	I know I read something a while back about this but I can't find it right now. I am building my campaign and am looking for a framework of how many encounters, on average, PCs go through for each level and tier. I know that if vague but I am looking for an average framework to build around. I thought there was something in the DMG but I can't find it. My campaign is built around three major quests. I want one to be at Heroic tier, the second to be at paragon, and the third and final to be at epic. Thanks
#2 aranos Dec 14, 2008 18:08:19	Well It helps to have some kind of idea as to how long your sessions are and how many players you have. In general my players gaines a level every 2 sessions through the heroic tier, there are 7 of them and we play from 5pm to about 3am. I take the xp of an average critter of equal level to the party and multiply it be 7, that is the xp I give them each for a typical encounter. They get more for harder encounters. By harder I mean an encounter that takes a very long time or causes two or more PCs to go down to 0 hp.
#3 Wick Dec 14, 2008 20:18:40	Thanks for the information but here is the type of thing I was looking for. Encounter outline: * One encounter "1 level below the party's level" * Three encounters "at the party's level" * Three encounters "1 level above the party's level" * One encounter "3 levels above the party's level" * One major quest XP reward
#4 aranos Dec 14, 2008 20:43:39	OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Sorry. Hmm I usually end up with 2 Encounters at party level 1 At party level +2-3 1 Major Quest A few misc rewards for roleplaying, traps, puzzles and minor quests I never bother with encounters below party level. My players have too easy of a time with opponents of equal level.
#5 hellgrammite00 Dec 15, 2008 20:45:41	Sounds pretty good. How much do you hand out gold and magical weapons? My recent 4e campaign started at 3rd level characters, and I gave everybody 2,000gp to start out with. They thought it was alittle high, but looking at the DM guide, it looks like money, and especially magic weapons, are handed out liberally.
#6 aranos Dec 15, 2008 22:10:17	I like my party to stay nice and desperate for gold, so I hand out a 3rd of what the DMG suggests. For magic items, I follow the dmg strictly.
#7 Goober4473 Dec 16, 2008 22:13:49	10 encounters of equal level worth of XP is a level, so you can use that as a baseline. If encounters average to about party level, and you have some quest rewards, maybe 7-9 encounters per level?