Anyway, the DMG says the target XP per encounter is about 750 for 6 PCs and most of the preceding 7 are within about 50 xp of that target.
So here is my encounter:
1 Phantom Warrior Elite - Death Master Template
2 Corruption Corpses
8 Skeleton Minions
The corruption corpses are on 10 foot platforms with stairs leading up from the back on both sides of the room. They are accompanied by 1 minion each. The Elite PW is up on a 10 foot platform straight at the end of the room with 2 minions. The remain 4 are hiding behind walls coming from the entrance. They are set to charge anyone who enters. Also, death master template allows you to summon 4 undead minions within 10 1/encounter, meaning I can drop them on soft range targets once melee moves out.
Between the Corruption Corpses weakening the main threats to the Elite and him being substantial with 84 hps, is this encounter too hard? If so, how should I handles this?
That can also depend on two other factors
Factor 1 How experienced are your players and how well do they play together as a team?
Factor 2 How hard do you run your monsters? Do you basically use your monsters as non-intelligent fodder that do not care if they live or die. Do you play them by the rules (not much better). or do you play them as if they were your own player charactors.
Those are things for you to think about when running any encounter, you can always adjust using those two factors.
Sollution: If your PC's can successfully punish the lesser creatures the more powerful creature can flee the scene. Thus giving you a reoccurring villain, and an out from ending a campaign prematurly with out looking like you made any mistakes at all.
Or you can just start a new campaign if your players are not lucky and experienced enough to defeat this encounter.
You can always reduce some of the opponents stats to make the encounter challenging but not campaign ending.
Those are a few ideas you take what ya want and forget the rest. Good Luck and I hope this helps.
And the other encounters before hand.
It Alone however dosnt seem very differcult. BUT its the 8th encounter of the day so Possibly it could. Depending on the players and the other encounters.
if the cleric gets within turn undead range, it will kill all of the minions, and may make the tougher guys run away and fall off the platforms (if the drop is 10 feet or less), if not they will cower in fear for one turn.
the second move the cleric should do is "COMMAND", this is under used make one of the guys simply take a Move action to fall of the pillar.
Then they have one tank..uhh i mean... Defender take on the one that fell down, unless its the elite (then 2 people) wile the other ping the pillar guys until they die...Again.... I hate undead...
