A Question on Level Adjustment

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

HeavensThunderHammer

Aug 29, 2009 12:47:37

 


I'm looking at giving my PC's an "Ultra Elite" Array at 18,17,16,15,13,10 instead of 15,14,13,12,10,8.  When calculating the PC's EL, should I add +1 to the CR of mobs to have a "standard" encounter or whatever?


I realize this is not exactly an optimizing question, but the PC's will be optimizing using techniques from this board, so I figure you guys were a good place to start.


 

#2

CantripN

Aug 29, 2009 14:23:17

Short Answer: No.


Long Answer: No, because having such stats is nice but hardly amazing, and certainly isn't worth a level. That said, optimized PCs may well be worth a +1 or 2 CR for encounters, done right. +3 or even 4, for some. But that mostly depends on classes and cleverness from the players.

#3

pithica

Aug 29, 2009 15:04:54

What he said.


There is a bottom threshold for PC's of various classes being 'playable' but the upend of the usual scale doesn't necessarily increase their power to the point of making encounters trivial (unless they're ending up over 30 or 40 in a stat, in which case, yes).


When I run, I run for a group that's been playing, and playing together for quite a while. They're also, on the whole, quite clever in the way they interact with the encounters, no mater what they're playing. Character creation is generally on the more optimal side, and It's not uncommon for me to help them build characters so their characters are mechanically really good at what they should be good at romantically. It's not uncommon for a group of 5 of them to wipe the floor with encounters 2 or even 3 above their 'CR limit', and I generally have to 'raise the bar' both in the tactics and abilities of the encounters every game or two. More often than not, it's because someone thought of something novel that either I, or the NPC, hadn't thought of them trying. But, as far as I'm concerned, that's okay, as after all, they're the 'heroes' (protagonists) of the story. 


I'd start with encounters of an Even CR played well, and see how they do, then adjust up or down on the difficulty as appropriate.

#4

HeavensThunderHammer

Aug 29, 2009 15:46:29

Ok thanks for the suggestions guys!