D&D 5E A benchmark for Encounter Deadliness

[dave2008]

I just read this article over at Mike Shea's website:
The Lazy Encounter Benchmark, a Simple Benchmark for D&D Encounter Deadliness

It is a very quick and easy method for determining if an encounter could be deadly. And really that is all I want to know. What I like about this method is that it accounts for both party numbers and strength and monster numbers and strength.

There are some rough edges since it is very simplified (an Ancient Red dragon is barely a deadly encounter for a party of 6 8th lvl characters, though @CapnZapp might agree), but I thought it was interested and worth sharing.

 

[Reynard]

It's a decent method but it falls down with single foes -- not just really high CR enemy as noted, but any single foe. 5E is, in my experience, really subject to the problem of weak solo critters, even those of appropriate CR. Legendary and lair actions help, but those aren't always appropriate for a solo creature.

 

[Fenris-77]

Oh, you mean before hand. I was going to suggest TPK. Before hand my usual measuring stick is whether or not I cackle maniacally after finishing the write up. Even a little giggle makes me think twice.

 

[GMMichael]

Two steps to judging encounter deadliness. Not bad. I think I can do it in one, though:

Step 1) Ask yourself, am I the GM?

If you assume that all of your NPCs to fight to death, conform to the numbers in the book, and obey every die roll that you make, you're not the GM.

 

[jgsugden]

There are too many random factors for any one system to work well - but the best one is to use mock battles.

If you're worried about an encounter, run a few rounds of it by yourself to see how it might go. That will usually give you a good feel.

I do this for about 10% of my encounters. I fudge a lot of the details so that I can do it in a few minutes, but it does help.

However, as I once managed to pull a TPK against 7th level PCs with a single kobold (and a cut rope)... no system is perfect.

 

[dave2008]

It's a decent method but it falls down with single foes -- not just really high CR enemy as noted, but any single foe. 5E is, in my experience, really subject to the problem of weak solo critters, even those of appropriate CR. Legendary and lair actions help, but those aren't always appropriate for a solo creature.

Well those are two separate, if related issues. The problem with single foes is that there effectiveness is even more dependent on party size, synergy, skill, and optimization. I actually think this method does a good job for a fairly optimized group. I think 6 8th lvl PCs would find an ancient red dragon deadly. The issue is, it should be deadly to a much higher lvl of PCs, but for some people it is not.

The solution to make monsters more effective is take the PF2e model and increase damage inflicted and hit rate of the monster, while reducing the hit rate on the solo (increase C and save bonuses). That works well as a standard measure and even more so with legendary actions.

I am interested what the "mythic" monster rules in MOoT will provide though.

 

[dave2008]

There are too many random factors for any one system to work well - but the best one is to use mock battles.

If you're worried about an encounter, run a few rounds of it by yourself to see how it might go. That will usually give you a good feel.

I do this for about 10% of my encounters. I fudge a lot of the details so that I can do it in a few minutes, but it does help.

However, as I once managed to pull a TPK against 7th level PCs with a single kobold (and a cut rope)... no system is perfect.

Yes, however the real use of this approach is as quick barometer of the encounter for when you need to do things on the fly.

 

[dave2008]

Two steps to judging encounter deadliness. Not bad. I think I can do it in one, though:

Step 1) Ask yourself, am I the GM?

If you assume that all of your NPCs to fight to death, conform to the numbers in the book, and obey every die roll that you make, you're not the GM.

That really isn't helpful advice is it. This suggestion is just one tool of many (the article even links to more). But being able to quickly judge if a fight could be deadly is helpful. Then you might know ahead of time, hey maybe these sea spawn really wouldn't fight to the death (unlikely since they are controlled by the aboleth, but you get the idea). It is about adding another easy tool to the DM's tool box. Just saying: look in the mirror, isn't really helpful.

 

[Fenris-77]

AngryGM has a great article on his site about an alternate system for encounter balance that's quite good.

 

[dave2008]

AngryGM has a great article on his site about an alternate system for encounter balance that's quite good.

Link?