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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AllisterH" data-source="post: 4162393" data-attributes="member: 51325">WHY?You're equating the most important thing with the monster as being its level. That isn't what the main thing you should look at. You should be looking at its XP VALUE. THAT to me, is the main thing a DM should be looking at when thinking about encounters.Look at the example of the pre-gens not at the level of the monster they can tackle, but the total xp value of the challenge and thus a succubus should not be able to beat down an entire party of 6 PCs.Now, does this mean the scale is flattened entirely. Not entirely since I imagine a level 5 PC will simply obliterate a level 1 PC. The level 5 PC will just be plain ass better but the difference is that the new XP scale basically says, "Numbers matter". Similarly, the level 9 succubs by itself with its basic attack could probably kill any 1st level PC without missing a beat.PReviously, in D&D, if you were say level X, a monster that you met 5 levels before and defeated would not be a good challenge since you're defenses/offenses would be so high that irrespective of the number of monsters thrown at you, said monster would be ineffective. Conversely, a monster 5 levels above you would simply curbstomp you into the ground no questions asked.4E is simply increasing the level range of effective monsters which is a good thing.Another benefit is that it allows for varied PC levels. Which not only works well for players but also neatly handles the issue of followers/companions/NPCs. A level 5 party doesn't have to worry that just by the monster breathing on a level 3 follower that said follower will die and at the same time, you can have a high level NPC (with respect to the party) and not have to either a) have a monster that only the NPC can deal with which would completely trample the party and b) have a monster that the NPC could deal with in their sleep.Thus, you can have a couple of level 2 NPCs, 5 level PCs all following a level 9 NPC and construct QUICKLY (which to me as a DM the biggest appeal) a fun/decent challenge without worrying too much about making it either too easy or too hard.</blockquote>

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