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<blockquote data-quote="Oofta" data-source="post: 9395857" data-attributes="member: 6801845">I don't use modules but my general impression is that encounters are always targeted at the lowest common denominator. They're targeted at players who don't know what they're doing, don't synergize, don't have any concept of decent tactics. The other potential issue is the 5 minute workday that's plagued pretty much every edition. If they can always get a long rest after every fight or two you really need to kick up the threat level a few notches. I don't know why they don't cover this in modules, but you have always needed to adjust the difficulty level for your group. It's not that hard to do and it's not the fault of the system, even if the module should be providing options. There simply is no one size fits all.You can increase difficulty multiple ways, add more monsters and make sure the don't show up in fireball formation and/or in waves. Set up little goals like the guy in the back is going over to what looks like an alarm for reinforcements. If you don't want to do that,&nbsp; I simply add pluses to AC, attack bonus and damage. I make sure the enemy has effective weapons or can force the PCs into somewhere that their weapons are effective. Also consider just adding attacks you would think are thematically relevant. For example give giants a sweeping attack that targets multiple creatures in an arc. Give them a charge attack something like the fire giant dreadnought's charge attack. I also use the gritty rest rules, a short rest is overnight, a long rest is several days.&nbsp; I typically have between 4 and 6 fights between long rests. I've run multiple groups now to level 20, sometimes they stomp on my encounters but just as often or more often I stomp on the party. Difficulty level is always in the hands of the DM.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Oofta, post: 9395857, member: 6801845"] I don't use modules but my general impression is that encounters are always targeted at the lowest common denominator. They're targeted at players who don't know what they're doing, don't synergize, don't have any concept of decent tactics. The other potential issue is the 5 minute workday that's plagued pretty much every edition. If they can always get a long rest after every fight or two you really need to kick up the threat level a few notches. I don't know why they don't cover this in modules, but you have always needed to adjust the difficulty level for your group. It's not that hard to do and it's not the fault of the system, even if the module should be providing options. There simply is no one size fits all. You can increase difficulty multiple ways, add more monsters and make sure the don't show up in fireball formation and/or in waves. Set up little goals like the guy in the back is going over to what looks like an alarm for reinforcements. If you don't want to do that, I simply add pluses to AC, attack bonus and damage. I make sure the enemy has effective weapons or can force the PCs into somewhere that their weapons are effective. Also consider just adding attacks you would think are thematically relevant. For example give giants a sweeping attack that targets multiple creatures in an arc. Give them a charge attack something like the fire giant dreadnought's charge attack. I also use the gritty rest rules, a short rest is overnight, a long rest is several days. I typically have between 4 and 6 fights between long rests. I've run multiple groups now to level 20, sometimes they stomp on my encounters but just as often or more often I stomp on the party. Difficulty level is always in the hands of the DM. [/QUOTE]

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