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<blockquote data-quote="Phlebas" data-source="post: 3638302" data-attributes="member: 23810">if your playing rules as written, then use the CR guidelines to the max - don't be afraid when your random encounter occasionally knocks PC's negative. i've had a number of times when i was worrying about TPK, only for a PC to bring out a spell or magic item and take out the monster with one hit!(there's some optional rules for&nbsp; increased negatives before PC's die that IMHO are useful while you're trying out new monsters and magic types and don't really want to go through lots of PC deaths)Preperation - don't be afraid of sending someone to make a coffee while you double check monsters abilities - there's more and more of them and the details can mess up an encounter. Personally I use SRD and cut and paste to create my own encounter references otherwise I end up with 4 books open in front of me as i check magic items vs spell vs monsters....Players prepare too - nothing stops your players from helping out - get the magic users to print out / prepare their spell lists so you can have instant check of effects - ditto for magic items. PC's can also start using special moves with reasonable chances of success but if they want to trip / disarm get them to look it up firstDon't forget that a roleplaying encounter could / should be just as difficult no matter what your level, (but PC's will be using divinations, enchantment and charisma buffs to help so they will be able to bypass more than before) - another poster has already pointed out the PC's will be more recognisable / famous which has both advantages and disadvantages. Politics / bureacracy start being a fun option here - it doesn't matter how much damage the fighter can dish out in a round when faced with a spelling error on form 3c of his application for a knighthood.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Phlebas, post: 3638302, member: 23810"] if your playing rules as written, then use the CR guidelines to the max - don't be afraid when your random encounter occasionally knocks PC's negative. i've had a number of times when i was worrying about TPK, only for a PC to bring out a spell or magic item and take out the monster with one hit! (there's some optional rules for increased negatives before PC's die that IMHO are useful while you're trying out new monsters and magic types and don't really want to go through lots of PC deaths) Preperation - don't be afraid of sending someone to make a coffee while you double check monsters abilities - there's more and more of them and the details can mess up an encounter. Personally I use SRD and cut and paste to create my own encounter references otherwise I end up with 4 books open in front of me as i check magic items vs spell vs monsters.... Players prepare too - nothing stops your players from helping out - get the magic users to print out / prepare their spell lists so you can have instant check of effects - ditto for magic items. PC's can also start using special moves with reasonable chances of success but if they want to trip / disarm get them to look it up first Don't forget that a roleplaying encounter could / should be just as difficult no matter what your level, (but PC's will be using divinations, enchantment and charisma buffs to help so they will be able to bypass more than before) - another poster has already pointed out the PC's will be more recognisable / famous which has both advantages and disadvantages. Politics / bureacracy start being a fun option here - it doesn't matter how much damage the fighter can dish out in a round when faced with a spelling error on form 3c of his application for a knighthood. [/QUOTE]

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