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<blockquote data-quote="Rhenny" data-source="post: 5713325" data-attributes="member: 18333">As DM, I feel that the encounters are not as difficult as I intend, but the players are having fun.&nbsp; That's the most important factor.&nbsp; My players are new to 4e, but 30 year veterans to D&amp;D and wargaming in general, so they often play tactically.&nbsp; At first, since we have only 4 PCs in the party, I scaled down encounters slightly based on DMG encounter building guidelines, but after seeing how my players manage the combats, I've decided to keep encounters balanced for 5 even though they only have 4.&nbsp; This has made them more challenging.So far, in our short campaign...6 sessions (about 10 combats and 4 or 5 skill challenges), the Tiefling Wizard has been dropped to 0 hp twice (both in the same combat), and the Dragonborn Cleric has been dropped to 0 hp once.&nbsp; Many times PCs have been dazed or immobilized, which often adds to the difficulty level and dramatic tension of the combat.&nbsp; The Eldadrin Rogue, and the Dwarven Fighter have been bloodied scores of times, but they have not gone down yet.&nbsp;&nbsp; The combats that are most dangerous are the ones when the PCs are outnumbered in a large area with terrain that hampers movement or provides the opportunity for PCs and foes to fall into pits, off bridges into water, down pit traps, etc.Since we play an episodic type game (2 hours a week Maptool online) and accomplish 1 or two combats per week, it feels as though it isn't dangerous, because it may take 3 sessions for players to reach the point where they need to take an extended rest, but the players feel like each encounter is a challenge no matter how easy or difficult.&nbsp; Remember, not all encounters should be as challenging as the next.&nbsp; Variety also makes the game more interesting.Cheers.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Rhenny, post: 5713325, member: 18333"] As DM, I feel that the encounters are not as difficult as I intend, but the players are having fun. That's the most important factor. My players are new to 4e, but 30 year veterans to D&D and wargaming in general, so they often play tactically. At first, since we have only 4 PCs in the party, I scaled down encounters slightly based on DMG encounter building guidelines, but after seeing how my players manage the combats, I've decided to keep encounters balanced for 5 even though they only have 4. This has made them more challenging. So far, in our short campaign...6 sessions (about 10 combats and 4 or 5 skill challenges), the Tiefling Wizard has been dropped to 0 hp twice (both in the same combat), and the Dragonborn Cleric has been dropped to 0 hp once. Many times PCs have been dazed or immobilized, which often adds to the difficulty level and dramatic tension of the combat. The Eldadrin Rogue, and the Dwarven Fighter have been bloodied scores of times, but they have not gone down yet. The combats that are most dangerous are the ones when the PCs are outnumbered in a large area with terrain that hampers movement or provides the opportunity for PCs and foes to fall into pits, off bridges into water, down pit traps, etc. Since we play an episodic type game (2 hours a week Maptool online) and accomplish 1 or two combats per week, it feels as though it isn't dangerous, because it may take 3 sessions for players to reach the point where they need to take an extended rest, but the players feel like each encounter is a challenge no matter how easy or difficult. Remember, not all encounters should be as challenging as the next. Variety also makes the game more interesting. Cheers. [/QUOTE]

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