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<blockquote data-quote="Dausuul" data-source="post: 6794449" data-attributes="member: 58197">There is a reason to draw the distinction. A monster intended to work in groups is likely to deliver all of its damage in a single-target attack, once per round. A monster intended to work solo will have more area and multi-target attacks and off-turn actions, spreading its damage around.Hence, using a high-CR &quot;group&quot; monster as a solo encounter for a low-level party is likely to be brutally swingy. When an entire round's worth of monster damage lands on the head of one poor PC, that PC is apt to be one-shotted, maybe even killed outright. And conversely, the monster lacks the defenses to handle an entire party unloading on it. That's why the recommendation is not to use monsters with CR much above the party's level. For regular monsters, it's a good guideline.For solo monsters, however, the guideline needs to change, since solos are designed to offer a more consistent experience when fought alone.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Dausuul, post: 6794449, member: 58197"] There is a reason to draw the distinction. A monster intended to work in groups is likely to deliver all of its damage in a single-target attack, once per round. A monster intended to work solo will have more area and multi-target attacks and off-turn actions, spreading its damage around. Hence, using a high-CR "group" monster as a solo encounter for a low-level party is likely to be brutally swingy. When an entire round's worth of monster damage lands on the head of one poor PC, that PC is apt to be one-shotted, maybe even killed outright. And conversely, the monster lacks the defenses to handle an entire party unloading on it. That's why the recommendation is not to use monsters with CR much above the party's level. For regular monsters, it's a good guideline. For solo monsters, however, the guideline needs to change, since solos are designed to offer a more consistent experience when fought alone. [/QUOTE]

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