Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="3catcircus" data-source="post: 1817733" data-attributes="member: 16077">Hmm - I dunno - I generally think that "balance" is a bit overemphasised at the expense of the storyline and has less to do with the monsters being thrown at the party than it does with what the combat environment is like (granted, pitting a CR20 monster against level 1 PCs is an insta-kill...)For example - I recently pitted my players (Ranger/Rogue, Swashbuckler/Wizard, Fighter, Wizard, Healer, Paladin - all at 7th level, and a 5th level Rogue/Bard Cohort) against a group of NPCs (Ftr 11, Ftr 10, Rogue/Dread Pirate 9, Wizard/Master Alchemist 9, Fighter/Outlaw of Crimson Road 9, Rogue 5), fighting inside of a tavern.  While the party nearly got beaten to within an inch of their lives (judicious use of swift action healing by the Healer prevented the Wizard from gacking it), they complained that the fight was too tough.Conversely, just hours before (this was a Saturday marathon session), they fought a Group of 24 goblin archers, 24 orc javelin-throwers, 6 Ogrillons, 6 Bugbears, 6 Riding Dogs, 2 Ettins, and a 13th-level Half-Orc Cleric of Bane (and they were a level lower at the time). The fact that they were outside allowed the Wizard/Swashbuckler to unleash a couple of Innate Spell fireballs at the orcs (broken into 2 groups of 12, and each led by 3 ogrillons), making the encounter fairly mundane - at least until the Ranger/Rogue invisibly attacked the cleric.  After that initial attack, the cleric (with Knifefighter, Clever Wrestling, and several other feats) proceeded to simply wrap him up and jab his dagger into the Ranger/Rogue's ribs several times (almost to the point of going to negative HP) before the Paladin had a chance to finish off the ettins and the Healer had a chance to disarm the dagger with her longspear.  Finally, the Wizard used Grease spell to make it easier for the Ranger/Rogue to escape the grapple.  The guys didn't complain about *this* battle, even though it was just as deadly (and actually lasted longer). Obviously, they couldn't charge (furniture and fleeing non-combatants were in the way) or use fireballs inside of the tavern (unless they wanted to zorch themselves in the process), so they felt that they were over-matched, despite the fact that the baddies were at the same disadvantage.As far as party balance - that is really up to the PCs as to what classes they are, who gets what loot, etc.  I once ran an RPGA Legacy of Green Regent scenario (Epidemic, IIRC) - four players - 2 fighters, 2 wizards - they never made it past the Orc Barbarians before they gacked it - no clerics = no healing.  No rogues = no sneaking past them to set up an ambush...</blockquote>

Verification