Balancing ELs/CRs for a 2-PC party

[Shades of Green]

I'm not sure in which forum this belongs to, since this has both a generic part (running a small party) and a rule part (dealing with ELs/CRs).

I'll soon be running a D&D game with only 2 PCs involved and I wish to balance CRs with the smaller party size (as the CR system is based on a 4-PC party). I know of the [total party levels/4] method, but is it well balanced? Would, for example, a level-6 wizard and a level-6 Cleric be challenged by a CR 3 monster in the same way as a group of four level-3 characters (especially with level 3 spells involved)?

 

[Felnar]

hopefully someone has better advice, but how about start with a CR 3 then work up slowly
CR 3
CR 3 + CR 1
etc

 

[nittanytbone]

A well build level 6 wizard & cleric duo can probably blow through many CR 6 encounters with little more difficulty than a four person party would. If either or both has the chance to summon up some help, or if the cleric is melee-capable, the fighter roles are easily filled.

If the cleric has access to the Find Traps spell and the Divine Insight spell (Spell Compendium) along with half a rank in Disable Device, he can easily fill the Trap Monkey role, although it is resource-intensive for him to do so.

Plus, the CR system becomes much more subjective with specialized, smaller parties. For example, an enemy with SR becomes much more significant to this duo compared to a traditional party, whereas some other challenges are much easier to overcome.

I wouldn't scale the CRs down too much, I would just be tempted to reduce the encounters per day or throw in some loot that helps the PCs staying power (wands, scrolls, and other charged magic items come to mind).

 

[blargney the second]

For a two-PC party, use half as many monsters of the same CR as you would for a four-PC party.

 

[Delta]

In general, median EL should drop by 2. (Each x2 numbers = +2 EL.) If average party is level 3, run EL 1 encounters at them on average.

 

[Nifft]

There are some things that a small party can do BETTER than a large party -- stealth in particular. If they can both be sneaky, that's a strength.

When it comes to encounters, look at your party's specifics.

A swarm is NOT a balanced encounter for a party which lacks spellcasters. A pile of low-HD skeletons may not be balanced if the party lacks bludgeoning weapons. Etc.

CR is an estimation, not a certainty. The smaller the group (or more generally the more FOCUSED the group), the less vague your outlook need be.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Zen3p0]

I have to deal with this problem a lot due to a shortage of PCs( I live in the middle of nowhere) so I build the adventure normally, but we the PCs are built at +1 ECL each. That still mean the total ECL is still the one meant for the adventure.

 

[Nifft]

Oooo, one last thought, which should be obvious: Gestalt. Typical estimates place Gestalt PCs at from +1 LA to +3 LA (for most levels it's around LA +2).

Your party would be able to cover more bases, and you could throw things at them of around their correct CR without too much worry.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Jhaelen]

I know of the [total party levels/4] method, but is it well balanced? Would, for example, a level-6 wizard and a level-6 Cleric be challenged by a CR 3 monster in the same way as a group of four level-3 characters (especially with level 3 spells involved)?

I don't know about this method, but it's obviously wrong. Halving numbers means CR-2, NOT CR/2. So a CR3 monster would be a challenging encounter for 2 level 5 characters.

However, since it's difficult to have all base roles covered with just two characters, you'll have to take extra care when matching encounters. Depending on the characters' classes certain encounters may be a lot tougher than their EL indicates while others may be a cakewalk.

You may also want to consider adding an npc to the party.

 

[blargney the second]

Nifft's totally right - gestalt is where it's at for small groups.