Challenge Ratings, Encounter Levels, and Non-standard Parties

[Kryndal Levik]

Perhaps I've missed it somewhere, but- are there rules established to modify Encounter Levels and/or determine the appropriate CR of a party if it is not a standard four-member party? For example- how would one determine the appropriate encounter for a party consisting of four 2nd-level characters, a third-level character, and a fourth-level character?

 

[Valmur_Dwur]

Can't say this is a "rule" but I would take the total levels (15) in your example; divide by party members (6) and get 2.5. Then I would round up due to the 4th level pc to CR 3 as a standard encounter. Hope that makes sense and helps. I know Living Greyhawk has a sliding scale for this sort of thing but alas I know nothing more than that (which is true of alot of things )

 

[AGGEMAM]

A CR 3½ is appropriate for your party. Take the total level divide with members, add a ½ for each extra member above 4.

 

[Kryndal Levik]

Is that a standard rule of thumb? I was just throwing that out as an example, actually- I've got a group of six that's currently starting out at 1st level. Using that rule- ((6*1)/6)+(2*0.5)=2. That seems about right- where it seems like it might be a bit off is when they hit higher levels (six level 19's would get a 20th-level encounter).

 

[AGGEMAM]

Is that a standard rule of thumb?

Yes, just like a one higher CR is 50% harder, and a two higher CR is 100% harder.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Is that a standard rule of thumb?

It's a good rule of thumb for up to 5 extra members, at which point it begins to break down.

 

[Tenebrae]

____________________________________________________Perhaps I've missed it somewhere, but- are there rules established to modify Encounter Levels and/or determine the appropriate CR of a party if it is not a standard four-member party? For example- how would one determine the appropriate encounter for a party consisting of four 2nd-level characters, a third-level character, and a fourth-level character?
____________________________________________________

In answer to your 1st question. Yes there are rules for your query. DMG pg 165.
"Determine the party level (average level of the party members)." In your example - 2 x 4 = 8 + 3 + 4 = 15 divide by 6 = 2.5. The rules say you must also round down. Therefore your group's party level is 2. Your party level matches the encounter level.

Next, go to DMG pg 101. "Parties with five or more members can often take on monsters with higher CRs....". After that it doesn't mention any particulars.

Dragon #301 (Dungeoncraft pg 95) answers the rest of your question. It states "There's a rule that says if you double the enemies in an encounter, you increase the EL by +2." "The same sort of rule can apply to PCs". It goes to state for 8 PCs they can handle a challenge of their level +2, 6 PCs would be +1 to the CR/EL, etc.

For your example, the party level would be 2, but they could take on EL3 / CR3 creature.

Hope that helps.

 

[Immort]

There is an alternate method that would require a bit more work on your part but creates a little bit of leveling parity for your players.

Simply calculate all the exp one time for each level of player in your group. Thus in your case with 2 2s a 3 and a 4, you would calculate exp 3 times. Once for a 2nd level party, once for a 3rd level part, and once for a 4th level party. Then simply divide each of these totals by the number of total characters (in your case 4) and then you have different exp awards for each level of character.

This has the side effect of making item creation feats a little more palatable, as those characters spending all their exp to boost up the party can remain within some degree of parity with their fellows

Again though, it is 3 times the amount of work for you.

-Immort

 

[Archer]

Increasing the number of monsters rather than the difficulty of a single monster is the best way to balance for a large party. A powerful monster is more likely to kill players or be difficult to injure because of advanced immunities.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I'll second this. A 3rd level (average) party might (emphasis on might--I was in a 3rd level (average) party that handled a slightly tougher encounter) be able to handle an EL 8 encounter like a Ftr 4/Rog 2, A Bbn 4, a Clr 2, and 4 1st level warriors. On the other hand, toss that 3rd level party up against a Remhorraz (CR 7), a sixth level ogre fighter/blackguard, a fallen Hound Archon Ftr 3/Blackguard 1, or a pair of dire bears and they don't have any hope. Numbers are generally easier to deal with than individual power.

Increasing the number of monsters rather than the difficulty of a single monster is the best way to balance for a large party. A powerful monster is more likely to kill players or be difficult to injure because of advanced immunities.