Changing to a 1 encounter per day paradigm

[HellHound]

This thread is based on ideas I got while reading the 'toning down spellcasters' thread.

How would you rebuild the classes to work in a game paradigm where there is only one major encouter per day instead of the default 4 for d20 fantasy?

What kind of house rules would you put into effect? Instead of jumping for Grim Tales, how would you try to rebuild the existing core classes to maintain balance in such a paradigm?

Reduce the number of spells known, number of spell slots, how fast a spell slot can be recovered?

 

[Crothian]

I think instead of toning down the classes, I'd just increase the monsters or CR of that one encounter. I like that spellcasters get so many spells per level becasue I expect them to preapre non combat oriented ones and if we limit the spells even more they will just preapre combat spells for that one encounter.

But that raises the question, will the group have other obsticles in a day that are none combat that they will have to expend resources on?

 

[HellHound]

No, the change in paradigm isn't just to one COMBAT per day, but to one encounter / obstacle per day. I want to look at changing the paradigm so that the resource expenditure will work with only one major expenditure of resources per day. Using this system, however, with existing character rules, would make the ability to prepare a variety of spells (offensive, defensive and utility) VERY potent.

 

[Crothian]

I get it now. It would become more of a gamble for the casters who prepare spells so I'd cut the spell list down termendiously but find ways to make the spells a little more versatile. I'd greatly cut down the amount of spells they can cast perday from the class but leave bonus spells for a high attribute the same.

I'd reduce all classes hit points as well.

 

[Nifft]

Every "one encounter" would be everything all-at-once, right? Obstacle, skill checks, ambush, (social) parley, etc.?

Maybe you can make that smooth, but I think I'd repeat my scenarios too often.

-- N

 

[Baronovan]

I'd go with an increase in that one encounter's effective CR. Some days, it's a single and relatively intense social parlay; other days it's a BBEG, etc.

 

[HellHound]

Baronovan - that's what I have been doing... But doing that really plays to the strengths of the spellcasters, who suddenly don't have to hold back any reserves of spells.

 

[the Jester]

Hmmm, interesting... I find that I very rarely have multiple random encounters in the same day, so during travel the odds favor our heroes having only one encounter in a given day (unless they're in a heavily populated area or something).

I usually like to have a wide range of ELs for my games- for instance, a 6th-level party in a jungle might encounter things from EL 1/2 to EL 9.

I often have multiple challenges in a day, but except for in a dungeon, lair, etc. they are frequently limited to one per day. Not always- some days never end. But generally, I like to also mix encounter/challenge types. So maybe the pcs fight a hippogriff, have to deal with a hard climb with a potential 3d6 fall, and have an encounter with a wandering barbarian who could either bully them and take their stuff or become an ally or at least source of information.