Determining EL for Largish Battles

[doktorstick]

Howdy.

When the PCs have several NPC allies fighting on their side in a battle, how do you determine the EL of the encounter? The enemy's EL, if calculated by standard, would be much greater than a normal party could handle. But with the allies...

Thanks.
/ds

 

[doktorstick]

I had a thought that may work. I haven't tested it, yet.

• Determine the enemies' EL. Let's assume that for this example, it is EL 8.
• Determine the NPC allies' EL. Let's assume that it is EL 5.
• Subtract the allies' EL from the enemies' EL giving us an EL 3 encounter.

Would this work in practice?

/ds

 

[kigmatzomat]

Howdy.

When the PCs have several NPC allies fighting on their side in a battle, how do you determine the EL of the encounter? The enemy's EL, if calculated by standard, would be much greater than a normal party could handle. But with the allies...

Try reverse calculation. Figure the XP per character as if the NPCs are in the party and getting a full share. I.e. if it's a party of 4 12th level pcs with 3 8th level NPCs the average level is (4x12 + 3x8)/7 = 10th level. Calculate the XPs for 10th level characters, divide by 7.

Multiply that by 4 and see what CR creature would give out that XP. That's the equivalent EL of the encounter.