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<blockquote data-quote="Reynard" data-source="post: 3439686" data-attributes="member: 467">I think for many DMs, myself included, the opposite is also true.&nbsp; Don't get me wrong, when I design adventures I often throw in a few &quot;cake walk&quot; encounters because PCs deserve to feel cool.&nbsp; They are, after all, the protagonists.&nbsp; but even if it is a party of 10th level PCs against a half dozen 2nd level orc barbarians, I still play those orcs as well as I can (within the confines of trying to &quot;think like an orc&quot;).&nbsp; if the players underestimate their opponents, or the dice go bad, or whatever, and a 10th PC bites it to a couple 2nd level orcs -- well, tough noogies, looks like your share of treasure is going for a res.When it is time to bring out the big bads, I tend to have an open roll policy and a policy of making ti very clear to the PCs that this big bad means to not just kill them all, but shew on their souls till the sun burns out.&nbsp; I find that it not only makes the battle more fun, but ups the stakes to a point where the players actually care enough to use tactics.The tough part, especially for beginning DMs but also for experienced DMs trying out new monsters, PrCs, items, etc.. for enemies, is making sure the encounter itself is fair.&nbsp; I have pulled back in the past, and will likely do so again, if I find that I completely underestimated the power/effectiveness of some monster or NPC.&nbsp; I don't, however, &quot;fudge forward&quot; if I overestimated the enemy's power.&nbsp; if I flub it that bad, the PCs deserve the XP and treasure of a CR whatever encounter even if it really was a CR whatever/2 encounter.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Reynard, post: 3439686, member: 467"] I think for many DMs, myself included, the opposite is also true. Don't get me wrong, when I design adventures I often throw in a few "cake walk" encounters because PCs deserve to feel cool. They are, after all, the protagonists. but even if it is a party of 10th level PCs against a half dozen 2nd level orc barbarians, I still play those orcs as well as I can (within the confines of trying to "think like an orc"). if the players underestimate their opponents, or the dice go bad, or whatever, and a 10th PC bites it to a couple 2nd level orcs -- well, tough noogies, looks like your share of treasure is going for a res. When it is time to bring out the big bads, I tend to have an open roll policy and a policy of making ti very clear to the PCs that this big bad means to not just kill them all, but shew on their souls till the sun burns out. I find that it not only makes the battle more fun, but ups the stakes to a point where the players actually care enough to use tactics. The tough part, especially for beginning DMs but also for experienced DMs trying out new monsters, PrCs, items, etc.. for enemies, is making sure the encounter itself is fair. I have pulled back in the past, and will likely do so again, if I find that I completely underestimated the power/effectiveness of some monster or NPC. I don't, however, "fudge forward" if I overestimated the enemy's power. if I flub it that bad, the PCs deserve the XP and treasure of a CR whatever encounter even if it really was a CR whatever/2 encounter. [/QUOTE]

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