Do you find the CR/EL system useful when writing adventures?

[MerricB]

As I review the changes 3e has brought to D&D, I realise that the CR/EL system has had the greatest impact on my adventure-creating habits. Now, I believe that the CR of an individual monster may not always be accurate for a given party, but overall, the CR/EL system is quite accurate in gauging whether or not an encounter is appropriate for a particular game.

Where would I change it? Well, the major inaccuracy doesn't really come from the CR/EL system itself, but rather the scaling of attack bonuses and ACs that makes a group of CR 1 monsters not a threat to 6th level PCs. (This is one departure from earlier editions I would like to see addressed in 4e). However, it does translate over to the system.

And, let's face it, the CR/EL system can't really account for how good the PCs or DM are at running their particular forces.

So, here's a poll: Do you find the CR/EL system useful when writing adventures?

For myself: Yes, mostly. Being able to have a guideline for the difficulty of a brand-new monster is a great tool, although the system gets wonky as the differential of individual monsters CR to APL changes.

Cheers!

 

[the Jester]

Useful? Hell, yeah! Always!

Is it a perfect system? Absolutely not! For starters, two 4th-level parties of four pcs with standard wealth guidelines are not necessarily equally tough in combat to begin with.

But it always helps, and it is always a good thing to have more tools to judge how hard your adventure is going to be.

 

[caudor]

Yes, always. CR/EL, in my view, is one of the most important frameworks added to D&D with 3e. Now, even someone like me can create a fairly balanced adventure.

 

[Jdvn1]

It's useful, particularly if you can tell when to ignore it.

 

[Glyfair]

It's one of the best tools added to 3rd edition. Yes, it has its flaws. However, it's invaluable as long as you use it knowing what the flaws are, and know your party.

What would I change? The area I'd concentrate on would be how it deals with character classes (PC & NPC). It's pretty clunky in that area.

 

[smootrk]

It is rough and does not take into account Player experience. I have players that are well versed in combat, tactics, and game rules in general, so much so that they outperform the CR/EL levels. However, it is easy enough to add a tougher CR challenge.

I do wish the CR system was expanded and did take into account aspects for the player/party factors... a relative scale, so to say.

 

[blargney the second]

CRs are quite handy for evaluating challenges. I start a significant chunk of my DMing work by looking at a range of creatures by CR.

 

[Numion]

They do a pretty good job. Mostly useful.

I've had two players of mine transfer to DMing territory (newbie DMs), and I noticed they followed it too blindly - it's not good enough for that. 3 Allips is not a good look for a 6th level group

 

[FireLance]

It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing.

 

[wmasters]

There's a CR/EL system?

In truth, the answer is kinda. I don't worry about or calculate EL at all. I do glance at the CRs so at least I know if what I'm setting is likely to be just a tough fight, or totally out of the league of the party.