Encounter advice

[Xilo]

I'm new to DMing and I've been struggling with how to weight my encounters. My characters are all 1st or 2nd level and I really don't want to kill them this early on, but I want them to find the fights exciting.

For example last week they were set on by a group of 4 human thugs and the players dispatched them with out breaking a sweat.

So I threw in a CR2 challenge (an assasin vine) to shake things up a little and ended up fudging the rolls so that they didn't die!

So how many encounters do you think characters should face in a session? And do you think it is best to have lots of lower level creatures or a few tougher?

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

 

[Hairy Minotaur]

At those levels, I find the encounter's outcome is driven more by the roll of the dice than by anything else.

2 weeks ago a party of 6 1st levels were nearly TPK'd by 2 goblins and their pet badger, because the party couldn't roll worth a spit.

Last week they killed 25 goblins (total, not all at one time) and only once had a character fall unconsious.

Cover plays a more important roll at lower levels as well, 1 kobold with 3/4 cover shooting the party with a shortbow while 2 of it's buddies try to keep the party at bay is much more challenging than 3 kobolds with daggers facing off against the party.

Terrain as well, 3 kobolds up in trees firing at the party make the encounter tougher than 3 kobolds charging the party on the open road.

I don't think you're doing anything wrong with your encounters, mortality is much higher at the low levels anyway.

Keep on gaming!

 

[pogre]

I agree with HM. Remember, a single opponent is usually easier to kill than multiples for the XP.

 

[Xilo]

Thanks for the advice. I was just feeling a little worried.

I've played through those levels a number of times, and even though there have been some very close calls it's very different when you're the one on the other end of encounter.