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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 5241432" data-attributes="member: 82106">PCs as opponents is horribly swingy. At level 1 for instance a great weapon fighter using a great sword and using Brute Strike has an expected damage of 3d10+4 or 20 points of damage on average and a max of 34 points. This is ALMOST enough to fell a defender, most leaders, and practically all strikers and controllers. A bow ranger with Twin Strike and a Great Bow could easily dish out 2d12+1d6, again average 16.5 damage with a max of 30, which is enough to instantly fell some character and would nearly fell even the toughest and he can do that every round.The fight can easily turn out like enemy party gets a bit lucky and 2 of their number go first, probably the bow ranger and an equally dangerous rogue. The party defender's first action could easily be a death save. Obviously on average the PCs will win if the other party is weaker, its just a lot less certain than with a more typical type of encounter vs monsters. Its probably no worse than springing 5 orcs on an AD&D party of 5, but I have seen TPKs in THAT scenario. You should be prepared to have one here. As long as that's OK, go for it.However, I would really recommend stating out the enemy monster-style. Less damage output, simpler powers, lower defenses on average, and just a lot easier to run. For a starting out level 1 group 5 standard level 1 monsters should challenge them. Just theme them like PCs. The 'fighter' monster can mark and has an immediate interrupt to punish a mark, the 'rogue' gets +2d6 damage if it has CA, the 'ranger' can use HQ and makes 2 attacks/rnd, the 'cleric' grants his allies +2 to the next attack vs anyone he hits with his mace, and the 'wizard' shoots magic missile, scorching burst, and has an encounter power that can immobilize 1 or 2 targets for a round. It will FEEL like a party of adventurers, but it will be MUCH easier to run and a lot less swingy.</blockquote>

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