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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 6398348" data-attributes="member: 1210">I treat them all the same. In practice, though, this means that (for instance) monsters tend to target the higher level pcs because they are more threatening and dealing out more damage. This certainly doesn't always hold true, but it usually does. As for area of effects, the low-level pcs are much more likely to be killed by them, yes, but only if they are targeted by them. In my experience, a lot of the difference comes from the fact that low-level pcs know that they are fragile, and will make good use of positioning, distance and cover. Combined with the fact that they are less of a threat, that makes them even less inviting as targets. Of course, some low-level pcs just rush in, and that's fine. Boldness may be rewarded with success, if the dice, luck and situation favor the pc. It may be rewarded with death, if (for instance) a first-level guy charges alone into a room with two balors and five hezrou. I'm okay with that; heck, even a high-level pc rushing alone into that room is practicing just about the exact opposite of smart play, and I have no problem with the logical result being death. But with a little savvy and judgment, it certainly doesn't have to be- that lone rusher could instead flee, stay in the back, fire a missile, cast a spell, wait until someone else is in the room, heck, just about anything.Even with all that, there are the occasional ambushes, surprise attacks, etc. that begin with dragon breath or whatever. I strive to be fair about these things- I try to avoid having a scenario like that come up if it's an instantly-dead-if-you-make-your-save situation for the low level guy. If it's the logical repercussion of party actions, though, then it happens. I might give the low-level guy some kind of out- maybe he's off pooping in the woods when the part camp is breathed on or something- but only if it seems credible. If it's the result of the party's actions, though, it's not exactly my place to overrule what happens. (This is a weird instance where my attitude about DMing probably significantly overlaps with the more recent approach of giving significant narrative control to the players in a very strange way.)I hope that clarifies what I meant. True dat!</blockquote>

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