Expected PC stats/magic items by level?

[Siberys]

I've been running Kingmaker for a group, and we've gotten up through level six. Problem is, fights never seem to last long enough. Unless I'm throwing swarms of enemies at them, the PCs always seem to mop up by the end of round two. The only reason large groups work is 'cause the PCs don't have the actions for them. From a fluff perspective, though, fragrantly tossing hordes at them rarely makes sense. This makes for rather unexciting combats for me as the DM. Admitedly this has to do with a very tactical party and a min-maxed character, whereas I'm not too tactical when running games.

To allay this, I want to mod the AC, saves, and HP of monsters such that they last a couple of rounds. To that end, is there a resource detailing expected PC attack, damage, and save dcs at various levels? ATM, I only have access to one or two PC's sheets, otherwise I'd just average those. But then I'd have to recalc every level and so on...

Second, I'm finding treasure to be a HUGE pain to assign, and the PCs are beginning to feel gypped - even considering their success in combat - because they aren't matching up with the wealth-by-level table. Is there any sort of 'inherent magic item system', a la 4e Dark Sun, that I can implement, so that treasure is more for consumables and kingdom-running and flavor as opposed to keeping up mechanically?

Thanks.

 

[Kvantum]

Well, you can always use the stats for the Iconic PCs in the back of each issue to give you a bare minimum to expect from your PCs. More properly optimised PCs will of course outdo the Paizo iconics any day of the week, but there is a sort of baseline to build from.

When you need to up the challenge a bit, slap the Advanced template onto everything, (+2 hp per HD, +2 to all d20 rolls, and +4 (net) to AC).

 

[Siberys]

I hadn't thought of the Iconics. Thanks!

As for advanced - I already had to do that sort of thing to account for a large party size. I wanted to try to avoid doubling up on advanced. Going by-the-book hasn't given them a speed bump, hence why I was asking about a more artificial means of upping the challenge.

 

[Bacris]

Here's the thing - a larger party is going to add one of the biggest things to encounters that makes a difference - extra actions. If you also have optimizers, you're doubly challenged.

Here's a resource to use for monster creation that might help:
Monster Creation

What I'd suggest is use that to bump up your monsters by, say, 2 CR (on top of the Advanced template you're already using...)

Since I've not yet read Kingmaker, I'm not sure how helpful the above is, but I hope it helps.

 

[smetzger]

I am not really familiar with Pathfinder. So the following applies only if Pathfinder uses the same XP award machanic that 3.4 does.

Keep in mind that for a larger party the XPs will be divided out and each PC will get less XP. The effect is that if you are using a large adventure or an adventure path the PCs will havre an advantage at the beginning, but will advance at a slower rate. Thus later encounters will automatically be tougher.

If you bump up the early chalenges and the PCs get the bumped up XP you will keep having to bump up the later chalenges.

Also, try to be more tactical. That will help the situation out.