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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 3616078" data-attributes="member: 22779">Continuing on...DM ElementsThere are many, many things a DM can do to skew CR/EL.  <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">1.  Mistakes in mechanics.  This is probably the number on cause for complaints.  The DM has his carefully constructed encounter splatted in the first round because he made a mistake on how a spell worked.  Or, conversely, had a TPK for the same reason.  Part of the job of being a DM is having a decent grasp on mechanics.  Sometimes that means trusting your players that they actually do know the mechanics.  Sometimes that means pulling out the PHB or Spell Compendium.  In any case, if an encounter that should have gone one way goes in an entirely different direction, take a look at the rulings you made.  Frequently, minor mistakes in adjudication can have large consequences. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">2.  DM tactics.  If you enjoy a tactical game, you might play your baddies in a certain way.  That can easily turn a fairly standard encounter deadly.  Conversely, if every monster stands still in the middle of the room and lets the party gang up on it, you're likely going to have a lot of disappointingly easy encounters.  There's a fine line between the two.  Going one way or the other too far leads to wonky results.  While it's great to have hobgoblins performing shield walls and using tactics, perhaps its a bit much when black puddings do the same.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">3. House rules.  It has to be said that when you start changing baselines, CR/EL will be skewed.  If you are running a low wealth game, then encounters get more difficult.  If you allow all six of your PC's to be gestalts, that will change things as well.  The specifics of a given campaign and the house rules that campaign operates under will have some effect.  A great example of this is Action Points.  AP's have a huge effect on games - allowing a low level PC to take a second attack can really change an encounter.  Be aware of the house rules you have made and how they interact with combat. </li> </ul>Of course, there is one other factor that can mess with EL/CR calculations:Mechanics<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">1. Poor CR estimation.  3e Ogre, I'm looking at you.  Not all creatures at a given CR are created equal.  Some are stronger than others.  At some times, designers have made mistakes and a creature is miss CR'd.  It happens.  Dragons are notoriously under CR'd.  Be aware of it, and try to adjust.  CR is not a replacement for a Mark I eyeball.  </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">2. CR calculated based on single abilities.  This also happens.  Some creatures are over CR'd because of a single powerful special ability.   Ogre Mage is a good example of this.  It's far too weak for it's CR, but, it's magical ability is too powerful for a lower CR.  Dragon published an Ogre Mage Fighter 5 Kensai 3 - a CR 17 encounter with 131 hit points.  If it was a spell caster, I'd understand, but, this is meant as a melee combatant.  That's not a CR 17 encounter, that's a speed bump.  But, because of the cone of cold ability, an Ogre Mage starts at CR 9.  There are other creatures like this as well.  </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">3. Scaling advanced creatures.  Some creatures get a LOT more powerful when advanced.  Much more than their CR might warrant.  In the World's Largest Dungeon, there is an advanced Cockatrice at CR 6.  It has a fort save for petrification in the mid 20's.  Extremely deadly even for good fort save characters.  Not all creatures scale the same.</li> </ul>I hope that people will find this helpful.  What other factors can you identify when talking about CR/EL?</blockquote>

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