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Message: <blockquote data-quote="shilsen" data-source="post: 3633520" data-attributes="member: 198">Here's a more detailed answer to add to the above. I tend to do a number of different things, all of which combine to achieve the effect of making low CR enemies effective challenges. A few which come to mind:1) Using templates and advanced creatures - I often use the mechanics for a creature from the MM and slap on a template or advance it, completely change the description, and end up with a new creature. Templates and hit dice advancement often create much stronger creatures than class-based advancement, I find. Something as basic as the half-dragon template gives a lot of bang for its buck to beef up a melee-oriented creature, arguably more than a couple of class levels (half-dragon being a +2 CR template) would. Similarly, slapping on 3 aberration HD (with an alienist and a Gatekeeper among the PCs in my Eberron game, aberrations are a very popular choice) gives you a whole lot for +1 CR. As does advancing a creature by one size category.2) Teamwork - It's absolutely essential for making weaker enemies provide a challenge that they be able to function well tactically, which usually needs the presence of a couple of leader-types to justify. It also usually requires the use of varied abilities among the NPCs. An EL 14 encounter should theoretically be challenging for five 13th lvl PCs (by the DMG definition of challenging, which means the PCs win without any real chance of losing a PC and use about 25% of their resources). 16 CR5 creatures would be an EL 14 encounter. But throw 16 Bbn5s at the PCs and they'll wipe the floor with them. Make them Bbn1/Ftr4s, with well-chosen feats and teamwork and they'll do a little better. Replace one of them with a Brd5, using the Song of the Heart feat and the Inspirational Boost spell to give every one of them an extra +3 to hit/dmg and things get a lot better. Replace three more of them with a Marshal, a Wizard, and a Cleric, and suddenly the situation becomes a whole lot better for the NPCs.3) Terrain - As mentioned earlier, terrain can make a huge difference. Anything which slows down movement, lowers visibility, etc., will benefit the weaker enemies. Something providing a miss chance, for example, is less of an issue for the weak enemies. With their larger numbers, a significant number of their attacks will get through anyway. And every PC attack that doesn't get through was probably a killing blow or close to it. Terrain can also help a lot with...4) Surprise & Preparation - Higher level PCs usually have a very large gulf between their efficacy when all prepared with buffs and protective spells and their un-buffed state. Lower-level NPCs don't have as much of a gulf, so if the fight occurs with both sides unprepared they have less to lose. And if the NPCs manage to surprise the PCs, then it can seriously change the equation even more. I can probably think of a few other factors, but those are some basic general ones. Hope that helps.</blockquote>

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