Yup: halve monster hp, run encounters as-is, cut out ca 1/4 of combats (technically 1/5 with 4 PCs, 2/5 with 3) and PCs will level up at the correct rate with standard XP awards.
Faster Combats in official Adventures
- Thread starter plancktum
- Start date
Yup: halve monster hp, run encounters as-is, cut out ca 1/4 of combats (technically 1/5 with 4 PCs, 2/5 with 3) and PCs will level up at the correct rate with standard XP awards.
Ok. So:
1) 1/2 HP
2) Level+8 ((5/4*Level+10 for Brutes)
My Questions:
1) Neglect the Damage Dice?
2) Is this completely described in MM3?
3) Does this really work if I asjust my MM1 Monsters this way and leave the rest of ALL Rules and the complete Encounter as it is?
Ferghis
First Post
Quoted for emphasis. I haven't read or played it, but the reviews of this product are very consistent on these boards. Just FYI.
I would remove any elite or solo soldiers as well, unless they are the same or lower level than the PCs. Their defenses are too high, and it turns into grind. Swap them out for something (anything) else.
Viking Bastard
Adventurer
If you're only playing with PHB1, DMG1, MM1, I'd recommend -2 all defenses for monsters, and chop off 10 hit points per tier. PC's have gotten quite a bit more accurate, damaging, and resilient since those early books.
I think the rest is just knowing when to call a fight done. When it's clear the monsters can't tax the PC's any more, call the fight, instead of dragging it on till the last monster is dead. In all honesty, this can occasionally happen as quickly as end of round 1.
I think the rest is just knowing when to call a fight done. When it's clear the monsters can't tax the PC's any more, call the fight, instead of dragging it on till the last monster is dead. In all honesty, this can occasionally happen as quickly as end of round 1.
OK.
To all of you: Thank you very much.
I have one remaining problem:
At the moment I really don't get the math for the monsters.
There may be tables and so on, but that isn't really helpful for the pregenerated monsters.
To me it looks like a lot of work and doesnt fit very well with the pregenerated encounters.
If I halve the damage, then a Group of 5 PCs (which is the status at the moment) would fight to easy. Yeah I could give lower XP, but now they are level 7.
If I'm honest I need a practical solution for the encounters without too many changes.
I also found a tool, which is free and works an Mac and Windows: 4eTurnTracker D&D 4e Encounter Tracker
Additionally I will think about cutting out some encounters. But not on the Rule, that I need to cut out 1/5 encounters for a 4 PC Group, but based on if the encounter makes sense or not. However I will reward my PCs with the XP from the cutted out encounter, so they will leveling at the right rate.
To all of you: Thank you very much.
I have one remaining problem:
At the moment I really don't get the math for the monsters.
There may be tables and so on, but that isn't really helpful for the pregenerated monsters.
To me it looks like a lot of work and doesnt fit very well with the pregenerated encounters.
If I halve the damage, then a Group of 5 PCs (which is the status at the moment) would fight to easy. Yeah I could give lower XP, but now they are level 7.
If I'm honest I need a practical solution for the encounters without too many changes.
I also found a tool, which is free and works an Mac and Windows: 4eTurnTracker D&D 4e Encounter Tracker
Additionally I will think about cutting out some encounters. But not on the Rule, that I need to cut out 1/5 encounters for a 4 PC Group, but based on if the encounter makes sense or not. However I will reward my PCs with the XP from the cutted out encounter, so they will leveling at the right rate.
You do not need to do that if you are halving their hp and increasing their damage (Elites should average 1.5 times regular monster damage output, Solos 3 times regular damage output, to give them overall threat level x2 and x5 respectively).
However IF you are only using the PHB for PCs, you are well advised to deduct -2 from the defenses of all Elites & Solos in the MM.
1) No - total damage output including dice rolls should average Level+8 for a standard monster. For fractions you can round up or down to taste.
2) No.
3) If you take -2 off Soldier attacks vs AC, add +2 to Brute attacks vs AC, you've done everything I do. You can also take -2 from Elite & Solo defenses; I mostly don't, but my PCs have access to the Essentials Feats that boost their attacks by +1 per tier.
You will occasionally find Monster Manual monsters with annoying abilities that need nerfing - eg turn Dracolich Stun to Daze, turn Black Dragon Darkness to Concealment. This is fairly rare though.
Damage - all you actually need to do is give all monsters a static damage bonus to all attacks equal to half their level. Anything else is just fine-tuning.
Monster hit points - IME by far the easiest way to avoid grind is to halve all monster hp. You can approximate the same effect by eliminating all Elites and Solos and use lots of minions, but that takes a lot more work when adapting a published adventure.
Ok.
My Players use PHB1 and PHB2 (but not PHB3!)
So, if I understand you correctly I only have the following to do:
1) Halve all Monsters HP
3) Add 1/2 Level to ALL Damage from all Monsters (additional to the Damage they do according to MM1)
4) Ensure that my players get less XP, i.e. only 1/5 less XP than normal. If I achieve this over a 4 PC Group or a Group of 5 Players that get less XP or lesser combats should be the same.
I'm completely OK with 1) to 3) but what about 4)? Does this really work? What about my actual group which is at the end of Thunderspire Labyrinth and is level6. I cannot steal their levels. But this should stable over the next levels if I give them lesser XP.
Everything correct?
best regards
plancktum
My Players use PHB1 and PHB2 (but not PHB3!)
So, if I understand you correctly I only have the following to do:
1) Halve all Monsters HP
3) Add 1/2 Level to ALL Damage from all Monsters (additional to the Damage they do according to MM1)
4) Ensure that my players get less XP, i.e. only 1/5 less XP than normal. If I achieve this over a 4 PC Group or a Group of 5 Players that get less XP or lesser combats should be the same.
I'm completely OK with 1) to 3) but what about 4)? Does this really work? What about my actual group which is at the end of Thunderspire Labyrinth and is level6. I cannot steal their levels. But this should stable over the next levels if I give them lesser XP.
Everything correct?
best regards
plancktum
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