Ferret said:
Okay, this probably should be asked in the Software forum, where someone who knew the right terms to make this very, very clear would make it very, very clear, but it's not, so I'll muddle through.
Start up PCGen.
That first screen you see when you start up PCGen, before clicking on any of the fun tabs, is the "Pick Your Source Material" screen. The first thing you must do is (surprise) pick some source material.
The material is arranged in a tree. The first level of the tree is the Publisher level. "Wizards of the Coast" is an option here. Click it -- actually not it, but the little circle-with-a-stick thing to its left.
You ought to see a sub-level with names like "Core", "Forgotten Realms", etc. You might only have "Core" and "Suppliments". In either case, double-click on "Core". Note how you now can see at least one entry looking like "WotC - DnD Core Rules ..." on the right half of the screen, above the button marked "Load".
Click the button marked "Load". Now check out the File menu -- "New" ought to be enabled!
I hope this has been helpful.
-- Nifft
AS with all things that a DM has to do you must ask yourself if this is an appropriate encounter. Is the party fuly rested when it meets this encounter? If so then the EL of 1.8 is probably right. If everything goes as planned you may have 1 pc down or at least the party shuld have used about 40-50% of it resources. These are things as spells, potions, special abilities-like Barbarians Rage, perhaps arrows and other things. The reason the party is meeting the Hobgoblin Druid and monkey is possibly more important than the difficulty of the encounter. Can they learn from this hobgoblin, Is he the major low level villian the party will face from time to time? If they don't defeat this encounter what could happen? You have to think of all those things to get your answer
From the spells you have chosen it looks like the Druid is not expecting to face the party. With the exception of Flare you have no offensive spells. What you could do with these are the following. Cast fairie fire on an animal and the n act as though the Druid is in that area. From concealment talk to the party but make it seem as though you are a powerful person who wants the party to leave an offering to the "forest". When they refuse cast light on a tree near them to outline them. If they begin combat have the monkey concentrate on the MU or Cleric and throw apples,coconuts or whatever in an attempt to cause a concentration check. When you can cast flare on a fighter type hoping to cause the -1 to be in effect when you must use combat. The other option is to cast light near the party, fairie fire on a member of the party shouting out that you have placed a curse upon them and then flee following with your listen and spot checks or using the monkey in the trees to keep tabs on the party. If you know you'll encounter the party or for IMHO a better but still realistic Hobgoblin Druid, try these spells instead
