Have you grown dependent on Challenge Ratings?

[Umbran]

Nope - I use the CR as a rough guideline when designing.

If I don't already know exactly what critter I want in a given place, I will sometimes scan through the lists by CR, looking around roughly where i want the callenge to be. When I do know what critter I want to use, I will start by checking the CR to make sure my choice isn't completely off base.

In either case, though, I will also consider the critter in specific detail, rather than rely on CR to tell me everything.

 

[Tyler Do'Urden]

I am an absolute slave to C.R. She is my mistress. She leads me around on a leash, and I fulfill her every whim...

Oh, wait, not that C.R. Challenge Rating. Gotchya.

Yeah, I use 'em. What's it to you?

 

[kigmatzomat]

I'd miss them for sure since at the very least they are the fastest way to skim the monster books for ideas. I've got no trouble using dozens, or hundreds, of creatures in an encounter so I don't restrict myself by any means but if I want an easy to run encounter, I stay at the higher CR band to find one or two creatures I can tweak as needed until they are a valid challenge.

 

[Quasqueton]

I could give up Challenge Ratings anytime I want. I just don't want to.

Quasqueton

 

[Fishbone]

Ah wish I culd kwit yew...
Sorry.
Nah, I've been using the CR system but adjusting it so much for monster strength and party composition that sometimes the numbers will be way off. A "book" CR 13 could be anywhere from -5 or +5 CRs for the "Fishbone" CR.

 

[Shade]

Yes and no. While CR doesn't dictate what monsters I use, I usually advance the creatures or increase their numbers to meet the target CR range.

I love the CR system and would hate to be without it.

 

[molonel]

CRs are a useful guideline, but they are more art than science. I have to get a feel for a group, and how they work together, and what they are capable of. I adjust CR based on that. Sometimes it's a wash, sometimes it's a slaughter (on either side) and sometimes, like baby bear's bed, it's juuuuust right.

 

[MerricB]

How about the rest of you oldsters... have any of you grown dependent on CR to plan encounters?

I find CR incredibly useful for planning my 3.5e games. It allows me to judge the potency of new (unused) monsters far more effectively.

I'd feel lost in AD&D, but part of this would also be that it's a long time since I've designed adventures specifically for it, so I no longer have the "touch" of balancing things right.

Cheers!

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Back in the old days I used the by-level wandering monster charts from the DMG as a planning guideline.

Now I try and balance for EL, for which CR is a guide -- but not an absolute one.

 

[Psion]

Dependant? I'd say I find them a great convenience. I may already have an idea what a few of the challenges in the campaign are, but need something else to add some challenge or variety to the game... I'll pull out a CR list (or flip to the right page of the appropriate Monster Geographica book, and I find something thematically and challenge appropriate for the game.