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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Pamphylian" data-source="post: 9885344" data-attributes="member: 7053769">I'm not close to level 15, but my game has definitely improved with generally lowered hp and increased damage to most non-boss/miniboss type monsters. Like close to half hp, double damage for mooks (often through additional multiattack, and either choosing hp at the lower end of the possible range or using TSR era monster HD as a guideline). The benefits have been manifold: faster fights (means I can get more fights in a session and thus get more attrition - as a side benefits: tedium is decreased,  exploration is more satisfying when you can cover more ground in a session), tenser more resource draining fights (enemies that can drop a character's hp by 1/3-1/2 in a round in most fights is ideal - this also forces players to be more mobile), and I can use more enemies without turning things into a slog, keeping the action economy challenging and allowing players to see progress in taking down individual monsters rather than semi mysterious HP sacks. Realistically, with 2.5-3 hour sessions, I'm often not going to get 6-8 fights/resource draining activities in most sessions, and I find things feel kind of incoherent and unsatisfying if you are still on the same rest after more than 2 weeks. So more, faster encounters makes getting the attrition I want (especially with 5.5e healing) much easier.</blockquote>