How do I build an encounter using a "classed" foe combined with MM foes?

[Daniel D. Fox]

I want to build an encounter using a 7th level Ranger and Dwarves from the MM against the following player party -

6th level Warlord
6th level Ranger
3rd level Fighter
4th level Rogue

How do I figure out how much experience I can spend, and what is the impact of a 7th level Ranger on the XP I can spend?

Thanks in advance!

 

[-Avalon-]

I believe what you do is first figure out what race the npc is going to be (I assume dwarf but might be wrong?) Then use the DM's toolbox to make the base creature following the rules for making a NEW creature.

Afterwards, add on the template for ranger, which makes it elite. 7th level Elite has a specific amount of xp (600)

Hope this helps!

 

[HighTemplar]

Yup Moniker, you read that right. Theres no such rules that let you make your PCs face another PC(Ranger is a class only for players). Your ranger is gonna suck(from applying the ranger template to some monster), or you're gonna have to determine yourself how much exp he's worth.

 

[keterys]

There are rules in the DMG for making non-elite classed NPCs.

I will say... you really probably should try to get the characters a little closer in level But, the way you figure out XP budget is you determine how tough of an encounter you want - for example a fairly easy encounter would be of equal level. So you'd have 2 6th level (250 XP each, 6th level monsters), 1 4th (175), 1 3rd (150) so that's 825 XP base. A really tough encounter might be Level + 3, which would give you 1350 XP. So that's a decent range of XP to try and land in.

 

[The Little Raven]

Theres no such rules that let you make your PCs face another PC(Ranger is a class only for players).

Yes, there are. They're called "character creation rules." Nothing stops you from using those to make your NPCs, except the possible desire to save time and effort. However, don't be surprised if they go down pretty quickly, since monster/NPC bonus progression is faster than PC progression, as are the hit point totals.

 

[MrMyth]

keterys has already mentioned them, but I think it bears repeating that there are rules in the DMG - on pages 187-188 - for creating non-elite NPCs of any standard race and class combination.

So you could use this to create a standard 7th level Dwarven Ranger NPC, who would be worth 300 xp.

NPC vs PC

I highly recommend you use the NPC rules for creating the Ranger, rather than generate him via the standard PC rules. The NPC rules remove a few elements from the character. Some of these, such as feats, are bypassed for simplicity - but others, such as a limited number of powers, are bypassed for balance issues.

A 7th level Ranger PC will have two Daily Powers available - each of these will be significantly more powerful than anything a standard monster of that level will have. Add in several Utility Powers and Encounter Powers, and the enemy has a much higher threat level than is appropriate.

This is because a PC has many powers they are expected to go through over the course of a day, while monsters only have to worry about one encounter - the fight with the PCs. The more powers they have to burn through in that one fight, the more dangerous it will be.

Hence, I highly recommend using the standard NPC creation rules, which will produce a 7th level Ranger that is a perfectly reasonable as an opponent for the PCs.

XP Budget

A standard encounter for that party would have an xp budget of 825 xp (250 xp for each 6th level character, 175 xp for the 4th level character, 150 xp for the 3rd level character.) DMG page 56 has the chart for this, but essentially, each character contributes to the xp budget the value of one standard monster of their level.

Thus, if you do use the standard NPC rules, your Ranger is worth 300 xp. The remaining 525 xp can be spent on dwarves - say, a Dwarf Hammerer (200 xp) and 2 Dwarf Bolters (175 xp x 2 = 350 xp). You come out 25 xp over your budget, but that is still well within the range for a standard encounter.