How many encounters before an extended rest

[Nimble Goodbarrel]

This may belong in the other thread but...

I am creating an adventure for four PC's of 4th level. I have searched and maybe I just can't see it, but I wanted to know how many encounters can PC's handle before they need an extended rest?

For the first encounter I have created, I have spent my XP budget (700 xp). I was wondering if the rule still applied that three encounters of the same level should be enough for PC's to handle before they need to replenish their skills etc.

So should I be spending about 2100 xp for the whole adventure or just 700?

Thanks for your help,

Nimble
Toronto, ON

 

[Crothian]

We always go a lot of encounters. Extended rests are not always easy to come by. The party can't always find a safe place and while they are resting the place they are exploring does not shut down and wait for them.

 

[Nimble Goodbarrel]

How many encounters do you find you can handle before you are completely out of powers, spells and the like?

 

[Prism]

For us it varies between 4-6 I'd say but a 2+ level encounter can really reduce this number. The most I saw was in an LFR adventure which had eight but one was a skill challenge

What I would do is plan your 3 encounters and then have a spare level 2 or 3 encounter to throw in if you need too. Also plan to add in or drop an extra monster if you need to

Only after several adventures with the same characters will you get a good fix on how long they can continue

 

[karlindel]

This is a difficult question to answer, because it can depend significantly on your party makeup, how well their classes and power choices synergize, and how well the characters coordinate. It is also strongly influenced by the level of the encounters and the mix of skill encounters.

If the party has a cowardly ranged character who stays far from the fights and never gets hit, then the party will be able to go through fewer encounters than if the ranged character comes up to the front lines and takes a hit now and then. If the party has a cleric focussed on healing to maximize the healing power of surges, the party will be able to get through more fights than if the party has a less healing focussed leader, and far more than if there is no leader at all.

In addition, skill challenges can extend the party's staying power, because they result in more daily item powers and action points relative to the number of combat encounters.

In my experience, a well built party that plays well together can usually take 4-6 combat encounters of their level before an extended rest, and I have seen as many as 8 with good luck. Replacing a few of those with level-1 and level +1 will probably not affect that very much. Level +2 or higher encounters will start to drop that number unless offset by some much easier encounters.

 

[S'mon]

2100 XP over 3 encounters is unlikely to be much of a challenge. Looking at Dungeon Delve, it uses more like 700-800-1000.

 

[wedgeski]

In my particular game (with two Defenders, a Controller, and a Striker), they run to about 4 encounters before having to put down for the night.

 

[TerraDave]

Its roughly 4, some of which should be above charecter level by 1 or 2 (or 3 at level and one grand finale 3 above).

 

[Holy Bovine]

How many encounters do you find you can handle before you are completely out of powers, spells and the like?

9 times out of 10 the party does 6-7 encounters before looking for an extended rest. I do tend to use encounters that are equal in level to the party however. Occasionally I'll put a tougher encounter in there to spice things up (especially if the group is getting low on surges and/or dailies) and most solos I use are PL+2. Really it is very dependent on how your group plays together and how well they use tactics during combat. I have seen some tough looking parties completely overwhelmed by same level opponents simply because the party made some really poor tactical choices.

 

[dvorak]

3

It takes three licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop.

In the crappy campaign where I am the hero, the party will be taking an extended rest after one encounter due to a PC death.

In the other crappy campaign where I am the hero, the party has defeated the outside undead guards, pass a second group of guards using bluff checks, fought a group protecting a noble and defeated another group of summon creatures before calling the end of a gaming session. Next week the party continues to hunt down this noble and then somehow make an exit before (I suspect) we can plan on an extended rest.

So the answer: plan all the encounters you feel is warranted with a sprinkle of cool on the side.

You can go to enworld.org/forum/blogs/dvorak and post a comment on my blog.