How to run encounters with oversized parties

[Victim]

I have to admit I completely disagree with this advice. I also ran large games for a while and I also tried to "fix" the problems associated with them by increasing the total monsters on the board with equal-level additions. I have come to the conclusion that this is a bad idea. My battles weren't "swingy" necessarily - but they took forever.

A much better idea is to lower the total number of monsters and raise the monsters' level slightly. Three n+3 monsters against 6 PCs makes a much, MUCH better battle than six n monsters. Part of the issue is the grind: more monsters = more total HP the PCs have to slog through. Fewer monsters that are higher level = fewer total HP but monsters still stay dangerous.

I think the OP's idea of making one monster elite is a great one. That may even be easier than making several monsters a higher level, depending on the encounter.

I have to disagree. Fewer higher level monsters means higher defenses. So the party does less damage, making up for the reduction in total HP. And, because hitting is more difficult, it's harder for the party to build off each other's powers. There's no damage jump from Warlord's Favor or Righteous Brand because that power missed. Area attacks have fewer targets to hit (besides hitting less often) so the total damage the party can deal is reduced.

 

[the Jester]

This is a great discussion.

Again, speaking as a dm for 4-8 players at a time (depending on who all is there at the time), I haven't had any issues with encounter design in 4e either by adding more monsters of level n (party level); but then, I've also done lots of encounters with a couple of n+2s, a smattering of n-4x and an elite n or something... I try to use a mix of different types of groups of opponents with different numbers and strategies.

The one area in which monsters kind of fall flat imho is in the damage they deal. Higher level monsters make for more exciting battles, because the pcs feel threatened (something that is sometimes hard to achieve with my group, which is leader-heavy). On the other hand, using more equal or lower level monsters allows for more waves of reinforcements, which I really like. Six of one, half dozen of the other, imho.