Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="beaver1024" data-source="post: 2026588" data-attributes="member: 12131">I think it's a good rule. After all the object of DnD is to have fun. One can't really have fun if the obstacles is too easy or too hard (read impossible) to overcome. Most DM's don't have the time to properly assess challenges and many a times gives either too easy or too difficult challenges because the monsters "felt right" for the area. Whilst keeping encounters thematically consistent is important, what is also important is to maintain some sort of approriate challenge level for the parties so that the players can have fun. It's no fun to die all the time because the DM thought the haunted forrest should be invested with wraiths which the party of EL 5 regularly encountered. This occurred a lot with inexperienced or ill prepared DMs. I remember many occurrances in 1e/2e where I overestimated the party's capabilities (due to weak humans in the party) and nearly TPKed them with encounters I thought were thematically sound for the area but were totally overmatched for the party. I also underestimated the party's capabilities (due to frustratingly overpowered demi-humans and their kits) and had the party yawned through supposedly difficult encounters ruining my fun.What makes the rule that parties should encounter challenges appropriate to their level possible is the presence of racial and class balance. 1e/2e never had this so trying to present a uniform challenge system where one could even begin to guide DMs in constructing their encounters is ridiculous. Now EL more accurately represent the capabilities of the party. Base on this I can easily create encounters which are thematically sound as well as challenging to the party. I mostly follow the party EL == encounter EL rule in most of my encounters. However random encounters I adjust downwards and BBEG encounters I adjust upwards. Mostly it works. Of course this doesn't account for player stupidity which may make encounters harder than their EL indicate.</blockquote>

Verification