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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 5157910" data-attributes="member: 82106">I've tended to both make individual encounters less beefy but also to create pathways around them. There are PLENTY of these encounters but either the party can at least partly avoid the encounter, get a big advantage by some cleverness, etc. They need to figure those things out because if they fight all those things then they're going to come to the nasty level + 4 encounter that is someplace in there where they just plain have to win the day without a margin for victory.For instance the first encounter in my next adventure (for a level 9 party) will start with a level -2 encounter. However the monsters can create a significant obstacle (destroy a rope bridge) if the PCs don't work quickly. If they search a body nearby they can also find an item that will drive off the most significant monster. So I figure all this encounter will do is get them revved up and eat a surge off someone IF they aren't dumb.The next encounter is level + 1 but the monsters arrive progressively and the PCs can use the basic loop design of a cave area to control the engagement. I'll give them a couple decent potions if they kill off all the monsters.The third encounter can be mostly neutralized by properly operating a puzzle. It is in any case a level equal encounter and they just need to get past it.After that is a nice dynamic terrain based encounter. That one can be level + 2 but again proper use of the terrain should allow the PCs a nice advantage. Beyond that I was planning on a level built as a teleporter maze/puzzle where figuring out how to use the teleporters strategically will let them get past the defenders in several short fights at good odds. If they're dumb, then they get to fight a couple of equal level encounters one right after the other with no rest.No doubt the rest of the adventure will go about the same. I haven't had a chance to populate all of them yet. I also think that things will be driven plenty well by story. The PCs have a grudge on one of the bad guys and background reasons for wanting to succeed in the whole mission. There is also a puzzle associated with the whole adventure that leads to uncovering an artifact that ties into another PCs background AND the current artifact one PC is carrying can make a cinematic exit. Combat is a major theme of the adventure, but 30% of the XP can come from quests and having massive DPR isn't a mandatory focus for the PCs. The players simply need to use good tactics and be smart.</blockquote>

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