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<blockquote data-quote="jbear" data-source="post: 5157928" data-attributes="member: 75065">I understand what Kzach is saying and agree in so far as not every encounter should be deadly and vexing for the PCs. &nbsp;But i'm also inclined to agree with most of what Mesh Hong says.&nbsp;It is difficult to build encounters on the basis of 70% of these encounters should be easy for the pcs, mere hiccups in their path towards where the real action lies. &nbsp;I try to prepare the upcoming adventure based on the pcs decisions/actions, be they wise or be they reckless. I try and place the degree of danger/difficulty in line with how dangerous/difficult I believe that course of action should be.&nbsp;I like a game to build a sense of tension and drama which increases towards a climax, but if the PCs knock the bucket down the well while they are sneaking through the depths of Moria... even though that was not meant to be the climactic moment where the pcs come face to face with the villain, well, they are going to have a seriously hard time of it before the ever get to stand back to back and fight the finale before the mighty gates of Mordor. Trolls, hordes of goblins and a Balrog to name a few things. And if it hadn't been for that bucket, it would have been quite a relaxing and enjoyable trip all things considered.&nbsp;Of course some parts should be less dangerous (easy if you will, although they aren't necessarily one and the same), especially if the PCs have earned it by finding back ways in, safe ways through, well planned strategies or successful skill challenges. &nbsp;I sometimes prepare skill challenges that when carried out successfully can circumnavegate large portions of combat, which is what Kzach seems to be talking about. But why draw out a battlemat to fight that lonely goblin bell ringer guard when a successful attack/dungeoneering check could bring those wobbly looking shelves full of heavy books crashing down on his head to take him out. Knotch up a success and carry on infiltrating the Hive!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="jbear, post: 5157928, member: 75065"] I understand what Kzach is saying and agree in so far as not every encounter should be deadly and vexing for the PCs. But i'm also inclined to agree with most of what Mesh Hong says. It is difficult to build encounters on the basis of 70% of these encounters should be easy for the pcs, mere hiccups in their path towards where the real action lies. I try to prepare the upcoming adventure based on the pcs decisions/actions, be they wise or be they reckless. I try and place the degree of danger/difficulty in line with how dangerous/difficult I believe that course of action should be. I like a game to build a sense of tension and drama which increases towards a climax, but if the PCs knock the bucket down the well while they are sneaking through the depths of Moria... even though that was not meant to be the climactic moment where the pcs come face to face with the villain, well, they are going to have a seriously hard time of it before the ever get to stand back to back and fight the finale before the mighty gates of Mordor. Trolls, hordes of goblins and a Balrog to name a few things. And if it hadn't been for that bucket, it would have been quite a relaxing and enjoyable trip all things considered. Of course some parts should be less dangerous (easy if you will, although they aren't necessarily one and the same), especially if the PCs have earned it by finding back ways in, safe ways through, well planned strategies or successful skill challenges. I sometimes prepare skill challenges that when carried out successfully can circumnavegate large portions of combat, which is what Kzach seems to be talking about. But why draw out a battlemat to fight that lonely goblin bell ringer guard when a successful attack/dungeoneering check could bring those wobbly looking shelves full of heavy books crashing down on his head to take him out. Knotch up a success and carry on infiltrating the Hive! [/QUOTE]

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