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<blockquote data-quote="Reynard" data-source="post: 5470615" data-attributes="member: 467">But these aren't the only two choices. Take, for example, the Random Encounter Chart, particularly the wilderness one.A random encounter chart for a mountain wilderness should likely include a red dragon (barring any special setting specific elements that would change the distribution of dragons). It doesn't matter whether the party travelling through the mountain wilderness is 1st level or 20th level -- the chances of encountering the dragon are the same. Similarly, whether or not the PCs tried to find out what they could likely encounter in the mountains and so knew there was the possibility of a red dragon encounter is equally irrelevant.I think part of the reason &quot;level appropriate&quot; has become such an issue is that the power curve has become so steep. Take a look at your 1E and B/X PHBs versus Monster Manuals. Dragons will certainly stomp 1st level parties (if they aren't asleep in their lairs <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink&nbsp; &nbsp; ;)"&nbsp; data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> ) but just a few PC levels starts to make the encounter look survivable. On the other hand, even higher level PCs need to watch out for the relatively weak giant scorpion because one failed save means death, no matter who you are.This is a feature of older editions that had eroded over time. Even 2E ramped up giants and dragons and other enemies to make them higher level threats. 3E codified it and 4E built the entire game around it. Whether this is good or bad is dependent upon preference, but it is a fundamental shift in assumed play through the editions.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Reynard, post: 5470615, member: 467"] But these aren't the only two choices. Take, for example, the Random Encounter Chart, particularly the wilderness one. A random encounter chart for a mountain wilderness should likely include a red dragon (barring any special setting specific elements that would change the distribution of dragons). It doesn't matter whether the party travelling through the mountain wilderness is 1st level or 20th level -- the chances of encountering the dragon are the same. Similarly, whether or not the PCs tried to find out what they could likely encounter in the mountains and so knew there was the possibility of a red dragon encounter is equally irrelevant. I think part of the reason "level appropriate" has become such an issue is that the power curve has become so steep. Take a look at your 1E and B/X PHBs versus Monster Manuals. Dragons will certainly stomp 1st level parties (if they aren't asleep in their lairs ;) ) but just a few PC levels starts to make the encounter look survivable. On the other hand, even higher level PCs need to watch out for the relatively weak giant scorpion because one failed save means death, no matter who you are. This is a feature of older editions that had eroded over time. Even 2E ramped up giants and dragons and other enemies to make them higher level threats. 3E codified it and 4E built the entire game around it. Whether this is good or bad is dependent upon preference, but it is a fundamental shift in assumed play through the editions. [/QUOTE]

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