Mike Mearls comments on design

[rounser]

I think it's simply a different teaching method. Instead of handing people all the tools and saying, "Go build a house." they are going to say, "Here's a house, here's how WE made it. You can use these tools to build your own house, or you can just use ours, take your pick."

That's a hard balance to get right - how do you include the "serving suggestion" without pre-combining the ingredients so much that it's all you can make?

Or so that you're not picking out the carrot from the mixing bowl every time you cook because the default is carrot cake and you want to make black forest gateau?

 

[MerricB]

Exactly, is a 15th level drow incarnate a reasonable CR 16 opponent?

…Doubtful, but then again the whole CR/EL system is pretty arbitrary and subjective.

Probably closer to CR 16 than a Cleric 5/Wizard 4/Rogue 7!

In fact, the more powers a character has, the harder to pin down its CR.

Cheers!

 

[Steely Dan]

In fact, the more powers a character has, the harder to pin down its CR.

After DMing 3.5 consistently for about 2 years, I have gone back to eyeballing challenges for the party, the way we did it back in the day…and we liked it!

No one knows what will challenge a party like a DM who is intimate with the party's abilities etc.

 

[Sammael]

Probably closer to CR 16 than a Cleric 5/Wizard 4/Rogue 7!

In fact, the more powers a character has, the harder to pin down its CR.

Cheers!

A Cleric 5/Wizard 4/Rogue 7 is CR 11 because of non-associated class levels.

EDIT: And I'd argue that CR 11 is a pretty good CR for that kind of character. He may not be able to do as much sneak attack damage as a straight Rogue 11, but his saves are considerably better, he didn't have to invest in Use Magic Device, he can turn invisible and use non-detection to slip away and heal himself, and he is not useless against undead PCs.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

A Cleric 5/Wizard 4/Rogue 7 is CR 11 because of non-associated class levels.

Note that this is not the "RAW" as I understood it (non-associated class levels only apply for creature HD), but it still sounds like a good idea. (Doesn't help the player character with these levels, though)

 

[Sammael]

Note that this is not the "RAW" as I understood it (non-associated class levels only apply for creature HD), but it still sounds like a good idea. (Doesn't help the player character with these levels, though)

I dunno. If I were to slap those levels onto a 1 HD CR1 creature, it would end up being CR12. I think it's hard to argue that the same thing applied to a 0 HD creature is CR16.

 

[mara]

Its the same thing as appointing a player as chronicler for the party, except on note cards and with the DM overseeing things a bit. It sounded very useful to me for newer players and DMs. Less useful for experienced players and DMs. And its just a sidebar on advice for new DMs.

Yeah, I already do this to a certain extent as a player, though not on note cards. If outside events result in a larger than normal gap between sessions, it's great to read over a list of what happened last session and what we were planning on doing this session to get back in character and focused on the game.

 

[Simon Marks]

After DMing 3.5 consistently for about 2 years, I have gone back to eyeballing challenges for the party, the way we did it back in the day…and we liked it!

No one knows what will challenge a party like a DM who is intimate with the party's abilities etc.

It's true that CR etc. are only really good as guidelines - however...

When DMing your first game, CR is really hand to ensure you don't either present dull speedbumps or TPK. It's a good guide.

CR works at lower levels. Hopefully by the time you are running higher levels you can learn to eyeball it. I never did, mind.

In other words, training wheels are good for thems that need 'em.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I'm really happy with pretty much everything Mike says. It seems that Wizards are really making an effort to make sure the game is covered for starting players and experienced players alike.

I really appreciate some DMing advice in the DMG, rather than just examples of encounters, treasure and so on. The actual construction of a campaign is something I've always find hard (although i appreciate if I practiced more I'd get better at it...).

 

[BryonD]

never mind