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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Meeki" data-source="post: 2096040" data-attributes="member: 17257">Alright, first of all the amount of resources a party will use depends on who is playing the PC and how the DM runs the game, such as keeping the party adventuring ALL day not allowing them the option to leave and rest when ever they feel like.  The CR system is more of a recommendation than a rule set in stone.  A CR 12 can be weak if the DM does not know how to take advantage of the abilities/skills/etc.  When dealing with a party of 7 lvl 7 characters, depending on the composition of the party, I would probably be using CR 10's 11's and 12's.  These will give the PC's a challenge, force them to use strategy (hopefully without metagaming too much), and give the DM some fun.  One thing to remember as a DM is YOU have the power to change things, if you feel the monster is too powerful take away a few HD's, which will lower saves, ability DC's, Baseattack, etc.      If you dont feel comfortable doing this then use a CR9 or so and be sure to pay attention to SKILLS, FEATS, and ABILITIES that creatures have.  Many times have I experienced a situation where my party would utterly decimate something near double our level because the DM doesn't pay attention to the abilities a creature possesses such as moving silently and hiding.  Also, as the DM know what the party is good at; can they dish out alot of damage fast? or perhaps they take some time doing damage but are very resiliant ( lots of healers? high ac?) Know your party's strengths and weaknesses.  Another thing is to utilize KNOWLEDGE SKILLS of both the monsters and party members.  DO NOT let party members metagame, if they do penalize them.  MAKE the PC's use knowledge nature checks against those giants or knowledge dungeoneering against abberations, this will 1. allow for someone to know the weakness of a creature 2. make the knowledge skills actually useful in combat 3. keep characters from metagaming.  If no one has appropriate knowledges then the creature may be tougher, if the party keeps RP"ing they know nothing of it then give them more xp by treating the creature as a higher CR.  Whatever you do DO NOT take away xp for someone having the appropriate knowledges, making a high skill check, preparing the party against the creature, and watching the party smash the creature into a billion pieces.    Remember as the DM YOU have the final say, do not be afraid to modify enemies.  If you want them to escape then have them escape.  Do what you want then make it fit the rules later, that way you dont have to spend time figuring out if the rules allow it if the PC's dont even question it.  The beauty of the D20 system is the flexibility of the rules.  Don't be afraid to kill off a PC or two also, they are lvl 7 should have enough resources to raise dead at some temple. I notice you used the terrible word "sunder" in your first post.  Now sundering an opponents weapon is a sure way to piss them off but lets think of this logically.  Would PC or NPC want sunder?  It destroys their potential loot, and, in the case of the honorable, is very dishonorable to obliterate a warrior's weapon when they  might want to be buried with it later.  I can see creatures that care little of loot have sunder, but there are two things that piss PC's off, killing their characters and taking their loot.</blockquote>

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