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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BigFreekinGoblinoid" data-source="post: 703308" data-attributes="member: 5988">OK, the first thing you need to do is figure out your party level: Disclaimer: there are always exceptions to the below ( opponents with powerful items, broken CR's etc...) But these guidelines should get you close.The basic rule is that, a party of 4 PC's should average their levels to get your party level.  If you only had 4, that would be easy =8. But since you have 5, your Party level is really more like a 9. So you need to try and model encounters for an average of Encounter Level(EL) 9 - but not ALWAYS 9.   You probably want to keep your EL's for this group in a range of 7 to 11.  Below 7 will be too easy, Above 11 may be way too hard, so therefore, either may not be very fun. A common mistake is to think that an EL = Party Level ( an even fight ), but that is not the case. The game is designed for an even encounter level to use about 20% of the party's resources.  So how do you get to your EL? One basic guidline is that CR=EL for an encounter with a single creature.  Remember that Level is usually equated to CR too, although there are some exceptions. But close enough. But what if you have more than one creature? Having two opponents of the same CR/Level only increases the EL by 2. So two Level/CR 7 opponents would be EL 9Four Level/CR 7 opponents would be about an EL 11Four Level/CR 6 opponents would be about an EL 10Something more difficult: 2CR 6's + 1 CR 5 + 4 CR 1's = ? About an EL 9 ( 2CR 6's =8 and together the CR 5 and 4 CR 1's add a little difficulty, but not much ) OK so lets look at the module:  pg 41 : The Red and Yellow, Part 1- Bath (EL6) Assuming Alfonse sets the beasts on you: 2 displacer beasts (CR4) & Alfonse Drellus, Ftr2. {CR4 x2 = 6 (see above)  + nothing for Alfonse as he does not add a significant additional threat, especially since the displacer beasts or Alfonse will not fight to the death. Adding 2 displacer beasts makes this an EL 8, right? 2 displacer beasts = EL 6 ( add two to EL when doubling creatures) , So 4 = 8! If you want this to be an EL 9 encounter, increase the number of  displacer beasts to four, and make Alfonse 7th level or so, and give him a magic sword and a magic chain shirt, or some other gear appropriate for his level.  So - lets see - what do you think you should do to #10 on page 46 to make this a higher EL?</blockquote>

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