Question about DM tactics

[Demoquin]

I have been gaming with my DM for about 5-6 sessions now. Every and i mean EVERY encounter we ever face is with in our expected range.

Examples

A smith in the town he was saying as a lvl 4. In the same town a herbalist as a lvl 4.

wouldnt the npc merchants OR anyone be higher than a lvl 4? It seems kind of watered down.

 

[Len]

How do you know what level all the merchants are? Is it by the XP you get after you kill them??

 

[Crothian]

I can understand it is a little wierd, but why's it matter?

 

[sfedi]

I have been gaming with my DM for about 5-6 sessions now. Every and i mean EVERY encounter we ever face is with in our expected range.

Examples

A smith in the town he was saying as a lvl 4. In the same town a herbalist as a lvl 4.

wouldnt the npc merchants OR anyone be higher than a lvl 4? It seems kind of watered down.

That's what prevents your party from been wiped out by an EL 7 encounter while you're all level 1.

Enjoy it.

 

[Demoquin]

We are on the brink of lvl 5. I know they are lvl 4-5 because we had to calculate the amount of craft skill the smith has. And i had to kill the Herbalist because he noticed some items missing in his shop and started casting something.(druid 4).

I just dont think that everyone we meet is at the same level we are. And i dont know how to bring this up to him or if i even should. This is my first time playing pnp and first DM.

 

[William_2]

Well, your character is evil, so I would enjoy not meeting npcs of a higher level as long as possible. I agree with you that you should not face exclusively same-level challenges (although that is pretty common). I think you should shortly face several 15th level Druids who have some questions...
Maybe you have only played a few games and there will be a broader range over time. If it bothers you much, you could bring it up, I guess. I'm not clear why it matters. You could just ask not to know the level of npcs, as well. Have the DM tell you when you have enough XP to level, and forget about it otherwise. As a DM, I don't tell players what the level of an encounter was, actually. I find that an odd practice.

 

[Greylock]

And i had to kill the Herbalist because he noticed some items missing in his shop and started casting something.(druid 4).

Townfolk generally aren't there for killing. They are for goods, info, repairs, looking down your nose at. Don't just kill the next NPC who shows up at your door stoop. Talk to him. He/she may know where the higher level critters that need killing are.

HTH

 

[reanjr]

Seems no less contrived than always making an adventure that is reasonably difficult for the PCs. I see no problem, here.

That said, I don't tailor encounters to the party usually. If they take on the adventure to slay the red dragon at 1st level, that's their prerogative.

 

[dcollins]

For actual guidelines on NPCs in a town, see DMG Chapter 4, "Generating Towns: NPCs in the Community". Most NPCs in a town are 1st level.

 

[Hypersmurf]

And i had to kill the Herbalist because he noticed some items missing in his shop and started casting something.(druid 4).

You gotta watch those shopkeepers.

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You miss Asidonhopo. Asidonhopo gets angry! Asidonhopo hits! --more--
Asidonhopo hits! Asidonhopo hits! Asidonhopo hits! --more--
You die...[/color]