D&D 5E Some 5ed Questions

[Jaracove]

Do dwarves (for example) get both the +2 Con and a bonus from either Hill or Mountain dwarf?

 

[Trit One-Ear]

Yes, races with subraces get the primary or "main" racial bonuses and then something different based on their subrace.

So for example, all dwarves get the +2 Con, Darkvision, Dwarven Resilience and Combat Training etc.
Hill dwarves pick up the +1 Wis and extra hit points.
Mountain dwarves on the other hand get the +2 Str, and armor training.

Trit

 

[Jaracove]

Thanks Trit

 

[Jaracove]

So is the bandit captain on page 344 of the monster manual a 10th level creature because he rolls 10d8+20 for hit points?

 

[Pickles JG]

Monsters don't really have a level, and if they did there is nothing in the game mechanics for it to interact with.

PCs of a given level do have a CR of rather less than that level if you convert them into Monsters.

 

[Nebulous]

So the Challenge doesn't roughly equate to a level? I admit i have not delved into the monster building rules yet.

 

[LabyrinthLord718]

No, but it does have a rough equivelency with APL (average party level) which is why a single NPC with class levels has a CR that (generally) decreases.

 

[Jaracove]

So what's the safest and best way to get an encounter right without wiping the party out?

 

[Rune]

So what's the safest and best way to get an encounter right without wiping the party out?

Practice. Start with very easy and increase difficulty as you learn what the party can handle.

Also, if you've got a big battle planned with lots of foes, remember that multiple foes are disproportionately more difficult, especially if they synergize well.

In such situations, I would introduce them in waves, so you can adjust the difficulty of the battle by holding them back (or not) based on how well the PCs are faring.

 

[pedro2112]

Practice. Start with very easy and increase difficulty as you learn what the party can handle.

Also, if you've got a big battle planned with lots of foes, remember that multiple foes are disproportionately more difficult, especially if they synergize well.

In such situations, I would introduce them in waves, so you can adjust the difficulty of the battle by holding them back (or not) based on how well the PCs are faring.

Or better yet Jaracove, use the actual encounter building guidelines in the DMG. CR's can be deceptive and are not they way to build an encounter. Use the XP budgeting guidelines (with the multipliers) that are suggested in the rules.