Tell me about this free GAMEMASTERING PDF, please

[Pinotage]

But that's true of any group of PCs at any CR. Sometimes you're not equipped to deal with the critter, no matter what its CR says.

Wulf

Thanks! It just seemed strange that GT says a CR 21 encounter is moderately difficult (25% resources), while the DMG says CR 17 is the same for 8 Level 15 characters. There's quite a difference there.

Pinotage

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Thanks! It just seemed strange that GT says a CR 21 encounter is moderately difficult (25% resources), while the DMG says CR 17 is the same for 8 Level 15 characters. There's quite a difference there.

Have you done much high level play? Not being snarky, I can only speak anecdotally to it myself.

But eight 15th level characters is a shitload of firepower.

Look at it another way. 25% of resources could mean one of the following:

a) Two of the eight characters are going to die.

b) All eight of them are going to lose 25% of their hit points, spells, and expendable charges.

Who's more likely to that?

Big Bad Evil Guy #1, a 17th level character.

Big Bad Evil Guy #2, a 21st level character.

 

[Pinotage]

Have you done much high level play? Not being snarky, I can only speak anecdotally to it myself.

But eight 15th level characters is a shitload of firepower.

Look at it another way. 25% of resources could mean one of the following:

a) Two of the eight characters are going to die.

b) All eight of them are going to lose 25% of their hit points, spells, and expendable charges.

Who's more likely to that?

Big Bad Evil Guy #1, a 17th level character.

Big Bad Evil Guy #2, a 21st level character.

I did DM an epic game at 21st level for a while before the players lost interest in it. I killed a character in the first fight when he got skewered by a lance from a giant flying a roc. High level fights are deadly.

But, yes, I see your point.

Pinotage

 

[Pinotage]

Running through the details again, I noticed one thing that this does that I like (I like the rest as well, but I really like this bit!). It highlights the fact that a single powerful enemy isn't nearly as powerful as two less powerful enemies. I kind of like that idea, and it's certainly true in practise. Much better than the DMG system where two CR10 creature are equal to a CR12. This at least indicates by power that two CR10 creature as almost 1.5 times stronger. Nice!

Pinotage

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Running through the details again, I noticed one thing that this does that I like (I like the rest as well, but I really like this bit!). It highlights the fact that a single powerful enemy isn't nearly as powerful as two less powerful enemies. I kind of like that idea, and it's certainly true in practise. Much better than the DMG system where two CR10 creature are equal to a CR12. This at least indicates by power that two CR10 creature as almost 1.5 times stronger. Nice!

Which really leads back to your question about eight 15th's vs. one 21st.

Also notice that the "gaps" between EL get larger as CR increases.

To a CR1 creature, there is a big difference between CR1 and CR2. That's a 100% increase in CR factors (that is, the "cost" of those things that go into making up CR).

There is not as much of a difference between CR20 and CR21 (a 5% increase in CR-factors).

This is why going from CR20 to CR21 really shouldn't change the EL (as it does in the DMG). It's just not true that a CR21 is the same magnitude more difficult than the CR20 as the CR2 is compared to the CR1.

CR doesn't continue to increase EL on a 1:1 basis because there is only so much that a creature can do with its abilities in a single round. Which, again, is why multiple creatures are more dangerous than a single creature: they are able to bring to bear a lot more of their firepower each round.

It sure took me a long time to get around to explaining that, huh?

 

[Pinotage]

It sure took me a long time to get around to explaining that, huh?

Be assured that us mortals appreciate it!

Pinotage

 

[Upper_Krust]

I must say Grim Tales has certainly taught me a few things.