Understanding EL

[Moon_Goddess]

I have a Group of 3 players, now at level 3.

I'm having a difficult time balancing encounters. I've got a good idea for an adventure and I need to know if I should wait a level to run it.

How many CR3's should my party be able to handle at one time? And should they be able to survive a CR7 as a boss?

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

Fudge it. It is the only workable way.

 

[IanB]

3 level 3 PCs will probably get waxed by a single CR 7 under most circumstances.

When you get to a party that small, their power is *really* variable depending on what classes are involved. I would slowly ramp stuff up and see how they handle it, and likely not take any risks with encounter design until I really had their power level pegged.

 

[Moon_Goddess]

3 level 3 PCs will probably get waxed by a single CR 7 under most circumstances.

When you get to a party that small, their power is *really* variable depending on what classes are involved. I would slowly ramp stuff up and see how they handle it, and likely not take any risks with encounter design until I really had their power level pegged.

Well, Only one of them is a any good at combat, the healer is quite good at her job, but not at combat.

And one guy can't roll above a 5 to save his character's life... litterally...


So I guess I'll drop the CR7 and throw the CR3's at them one at a time.

 

[howandwhy99]

I have a Group of 3 players, now at level 3.

I'm having a difficult time balancing encounters. I've got a good idea for an adventure and I need to know if I should wait a level to run it.

How many CR3's should my party be able to handle at one time?

Depending the opponents and PCs, it should be 4 in a row with the 4th as 50/50 deadly.

And should they be able to survive a CR7 as a boss?

This is a very challenging fight, but certainly doable if they can choose the battleground and start fully rested.

 

[Imp]

It sounds to me like, for your big fight, you should play to the party's strengths since a 3-man group is going to be lopsided one way or the other. (Me, I think this is what makes them interesting, but I digress) Once you know how they handle their strengths you can begin probing lightly at their weaknesses. I'm guessing you've done the "healer buffs fighter while fighter holds off big bad long enough for rogue to finally pick the lock/ mage to finally wipe out the mooks" setup? Because that is what springs to mind.

If I were to throw a single CR 7 at a 3 level-3 group I'd probably want to try playing through at least the first two rounds myself to have an idea of how things go, and tweak the encounter to taste.

 

[GlassJaw]

Use the sum of the squares method. It's an incredibly fast and accurate way to balance encounters.

 

[chriton227]

Use the sum of the squares method. It's an incredibly fast and accurate way to balance encounters.

"Sum of the squares" method? I haven't heard of that one. I'm assuming you square and total each of the PCs character level, and then do the same for the enemies, looking to get them close?

 

[GlassJaw]

"Sum of the squares" method? I haven't heard of that one. I'm assuming you square and total each of the PCs character level, and then do the same for the enemies, looking to get them close?

Buy this:

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=4036&

 

[Hussar]

Hopefully, this thread: Factors Affecting CR and EL might answer a lot of your questions.