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<blockquote data-quote="Man in the Funny Hat" data-source="post: 3673128" data-attributes="member: 32740">EL is not an ironclad mathematical formula that will crank out precision results.&nbsp; It's a tool - just ONE tool - for use in CRAFTING encounters.&nbsp; I use that word (crafting) deliberately because despite what having a &quot;formula&quot; might suggest it simply CANNOT take into consideration the skill of the DM, the players, the variations possible in party composition by class and race, not to mention differences in strategies, tactics, gear values, magic items, random results of the dice, and more.If you're really worried about it then get copies of the PC character sheets (but what am I saying - you're a good DM and already have up-to-date copies of such important materials for your game prep?!) and run the encounter as a mock combat a few times trying different tactics.&nbsp; Better still, get someone not a player in your game to assist as guinea pig.&nbsp; And still you should have options for making the fight more/less difficult on the fly.If you want more specific guestimates then I'd say you need to put up the race/class of the PC's, double-check their gear values as well as note anything unusual there that might have bearing on the encounter, and of course not just the CR but the actual creatures you're planning to use and HOW you intend to use them.Can three 3rd level PC's survive a CR7 boss?&nbsp; Sure they can.&nbsp; But that doesn't mean they likely will or should - WAY too many unknown variables to make a proper specific prediction.&nbsp; ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL/NORMAL they should get savaged by a straight-up CR7 boss fight if not just handily wiped away in record time.&nbsp; But then again, WHAT the boss is will make a difference, as well as where.&nbsp; A simplistic melee-fest is generally quite easy for players to tilt in their favor - a little prep time, more healing potions, terrain advantages, cooperative tactics...&nbsp; But something spell- and/or special ability-heavy will be much harder for low-level characters to get the upper hand on.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Man in the Funny Hat, post: 3673128, member: 32740"] EL is not an ironclad mathematical formula that will crank out precision results. It's a tool - just ONE tool - for use in CRAFTING encounters. I use that word (crafting) deliberately because despite what having a "formula" might suggest it simply CANNOT take into consideration the skill of the DM, the players, the variations possible in party composition by class and race, not to mention differences in strategies, tactics, gear values, magic items, random results of the dice, and more. If you're really worried about it then get copies of the PC character sheets (but what am I saying - you're a good DM and already have up-to-date copies of such important materials for your game prep?!) and run the encounter as a mock combat a few times trying different tactics. Better still, get someone not a player in your game to assist as guinea pig. And still you should have options for making the fight more/less difficult on the fly. If you want more specific guestimates then I'd say you need to put up the race/class of the PC's, double-check their gear values as well as note anything unusual there that might have bearing on the encounter, and of course not just the CR but the actual creatures you're planning to use and HOW you intend to use them. Can three 3rd level PC's survive a CR7 boss? Sure they can. But that doesn't mean they likely will or should - WAY too many unknown variables to make a proper specific prediction. ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL/NORMAL they should get savaged by a straight-up CR7 boss fight if not just handily wiped away in record time. But then again, WHAT the boss is will make a difference, as well as where. A simplistic melee-fest is generally quite easy for players to tilt in their favor - a little prep time, more healing potions, terrain advantages, cooperative tactics... But something spell- and/or special ability-heavy will be much harder for low-level characters to get the upper hand on. [/QUOTE]

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