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<blockquote data-quote="jasin" data-source="post: 7320810" data-attributes="member: 7531">I don't have the books, and I think the encounter guidelines I've been looking at might have been from Xanathar's Guide rather than the DMG/MM, so maybe this is covered. If so, just point me at the right section. Otherwise, help me understand what the CR numbers represent in 5E.In 3E, it was &quot;CR N creature = decent fight for a level N party&quot;.In 4E, it was &quot;CR N creature = for use at or around level N&quot;.In 5E, it seems that the number itself doesn't really have much relation with anything? The encounter building guidelines I've seen have been tables saying &quot;if it's a single monster, use a CR 7 monster for a level 5 party; if it's a bunch of monsters, use 1 CR 2 monster per 1 level 5 PC&quot;.Extensive experience has shown it's exceedingly difficult to make a simple formula of any worth, but wouldn't it be reasonable to simply label those monsters that are a good match for a level N party from at least some angle with CR N? Either &quot;use 1 of these guys per 1 PC for a fun fight&quot; or &quot;use 1 of these against a whole party for a fun fight&quot; or &quot;1 of these is an even match against 1 PC&quot;?Ultimately, the DM always has to judge themselves how tough the encounter is going to be for a given party, but for a level N party, can I just quickly glance through the MM and pick monsters according to CR (or CR+X, or CR-X) as a starting point, rather than going to the tables?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="jasin, post: 7320810, member: 7531"] I don't have the books, and I think the encounter guidelines I've been looking at might have been from Xanathar's Guide rather than the DMG/MM, so maybe this is covered. If so, just point me at the right section. Otherwise, help me understand what the CR numbers represent in 5E. In 3E, it was "CR N creature = decent fight for a level N party". In 4E, it was "CR N creature = for use at or around level N". In 5E, it seems that the number itself doesn't really have much relation with anything? The encounter building guidelines I've seen have been tables saying "if it's a single monster, use a CR 7 monster for a level 5 party; if it's a bunch of monsters, use 1 CR 2 monster per 1 level 5 PC". Extensive experience has shown it's exceedingly difficult to make a simple formula of any worth, but wouldn't it be reasonable to simply label those monsters that are a good match for a level N party from at least some angle with CR N? Either "use 1 of these guys per 1 PC for a fun fight" or "use 1 of these against a whole party for a fun fight" or "1 of these is an even match against 1 PC"? Ultimately, the DM always has to judge themselves how tough the encounter is going to be for a given party, but for a level N party, can I just quickly glance through the MM and pick monsters according to CR (or CR+X, or CR-X) as a starting point, rather than going to the tables? [/QUOTE]

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