Would this be fair to the party? (My guys stay out, please)

[Presto2112]

Currently I have a party of levels 3 - 4 (the 3rd Level PCs are less than 200 away from level 4, and will be 4th by the time what I'm about to describe may happen).

I have an adventure I devised coming up in the near future that wil involve a group of 6 or roughly the same level. I know this will be a high EL encounter (calculated at EL 9), but this other group of monsters will be looking to subdue and capture the party with non-lethal damage, not to kill them. The encounter will take place outside, likely at night, probably in a forest clearing or something simillar, so the option to flee and hide will be available.

There's no way I'd send a group of PCs against what I consider to be a group of adversaries of the same number and level in a lethal encounter, and the encounter will be necessary for future plans. But the way I have it written here, is this an unfair encounter?

 

[Parlan]

you have 4 PCs?

 

[shilsen]

Nothing unfair about it. Enemies can and should sometimes be more powerful than the PCs. Since you're not going to have the possible problem of a TPK, it sounds just fine.

 

[Presto2112]

you have 4 PCs?

Sorry, to be more specific, I DM a party of 6 PCs. They will all be at least level 4 by the time this scenario is likely to occur.

 

[Jhaelen]

Currently I have a party of levels 3 - 4 (the 3rd Level PCs are less than 200 away from level 4, and will be 4th by the time what I'm about to describe may happen).

I have an adventure I devised coming up in the near future that wil involve a group of 6 or roughly the same level. I know this will be a high EL encounter (calculated at EL 9)

According to the DMG about 5% of all encounters should have a level of 5+ higher than the effective party level.
These encounters are intended to be 'overpowering', so you should take great care to describe it in a way the player's have a chance to realize they're in over their heads before things start to get ugly. If you do this, then it's fair.
IME the greatest danger with this kind of encounter is that the characters might believe (sometimes rightly so!) that they'll be able to win it (albeit at (too) great a cost).

 

[BeauNiddle]

If / when your party kill 3 of the attackers will the rest switch to real damage, run away or stay with subdual?

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Is it unfair? I think it isn't but could be perceived as unfair by your players (which is almost the same as being unfair unless you like to argue these things with them). An appropriate EL encounter is supposed to use about 25% of the party's resources. One that is higher is expected to use more. If the party is evenly matched then it isn't unfair, it just should be expected that they will need to use every resource they have and the chance of them succeeding is only about even.

Things I would consider, to keep your players from thinking it is unfair:

Will the monsters be equipped with items that deal non-lethal damage, or will they have the penalty from using lethal weapons?

Will the party have had a chance to be fully rested/full spells when this happens?

Somehow, although you have not written it, I ended up with the feeling this would be an ambush situation. If the opponents have a great chance of surprise and they manage to knock out a PC or two fast, then the PCs chances are greatly reduced.

What happens if half the party is knocked out and the rest flee and hide? Will the subdued half be captured and taken away? Will the then reduced party still have to face these same foes to rescue their comrades?

 

[sniffles]

the encounter will be necessary for future plans.

(emphasis mine)

This sentence makes me nervous.

You mention that the PCs will have the option to flee or hide. But is it simply the attempt to capture them that is necessary to future plans, or the actual capture of some/all of the party? If some/all must be captured in order to progress your story, then that bothers me.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

There's no way I'd send a group of PCs against what I consider to be a group of adversaries of the same number and level in a lethal encounter, and the encounter will be necessary for future plans.

Sounds fair,
but I also think its perfectly fair but I also think its fair to send PCs against an equal number of opponents of equal CR in a lethal encounter. Champion to champion, like heroes.

What might not be fair is this encounter being necessary to future plans, in what way do you mean that? Does a PC have to be captured in order for you plot to work? If so then you might run into some difficulty if the PCs are lucky or tactically superior or all run away first thing.

 

[Presto2112]

If / when your party kill 3 of the attackers will the rest switch to real damage, run away or stay with subdual?

Well, here's the deal.

The group of 6 will be a Formian Taskmaster, two Formian Warriors with a level of Monk, and three non-evil flying creatures with a degree of non-lethal attacks under the Taskmaster's domination ability. The three flyers will be the ones doing most of the attacking, while the two warrior monks will have the job of defending the taskmaster. This group have been crossing the border from a neighboring nation (an expansionist Roman Empire-esque nation which runs gladiator style games) to collect slaves to run in their coliseum games, and are under strict orders to not kill anyone. They may flee to regroup and attack again at a later time, however, or set off with what people they were able to subdue.