[PnP] How do you balance encounters?

[Alan Kellogg]

Make A: "Out think the bad guys."


On Sat, Apr 19, 2014 at 12:50 PM, Alan Kellogg <mythusmage at gmail.com> wrote:

> I don't. Should the opposition outclass the group I look to see if they
> can...
>
> A. Out spent the badguys
> B. Get allies
> or C. Make friends.
>
> At the very least I want my players to use their brains, instead of
> relying on mechanics and luck to get them through.
>
>
> On Sat, Apr 19, 2014 at 11:52 AM, Melkor <mttdicor7 at inbox.com> wrote:
>
>>  Hi all,
>>
>> how do you manage to balance encounters in P&P?
>>
>> I have a group of four players:
>>
>> Ennon: OCV 2, DCV 4
>> Gunnard: OCV 9, DCV 8
>> Darrel: OCV 3, DCV 5
>> Habbakuk: OCV 6, DCV 5
>>
>> the average hit point value of each character is around 20, except for
>> Gunnard who has 33 HPV.
>>
>> Given this situation, i always have doubts as to which creature (monster)
>> they should face.
>> As you probably remember, Richard Snider at the end of book IV stated
>> that "the situation that evolves in your game must be designed such that:
>>
>> A) they are not automatic victories for your players
>> AND
>> B) they are situations that the party involved can win
>>
>> I always try to stick to this (apparently simple) rule, but it is not so
>> easy, so i would like to know how you are used to managing encounters.
>>
>> I think it is a mistake for the game master to throw monsters at the
>> party that are too strong to beat, but at the same time the player's skills
>> must be put to test, that is why i think that encounters should always be
>> balanced.
>>
>> Now, how to balance them? How to pick the correct monster (*one which is
>> as strong as my players are*) from the monster list in book III?
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>
>
> --
> Opinions are subject to adjustment and alteration. Facts are not.
>



-- 
Opinions are subject to adjustment and alteration. Facts are not.
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