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Mar 18, 2012 -- 9:45AM, RickDeckard wrote:

Thanks for the feed back guys.

How did it go?

I generally like the technique of looking at the actual XP value and reducing it down to what is appropriate per the DMG for the size of your party. However, the quick method is to drop one foe of the level of the encounter (for a level 3 fight, drop a level 3 monster).

Whenever I scale an encounter up or down I try to use information on the party if I can - do they have a leader, are they experienced players or new, do they like hard fights, etc. In the absence of that I assume easier is better.

One thing you can also do is to plan contingencies. For example, remove two foes, but consider having them run in at the end of round 2 if the battle is going too easily. Conversely, plan on one foe surrendering or running away (being a coward or a slave that has no stomach for battle) if the battle is too brutal.

I also like the bloodied state as a trigger for contingencies. The simplest of these is that when a foe is bloodied they do more or less damage if the challenge level is not appropriate. For example, the elves are just destroying the party and that doesn't seem fun. As each elf becomes bloodied you reduce their damage by 1 die, and role-play how their resolve seems shaken. On the opposite end, if the fight is too easy a foe may grow angry and determined when bloodied, dealing an extra die of damage. You can play with this system when you get more experience running so you can really fine-tune combats. Don't do this all the time - just when it is necessary.

Mar 31, 2012 -- 7:49AM, RickDeckard wrote:

I'm actually running the first session using the module today (we got delayed in finding a day that worked for everyone).  I pretty much just lowered the overall moster xp budget to meet their level and tended to err on the side of taking away monsters with roles vs normal minions since 2 in the party are pretty inexperience. You do make a fine point about throwing some more monsters in mid battle if things seem to be too easy and I will keep it all in mind latter today.

Also you make a good point about enemies "breaking" and I'll also keep that in mind for  small raider enounter in the desert that has like 10 human slaves and 3 actual raiders. I'll be sure to make teh slaves flee if their masters all fall.  I'll also give a recap of stuff after the fact. Thanks for your interest and help.

When I ran the encounter you are talking about, I just had the slaves watch and not get involved. Why would slaves help their masters when their deaths would free them.

Apr 2, 2012 -- 5:59PM, Prom wrote:

When I ran the encounter you are talking about, I just had the slaves watch and not get involved. Why would slaves help their masters when their deaths would free them.

There was a great piece of fiction written by the admin of the Legend of the Five Rings "Heroes of Rokugan" living campaign. The Dragon clan sets up a siege of an ancestral village that had been taken over by the Lion Clan. at one point the commoners rise up against the Lion, so as to help the Dragon. Dragon come in, and in part due to that aid destroy their foes. The Dragon warlord orders all the commoners put to the sword. They didn't know their place and can't be trusted.

It's the kind of harsh lesson that fits perfectly into Athas and a strong reason why slaves would do their master's bidding regardless of circumstances - it is their place and any deviation from it usually means death. Brutal/wrong world!