Ask Game Masters

881 readers

1 users here now

A place where Game Masters, Dungeon Masters, Storytellers, Narrators, Referees (and etc) can gather and ask questions. Uncertain of where to take the story? Want to spice up your big baddie? Encounters? That player? Ask away!

And if you have questions about becoming a Game Master you are most welcome with those as well!

Rules

Be civil. Be kind. Treat each other with love and respect.
No question too small, no conundrum too complicated. Ask away.
If system is relevant to your worries do mention it.
If you post a link do add a few lines why it is helpful.
No piracy or illegal content. Do not link to, request or encourage piracy or any other illegal content or activities.
If your question, or answer, contains mature themes mark it NFSW.

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

tissek@ttrpg.network

eerongal@ttrpg.network

Combat encounters (ttrpg.network)

submitted 1 year ago by LilGuyPlasmoidDruid@ttrpg.network to c/askgamemasters@ttrpg.network

9 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So, this is an area I've been struggling to figure out. How do I balance a combat encounter?

I obviously know you can't trust CR, but I'm struggling to figure out how I should plan or balance a combat encounter when that's not an option.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] tissek@ttrpg.network 3 points 1 year ago

Back when I ran D&D 5e (we are talking about that right?) I made heavy use of (Kobold Fight Club)[https://koboldplus.club/]. But not straight party size and level. I found that if I overleved the party in the calculator by 2-3 levels I got reasonably balanced encounters. That number will of course depend on your players and their characters. If I were you I would start keeping short encounter notes for a while. The encounter budget, difficulty, #foes or actual foes. This way I bet you can after 3-5 sessions (assuming about 2 combat encounters per session) have a decently good idea of how to over/under level your party in calculators.