One thing that all experienced DMs know is that action economy is vital when trying to figure out how to properly calculate how tough a fight will be for their party.
Example: In the Encounter Builder a Mummy Lord is rated as a Hard opponent against a party for 5 10th level PCs (my current campaign's level). However, the Mummy Lord has about 100 HP and an AC of 17. Even if he went first and cast one of his higher level spells, the party would likely decimate him in the first round. Not exactly what you'd call a 'Hard' encounter.
I think that the number of party members should figure more heavily in the algorithm that calculates how difficult an opponent will be.
On the Mummy Lord's first turn, it can make 5ish zombies with animate dead and have each do 6 damage and be a defensive wall, then do 105 damage through the round with legendary actions.
Most level 10 characters have less than 100 HP (thus might be unconscious before getting a turn) and will have a hard time chipping through 200+ HP worth of enemies that save to not die.
Also, the algorithm that is used in the encounter builder is the exact same one used in the dungeon masters guide and monster manual. DDB can't actually charge the math, they have to use it exactly as wotc designed, that's part of their deal.
The DM can make secret changes to the monster mid battle (like how much HP it has, or give it a special move or spell it can use once per battle to spice things up) to adjust the monster to the appropriate difficulty.
Experienced players and characters with a magic items can usually get through harder encounters with less effort.
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One thing that all experienced DMs know is that action economy is vital when trying to figure out how to properly calculate how tough a fight will be for their party.
Example: In the Encounter Builder a Mummy Lord is rated as a Hard opponent against a party for 5 10th level PCs (my current campaign's level). However, the Mummy Lord has about 100 HP and an AC of 17. Even if he went first and cast one of his higher level spells, the party would likely decimate him in the first round. Not exactly what you'd call a 'Hard' encounter.
I think that the number of party members should figure more heavily in the algorithm that calculates how difficult an opponent will be.
Any thoughts one way or the other?
On the Mummy Lord's first turn, it can make 5ish zombies with animate dead and have each do 6 damage and be a defensive wall, then do 105 damage through the round with legendary actions.
Most level 10 characters have less than 100 HP (thus might be unconscious before getting a turn) and will have a hard time chipping through 200+ HP worth of enemies that save to not die.
Also, the algorithm that is used in the encounter builder is the exact same one used in the dungeon masters guide and monster manual. DDB can't actually charge the math, they have to use it exactly as wotc designed, that's part of their deal.
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The DM can make secret changes to the monster mid battle (like how much HP it has, or give it a special move or spell it can use once per battle to spice things up) to adjust the monster to the appropriate difficulty.
Experienced players and characters with a magic items can usually get through harder encounters with less effort.