So you guys probably get some version of this question a lot. Though I am not seeing anything showing what I want to know. Ok so I have three level 2s a hard encounter should be 450. I want them to fight some goblins and a goblin boss. In the dm guide states I multiply the total monster xp by a multiplier based on the number of monsters. So two goblins and a boss would be 200 +50+50=300 then times the 300 by 2 which would be 600. The problem is that translates into a deadly encounter. 200 pc xp times 3 is 600 and the adjusted monster xp total is 600 but those three monsters seem kind of a small amount of monsters for 3 level 2 pcs. I think what I need to know is how does the adjusted monster xp translate to the xp threshold? When comparing the monster adjusted xp total to the group xp threshold total how should I base the encounter? Do I put it between hard and deadly or do I put close to deadly and just write it off?
I've found that when making encounters using the XP system in the DMG, that most "Deadly" encounters are rather easy for the players to overcome. It largely depends on things that the DMG system can't account for, such as the environment, the classes of the players, and the various other details that can change how combat goes. I still use the DMG method to estimate difficulties, but sometimes you gotta just go with your gut.
As for your question, the adjusted XP calculated for multiple monsters is meant to be one-to-one to the XP threshold, but I find that it sometimes overestimates the difficulty of the encounters when using adjusted XP. In the end, don't worry about what the DMG rates as the difficulty. Do a bit of testing and see how much damage your goblins might be outputting. Also consider which of your PCs might be in front, taking most of the damage and what the others might be doing.
Just design the encounter in a challenging way, monitor the action economy, then assign xp either based on how hard it is or isn't or how long the encounter takes. The point of xp is reward, so reward either your table's time or reward them overcoming the challenge. Easy.
Ok so for the most part I can throw the threshold and monster xp out within reason?
That depends. It is a guideline, but not a rule. If you got a level 2 party and look at the CR rating for a CR2 monster it will most likely be correct. Just because you get an extreme rating doesn't mean the players lack the tools to make the encounter into such a joke it is a throw away gag. You need to think what tools the players have and think about what they can do. I believe that in the DMG they do warn about this. There is a monster that has a CR of like 6 and are immune to pretty much everything but spells, but only spells of level 4 and above. If you throw in that monster in a level 6 party they can not kill it because a level 6 caster only have level 3 spells at most. Think about this:
What CR rating does it say the monster have?
What tools does the players have?
Make encounters based on the players and monsters tools and do not look blindly on XP values.
Alright I think i'll start basing my encounters more on this over strict dmg rules. I don't run my first game until this sat so i'll check in after.
So you guys probably get some version of this question a lot. Though I am not seeing anything showing what I want to know. Ok so I have three level 2s a hard encounter should be 450. I want them to fight some goblins and a goblin boss. In the dm guide states I multiply the total monster xp by a multiplier based on the number of monsters. So two goblins and a boss would be 200 +50+50=300 then times the 300 by 2 which would be 600. The problem is that translates into a deadly encounter. 200 pc xp times 3 is 600 and the adjusted monster xp total is 600 but those three monsters seem kind of a small amount of monsters for 3 level 2 pcs. I think what I need to know is how does the adjusted monster xp translate to the xp threshold? When comparing the monster adjusted xp total to the group xp threshold total how should I base the encounter? Do I put it between hard and deadly or do I put close to deadly and just write it off?
I've found that when making encounters using the XP system in the DMG, that most "Deadly" encounters are rather easy for the players to overcome. It largely depends on things that the DMG system can't account for, such as the environment, the classes of the players, and the various other details that can change how combat goes. I still use the DMG method to estimate difficulties, but sometimes you gotta just go with your gut.
As for your question, the adjusted XP calculated for multiple monsters is meant to be one-to-one to the XP threshold, but I find that it sometimes overestimates the difficulty of the encounters when using adjusted XP. In the end, don't worry about what the DMG rates as the difficulty. Do a bit of testing and see how much damage your goblins might be outputting. Also consider which of your PCs might be in front, taking most of the damage and what the others might be doing.
A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.
Okie doke
Ok so for the most part I can throw the threshold and monster xp out within reason?
Use Kobold Fight Club here. Only read the adjusted XP. Best tool I have ever found.
Just design the encounter in a challenging way, monitor the action economy, then assign xp either based on how hard it is or isn't or how long the encounter takes. The point of xp is reward, so reward either your table's time or reward them overcoming the challenge. Easy.
Alright I think i'll start basing my encounters more on this over strict dmg rules. I don't run my first game until this sat so i'll check in after.
You know I actually used this to after I got befuddled with the dmg
Sorry guys I did not check who was logged in before posting and posted through my wives account.
Ok so update on my first game. It all went well took a little bit of time to get into the flow but it took off from there.