I'm new to DMing and need some advice. I'll be running a campaign and having the four players start off at level 1. This is just so I can get used to the rules for different classes and learn as I go. What I'm wondering is: What initial creatures are suitable for level 1 players to encounter. Not to be stereotypical, but I was thinking, initially, giant spiders. Then ghouls in the actual dungeon setting. Both of them have a challenge rating of 1. So... how many of each should I throw at them?
I'm running LMoP with all new players and characters started at level 1. The first things they fught in there are Goblins, wolves, and 1 bugbear. It doesn't take too long to reach level 2 so I'd say start with 2-6 creatures that are 1/2 challenge so as not to accidentally kill anyone off right at the start lol
New DM too so can't say for sure if that's the best advice, just talking from the little experience that I do have lol
One trick I often use if I'm concerned about how difficult an encounter can be is to have monsters in waves. If the math says that I can use 3 monsters, sometimes I'll just send in 2 on the first round. If things look like they are going well for the players and I think they can handle the third I'll send it into the fight called as backup or attracted by the noise. If things are close or the dice are not with the players I'll keep that third monster out of the fray.
I'd recommend running an established module for level 1 characters to get a feel for what kinds of encounters are appropriate.
To that end, I'd recommend the Sunless Citadel from Tales From the Yawning Portal. I just finished running it as an intro to D&D for some new players, and it was the perfect thing. I set the module in my homebrew world so that the characters could go about exploring my own story after they finished, and it couldn't have worked better. It allows players to get familiar with their abilities, there are great opportunities for roleplay for your characters to start finding their voices and for you party to start finding their dynamic, it has classic d&d monsters like goblins, kobolds, and a dragon wyrmling, and it's designed so that your characters will be level 3 when they finish which is great because the fun dramatically increases when the early class features start to kick in.
I'd strongly recommend going this route as it will start to give you a feel for what kinds of encounters you can throw at your party, without the worry of designing them yourself and potentially killing a PC early in the game when you didn't mean to.
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Hi gang,
I'm new to DMing and need some advice. I'll be running a campaign and having the four players start off at level 1. This is just so I can get used to the rules for different classes and learn as I go. What I'm wondering is: What initial creatures are suitable for level 1 players to encounter. Not to be stereotypical, but I was thinking, initially, giant spiders. Then ghouls in the actual dungeon setting. Both of them have a challenge rating of 1. So... how many of each should I throw at them?
Thanks in advance!
I'm running LMoP with all new players and characters started at level 1. The first things they fught in there are Goblins, wolves, and 1 bugbear. It doesn't take too long to reach level 2 so I'd say start with 2-6 creatures that are 1/2 challenge so as not to accidentally kill anyone off right at the start lol
New DM too so can't say for sure if that's the best advice, just talking from the little experience that I do have lol
A level 1 party should be able to handle roughly twice their number of CR1/8 monsters, an equal number of CR1/4 monsters, etc.
You can use an encounter builder like kobold fight club to check encounter difficulty.
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InsiderEncounter balance can be hard. There's a whole section in the DMG that can walk you through XP, CR, and the numbers: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dmg/creating-adventures#CreatingaCombatEncounter
One trick I often use if I'm concerned about how difficult an encounter can be is to have monsters in waves. If the math says that I can use 3 monsters, sometimes I'll just send in 2 on the first round. If things look like they are going well for the players and I think they can handle the third I'll send it into the fight called as backup or attracted by the noise. If things are close or the dice are not with the players I'll keep that third monster out of the fray.
Find me on Twitter: @OboeLauren
I'd recommend running an established module for level 1 characters to get a feel for what kinds of encounters are appropriate.
To that end, I'd recommend the Sunless Citadel from Tales From the Yawning Portal. I just finished running it as an intro to D&D for some new players, and it was the perfect thing. I set the module in my homebrew world so that the characters could go about exploring my own story after they finished, and it couldn't have worked better. It allows players to get familiar with their abilities, there are great opportunities for roleplay for your characters to start finding their voices and for you party to start finding their dynamic, it has classic d&d monsters like goblins, kobolds, and a dragon wyrmling, and it's designed so that your characters will be level 3 when they finish which is great because the fun dramatically increases when the early class features start to kick in.
I'd strongly recommend going this route as it will start to give you a feel for what kinds of encounters you can throw at your party, without the worry of designing them yourself and potentially killing a PC early in the game when you didn't mean to.
"To die would be an awfully big adventure"