I have the Monster Manual for 5e, but the CR doesn't make sense to me. It says something like an ettercap is a level 2 CR, but this doesn't seem to mean that one second level PC could take it on alone and be in a fair fight. That would make sense, but I've heard people say it doesn't work like that, while also not explaining how it DOES work. So when making encounters I just guess and try to consider the CR but not knowing how.
CR is basically = to a party. So CR 2 is = to a party of 4-6 of level 2 characters. Or another way to look at it is a player at level 1 is = to 1/4 CR.
Keep in mind that it is a baseline or a ballpark figure. Depending on you player group a CR 5 monster might not stand a chance against a level 5 party of 4 players. There have been plenty of times where I have actually added some baddies to an encounter because the players were just handing the original monster it's ass. Yet on the opposite end I have just ended and encounter because the monster was simply to much. CR is a good starting point but just keep in mind what your players are rolling with.
You might find Kobold Fight Club handy (http://kobold.club). It'll let you build encounters and gauge them as Easy, Medium, Hard, or Deadly according to the DMG guidelines.
Bear in mind that a Deadly encounter isn't necessarily something that can't be overcome. It might not even be all that difficult, especially if the party is rested with all resources available, or if there's only one big enemy rather than a group.
There are so many factors in play when you create an encounter. Kobold fight club is great to see what level your encounter is (easy-medium-hard-deadly) but also consider things like:
what ressources does your players have (spell slots, abilities) available for the battle. Have they fought many encounters before this encounter without rest or is it the first encounter of "the day"
will there be an encounter after this one without the posibility of resting, and does the players know it? If they players know they still have to face that big bad monster after this fight they will often try to save some of their spells and abilities making them less potent against your encounter.
So ..there can be a big different between 4 level 2 players fighting "1 ettercap " with all their spellslots and abilities available, and know they can use them all because they can rest after. VS a group that have fought 2 encounters before this encounter spending spell slots and abilities and they know they still have to fight more encounters after this one.
I have the Monster Manual for 5e, but the CR doesn't make sense to me. It says something like an ettercap is a level 2 CR, but this doesn't seem to mean that one second level PC could take it on alone and be in a fair fight. That would make sense, but I've heard people say it doesn't work like that, while also not explaining how it DOES work. So when making encounters I just guess and try to consider the CR but not knowing how.
Can anyone explain it to me?
CR is basically = to a party. So CR 2 is = to a party of 4-6 of level 2 characters. Or another way to look at it is a player at level 1 is = to 1/4 CR.
Keep in mind that it is a baseline or a ballpark figure. Depending on you player group a CR 5 monster might not stand a chance against a level 5 party of 4 players. There have been plenty of times where I have actually added some baddies to an encounter because the players were just handing the original monster it's ass. Yet on the opposite end I have just ended and encounter because the monster was simply to much. CR is a good starting point but just keep in mind what your players are rolling with.
You might find Kobold Fight Club handy (http://kobold.club). It'll let you build encounters and gauge them as Easy, Medium, Hard, or Deadly according to the DMG guidelines.
Bear in mind that a Deadly encounter isn't necessarily something that can't be overcome. It might not even be all that difficult, especially if the party is rested with all resources available, or if there's only one big enemy rather than a group.
There are so many factors in play when you create an encounter. Kobold fight club is great to see what level your encounter is (easy-medium-hard-deadly) but also consider things like:
So ..there can be a big different between 4 level 2 players fighting "1 ettercap " with all their spellslots and abilities available, and know they can use them all because they can rest after. VS a group that have fought 2 encounters before this encounter spending spell slots and abilities and they know they still have to fight more encounters after this one.
Thanks for all of your replies! They were all helpful.