I have been DMing for a year, and I feel like my encounters are to giving, mostly in the EXP areas. When I make encounters, I like to make them challenging so there is a risk at all times, I don't do this all the time. When I make the encounters difficult (Deadly) the XP adds up, and my players level up too quickly, and I feel like they don't feel challenged because they are just getting stronger. I don't like taking XP (Unless they don't defeat the creature), because it feels like I am cheating my players if I do. And sometimes when I make an encounter it is either too easy or too difficult. I would like help from other DMs on how I can make my encounter challenging but doesn't give a reward, I know that the opposite of what should happen when you are challenged but I want me and my players to have a Balanced experienced, and have to solve problems at lower levels.
Remember, the xp adjustment for multiple foes only applies to the encounter budget, it does not affect xp rewards. For a part of 5 PCs at level 5, a deadly solo monster is CR 10 (e.g. a Stone Golem) and would give each PC 1,180 xp. On the other hand, a squad of 15 Magma Mephits is also Deadly (6,000 xp) but is only actually worth 300 xp per PC (and, depending on the party, might be a high probability of a TPK...).
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I have been DMing for a year, and I feel like my encounters are to giving, mostly in the EXP areas. When I make encounters, I like to make them challenging so there is a risk at all times, I don't do this all the time. When I make the encounters difficult (Deadly) the XP adds up, and my players level up too quickly, and I feel like they don't feel challenged because they are just getting stronger. I don't like taking XP (Unless they don't defeat the creature), because it feels like I am cheating my players if I do. And sometimes when I make an encounter it is either too easy or too difficult. I would like help from other DMs on how I can make my encounter challenging but doesn't give a reward, I know that the opposite of what should happen when you are challenged but I want me and my players to have a Balanced experienced, and have to solve problems at lower levels.
Remember, the xp adjustment for multiple foes only applies to the encounter budget, it does not affect xp rewards. For a part of 5 PCs at level 5, a deadly solo monster is CR 10 (e.g. a Stone Golem) and would give each PC 1,180 xp. On the other hand, a squad of 15 Magma Mephits is also Deadly (6,000 xp) but is only actually worth 300 xp per PC (and, depending on the party, might be a high probability of a TPK...).