So basically I'm doing my first campaign, and for resource material I'm using the Deltora Quest book series for some inspiration. The game is set in 5e mechanics, and all I've done is create enemies to fit the setting. I want to know if these are fairly balanced for the party of 4 @lvl 4. (Barb, Cleric, Fighter, Bard)
First encounter is Wenn ambushing the party on their way to the Forest of Silence. Currently, I have them built with 17hp, 13AC, +3 to hit/+2 to dmg. 1d6 biting, if it hits, target makes a CON saving throw DC10. On failure, target is paralyzed but the Wenn will start targeting other party members. If the Wenn begin to lose heavily, they will focus their turns on retreating and using their action to create a vibrating sound like a great swarm of insects that increases in volume. If three Wenn resonate after a full round, there is a TPK and the party blacks out. If they win, the promptly pass out shortly thereafter. ( I want the Wenn to be 2-shot enemies, but for it to be a difficult encounter with the end being a scrape-by, or a TPK where they wake up paralyzed to progress story. Each Wenn will be stealthed at the start of their turns unless spotted, and they are in dim-light conditions. )
A Wenn for reference is a greenish blueish bipedal insectoid creature the size of a ten year-old, with glowing eye-stalks and two-clawed toes & fingers. Their bodies look bent and seem all arms and legs. I'm trying to make them around 1/2 CR I think ? I know paralyze is a powerful condition for early-game but I think otherwise they would slaughter the Wenn, or I'd have to hard buff HP. A problem our group has is that our sessions stretch 6+ hours, with combat being most of that time spent. Our combats last far longer than 3-5 rounds and I'm trying to push more towards that and understand the CR system, as my DM has already thrown a Blue Slaad at us which is CR7. (deadly encounter)
As for the boss, Gorl. He is a level 5 knight with access to action surge & extra attack. He uses a greatsword and has +6 to hit/+4 to damage. I kind of want his damage to not be resisted to give the barb of the group a challenge ( he is on another level of efficiency/power than us at 21 flat AC ) although his saving throws will challenge him. Gorl has 18 AC & 60 HP with immunity to being charmed. His spell save DC is 14. He wears a golden set of armor, with a golden crown of thorns built into his helmet. Through his slits you see nothing but darkness. His lair is the center of the Forest of Silence. Gorl has access to Suggest to bend things to his will, and will reanimate his slain brothers armor sets if he deems necessary. His brother Greddock's copper crown like his will act as a Crown of Madness spell, and the silver breastplate of Gudden will clamp around someone to restrain them. I want to buff suggest to "binding will" which does not have a break out roll each turn, but Gorl must concentrate on the spell and I will give the PC's four ability check options to distract Gorl. It also affects everyone, unless they are knocked prone the turn before. (not forcing them to use non-combat means here to break out, but heavily rewarding so. the outcome of success is Gorl turns his back starting a speech like he forgot anyone was even there.) Whomever surpise attacks him will be prompty slain thereafter if they don't one shot him though, which is what I want to happen. Directly after this NPC Jasmine will cause an elder tree limb to fall crushing Gorl, pinning him prone and hitting him for 10 damage (pc's have to dex save to jump out of the way if close). This will give the party a solid way to kill Gorl with advantage next round, so the slain team-mate doesn't miss out on much combat. The PC is revived through lillies of life which Gorl was gaurding. I'm trying to do with Gorl like I do my characters, have a set-turn game plan and be able to switch up on the fly to what happens.
Trying to not get crazy into the plot but just tell you the mechanics, it's kind of hard haha.
TLDR: Are my homebrew monsters/encounters (Wenn CR 1/2) (Gorl CR 4) balanced against the party CR 4 ?
Thank you so much if you read, I have so much work to do on my campaign!
So basically I'm doing my first campaign, and for resource material I'm using the Deltora Quest book series for some inspiration. The game is set in 5e mechanics, and all I've done is create enemies to fit the setting. I want to know if these are fairly balanced for the party of 4 @lvl 4. (Barb, Cleric, Fighter, Bard)
First encounter is Wenn ambushing the party on their way to the Forest of Silence. Currently, I have them built with 17hp, 13AC, +3 to hit/+2 to dmg. 1d6 biting, if it hits, target makes a CON saving throw DC10. On failure, target is paralyzed but the Wenn will start targeting other party members. If the Wenn begin to lose heavily, they will focus their turns on retreating and using their action to create a vibrating sound like a great swarm of insects that increases in volume. If three Wenn resonate after a full round, there is a TPK and the party blacks out. If they win, the promptly pass out shortly thereafter. ( I want the Wenn to be 2-shot enemies, but for it to be a difficult encounter with the end being a scrape-by, or a TPK where they wake up paralyzed to progress story. Each Wenn will be stealthed at the start of their turns unless spotted, and they are in dim-light conditions. )
A Wenn for reference is a greenish blueish bipedal insectoid creature the size of a ten year-old, with glowing eye-stalks and two-clawed toes & fingers. Their bodies look bent and seem all arms and legs. I'm trying to make them around 1/2 CR I think ? I know paralyze is a powerful condition for early-game but I think otherwise they would slaughter the Wenn, or I'd have to hard buff HP. A problem our group has is that our sessions stretch 6+ hours, with combat being most of that time spent. Our combats last far longer than 3-5 rounds and I'm trying to push more towards that and understand the CR system, as my DM has already thrown a Blue Slaad at us which is CR7. (deadly encounter)
As for the boss, Gorl. He is a level 5 knight with access to action surge & extra attack. He uses a greatsword and has +6 to hit/+4 to damage. I kind of want his damage to not be resisted to give the barb of the group a challenge ( he is on another level of efficiency/power than us at 21 flat AC ) although his saving throws will challenge him. Gorl has 18 AC & 60 HP with immunity to being charmed. His spell save DC is 14. He wears a golden set of armor, with a golden crown of thorns built into his helmet. Through his slits you see nothing but darkness. His lair is the center of the Forest of Silence. Gorl has access to Suggest to bend things to his will, and will reanimate his slain brothers armor sets if he deems necessary. His brother Greddock's copper crown like his will act as a Crown of Madness spell, and the silver breastplate of Gudden will clamp around someone to restrain them. I want to buff suggest to "binding will" which does not have a break out roll each turn, but Gorl must concentrate on the spell and I will give the PC's four ability check options to distract Gorl. It also affects everyone, unless they are knocked prone the turn before. (not forcing them to use non-combat means here to break out, but heavily rewarding so. the outcome of success is Gorl turns his back starting a speech like he forgot anyone was even there.) Whomever surpise attacks him will be prompty slain thereafter if they don't one shot him though, which is what I want to happen. Directly after this NPC Jasmine will cause an elder tree limb to fall crushing Gorl, pinning him prone and hitting him for 10 damage (pc's have to dex save to jump out of the way if close). This will give the party a solid way to kill Gorl with advantage next round, so the slain team-mate doesn't miss out on much combat. The PC is revived through lillies of life which Gorl was gaurding. I'm trying to do with Gorl like I do my characters, have a set-turn game plan and be able to switch up on the fly to what happens.
Trying to not get crazy into the plot but just tell you the mechanics, it's kind of hard haha.
TLDR: Are my homebrew monsters/encounters (Wenn CR 1/2) (Gorl CR 4) balanced against the party CR 4 ?
Thank you so much if you read, I have so much work to do on my campaign!
Sounds good to me :) Deltora is such a great series.
How did your campaign go?
true, it is a great series