4th & Dragon : Dungeons and Dragons...and stuff

Black Plauge - 05 September 2008 10:16 AM

Okay, so to summarize thus far we have the following methods:

- add/subtract monsters
- level up/down monsters
- add/subtract traps/hazards
- up/down grade monsters (minion <> standard <> elite <> solo)

Now, how would you prioritize these methods.  I.e. given no plot considerations, which one would you go for first?  If that one wasn’t possible/reasonable (for any reason, plot or otherwise) which would you go for second?  Etc.

Are there other methods that people have that I didn’t list?  If so, where would you put them in your priority scheme?

Personally I think I would rank them like this:

1-Add/subtract monsters
2-Up/down grade monsters
3-Level up/down monsters (This would be first if I was familiar with the process, but I don’t have hardly any real DM experience and none like this)
4-Add/subtract traps/hazards- This one I feel is very situational.  Traps and hazards are, in my opinion, supposed to be very closely tied to the plot.  Randomly adding traps just doesn’t make much sense to me.  You don’t put a freezing trap in the middle of a volcano (unless your story puts this in a light that makes sense) Just randomly adding a dart trap or something in a room that doesn’t make sense to be booby trapped is silly.

I personally might be biased due to the use of magnets on the table, but having too many monsters is a bad thing...even if it’s minions. I try and stay relatively close to the number of PCs. My general rule of thumb so far has been to use no less than the number of PCs and no more than double (This rule then doesn’t apply to the solo encounters, obviously). This is not the first thing I alter, but it is my primary concern in encounter creation.

With that in mind I add/subtract traps/hazards and level up/down monsters (typically choosing new monsters based on the appropriate level). These two will be governed by the flavor of the encounter, but could even be done simultaneously.

As for upgrading and downgrading monsters (minion<>standard<>elite<>solo), I haven’t done this as of yet.

Traps and hazards are, in my opinion, supposed to be very closely tied to the plot.  Randomly adding traps just doesn’t make much sense to me.  You don’t put a freezing trap in the middle of a volcano

Clearly the trap/hazard has to make sense, just like an added monster has to make sense.  While an ice trap might not make sense in the volcano, adding a rivulet of lava down the middle of the battle field would.  I do want people to rank these things under the assumption that they are going to use them in a way that makes sense.

Yes but if you are using a module, or any situation that comes with preset monsters, you are going to have a monster type or at least a good specific idea about what kind of monsters to use.  With a trap/hazard, unless the encounter already comes with one, then you have to spend time thinking of what kinds of traps/hazards would be appropriate, then what specific kind of trap/hazard you want to use (ie what does it do and what triggers it and such)

Even if you aren’t using a module and just made it up on the fly, this is encounter scaling.  So we are under the assumptions that there is already an encounter made up with monsters (either home-made or pre-built) Again, unless there is a trap/hazard already included, then you already have the monster type laid out for you, while traps/hazards are not.  So even not under the assumption about a specific encounter, we are still under the assumption that this is an already made encounter since this is encounter scaling and not encounter building.

And this is just my personal opinion, maybe someone else already has an extensive knowledge of traps/hazards and could throw in an appropriate one in no time.  But I know in my case I have pretty basic knowledge on the subject.  My monster knowledge is still basic, but a good bit more extensive than what I know about traps and hazards.  So for me it would be easy to deal with monsters first then worry about traps if that is my only option left.

My priorities:

1 add/subtract monsters
2 up/down grade monsters (minion <> standard <> elite <> solo)
3 level up monsters
4 add/subtract traps/hazards
5 level down monsters

For 1, I prefer to just add minions when I get to around 10 monsters or more, just to cut down on the bookkeeping.

4 is for those encounters where I just need to keep the monster count low and when there is something good to use as a hazard that fits well. It is a bit situational though.

5 is for situations where you just cannot do anything else, like a solo for 3 people.

Any one else want to list their priorities?