Need Help with Encounter Levels...
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:05 pm
While I'm sure the CKG will have plenty of advice in this area it doesn't seem to be anywhere near completion, so I thought I'd run this by you lot.
Basically, what I'm doing is trying to create a flash programme that creates a dungeon randomly and stocks it (it's a small project to get me used to using AS3 instead of AS2) based upon the system found in Advanced Heroquest but with C&C rules.
My problem is, I'm not sure about how Ecounter Levels should work out. One of the few good things about the 3e and 4e books was a 'system' for determining EL, and 4E even has a way to balance those out using cards, and that's something C&C lacks right now.
I'd like the programe to be able to generate three different types of encounter:
Easy - PC's should be able to complete it with little or no damage and only a minor depletion of spells and abilities.
Average - Should deplete a few hit points up to half on average and use a nominal amount of resources.
Difficult - Should be a life or death situation and require massive resources and a good rest afterwards.
I might have a very easy (a scout monster, maybe) and very difficult encounter (a Save or Die trap), I'm not sure about the granularity yet. These types of encounters will be spread into these areas:
Wandering Monsters - All of these will be easy encounters.
Lairs - These will be easy to difficult.
Quest Rooms - These will be Difficult and the climax of the dungeon.
I can pretty much figure out that an average EL would be a number of HD equal to the number of party levels. But what is easier or difficult? And how many of each encounter should a complete dungeon have? Any thoughts...?
Basically, what I'm doing is trying to create a flash programme that creates a dungeon randomly and stocks it (it's a small project to get me used to using AS3 instead of AS2) based upon the system found in Advanced Heroquest but with C&C rules.
My problem is, I'm not sure about how Ecounter Levels should work out. One of the few good things about the 3e and 4e books was a 'system' for determining EL, and 4E even has a way to balance those out using cards, and that's something C&C lacks right now.
I'd like the programe to be able to generate three different types of encounter:
Easy - PC's should be able to complete it with little or no damage and only a minor depletion of spells and abilities.
Average - Should deplete a few hit points up to half on average and use a nominal amount of resources.
Difficult - Should be a life or death situation and require massive resources and a good rest afterwards.
I might have a very easy (a scout monster, maybe) and very difficult encounter (a Save or Die trap), I'm not sure about the granularity yet. These types of encounters will be spread into these areas:
Wandering Monsters - All of these will be easy encounters.
Lairs - These will be easy to difficult.
Quest Rooms - These will be Difficult and the climax of the dungeon.
I can pretty much figure out that an average EL would be a number of HD equal to the number of party levels. But what is easier or difficult? And how many of each encounter should a complete dungeon have? Any thoughts...?