Hello

I was wondering if anyone of you has come up with a rule or a way in general, as a GM, to calculate the number of enemies that his players are going to face in a session. This would be really helpful in order to keep the adventures challenging, despite the number of PC and their rank. Also when you are creating your own adventures, do you have a specific way to make use of the threat level appearing in every monster card and combine it with the number of your PCs and their rank to come up with a specific number of monsters your going to use or a total threat level?

I am looking forward to your replies

Yes. Go to rpggeek.com and also link here:

http://rpggeek.com/thread/1077484/typical-encounter-strengths-in-my-games

I personally think that the threat levels are useless. The math doesn't work out like it does for a d20 CR/EL encounter design.

Just go with the amounts I presented and modify from there.

Another thing is to run "Day late shilling short" demo encounter. After fighthing that many beastmen, you'll get a good idea of how poorly a group can do against a horde of baddies...then run Eye for an Eye..and they will have a whole new respect for the hairy goat men!

I think GMs can get too sucked into doing a combat-based game b/c they dont' know what else to do to keep players interested. I've found that 3-5 NPCs (one for each PC) with various motives, and 2-4 plot leads (that you shove in their faces and say ,"would you like to investigate the old barn, go visit the supposed-corrupt elf apothecary, see if there is any contraband on the barge, or try something else?). I've found that simple, ask-them-which-plot-they-want-to-pursue method works best. It keeps the game moving. It de-emphasizes combat. It keeps the players from getting antzy when they don't remember what plots are going on from week to week (I know, they should be flogged for forgetting!). The extra NPCs can be recurring people in the campaign who can be ongoing sources of information and sometimes held hostage, murdered, or conspiring events of their own.

In the end, remind your PCs: You guys get the same experience points. if you fight a combat or don't..and if you don't, you are a lot less likely to die.

jh

Thanks for the reply, I found it really helpful

I use a book to write down clues or info my character hears. Cause by next day I likely forgetten it, I have a very very bad memory.

Testing monster on a party to see what they can handle is fun. Until the giant enters the room, that thing nearly killed 2 of the 5 people in the party. I was a dwarf coachman/engineer packing the wagon to make a getaway, the quest was more important than the near death woodelf. Luckily one of our party was good in melee and destroyed the giant, before the elf and halfling died. The other wood elf couldnt hit a barn door with an arrow.

But it was fun and exciting, near death is scary.

The thing about warhammer is that it doesnt matter your level, it is possible to kill a dragon, it may be slightly harder, but it is possible. As you level, your chances to hit or choices to use, increase.

It is the roll of the dice that can kill a party.

This is more a GM question, than a player question like me. The most of an enemy I have fought has been, 5 wolves, and 2 giant wolves. There was an encampment of Skaven, but only one of the party got hurt by them, and that was the swarm of rats that nearly killed him.

I think you really need to guage your particular group of PC's through experience. I find the combat abilities and durability of characters can vary wildly (as can their ability stand up to a few stressful events).

This has always been the kind of deal that I have to build around each table individually, but Eye For An Eye will certainly give you an idea of where the group is at, at least for several advances. My players tend to start combat heavy since that's their comfort zones from other games, and then slide into exploration or social play as the story matures. Definitely check out Jay's links. He's got a great handle on this edition.