Encounter Builder

The difficulty of a fight against a monster, besting an exploration challenge, or overcoming an encounter element in either is measured by challenge rating, or CR. A challenge rating helps guide the Narrator in choosing appropriate challenges for a group of adventurers and denotes the amount of experience points to be rewarded afterward.

EASY MATCHUP

  • A battle in which the encounter CR approximately equals 1/6th the total character level.

  • A fight which isn't in doubt that drains little or no resources from the party.

  • An easy battle is an appropriate challenge for a Tier 1 party, which can probably handle three or four such encounters before needing a long rest. Higher-level parties can face many easy battles in a row.

MEDIUM MATCHUP

  • A battle in which the encounter CR approximately equals 1/3rd the total character level.

  • A fight which isn't in doubt but may cost the adventurers a few spells or healing resources.

  • Between long rests, the party can probably fight at most two such battles per tier (2 medium fights at 1st level, 8 medium fights at 17th level).

HARD MATCHUP

  • A battle in which the encounter CR approximately equals 1/2 the total character level.

  • A fight in which the adventurers must spend significant resources to triumph. Losing is possible but the odds are on the party's side.

  • Between long rests, the party can probably face 1 such battle per tier (1 hard fight at 1st level, 4 hard fights at 17th level).

  • For a Tier 1 party, a hard battle can easily prove to be deadly.

DEADLY MATCHUP

  • A battle in which the encounter CR approximately equals 2/3rd the total character level.

  • A fight in which winning and losing are both possible. The party must spend its best resources.

  • A well-rested party of at least 5th level can handle 1 such battle.

  • Tier 1 parties should rarely if ever face deadly battles.

IMPOSSIBLE MATCHUP

  • A battle in which the encounter CR equals or exceeds total character level.

  • A fight which is almost certain to result in the adventurers losing.

  • A high level party of optimized adventurers might be able to routinely win some battles which are rated as impossible.