Building 1st Level Combat Encounters. https://t.co/FJ0u36uugj #dnd pic.twitter.com/nmReSUbvs8
— SlyFlourish.com (@SlyFlourish) October 23, 2019
For hit points, make everyone’s equal to their full Constitution plus the average of 1 HD. The game will be fine for it.
Also, for fun’s sake, that the “rats in the basement” adventure must be way better than actual rats in the actual basement. 1/ Too many low-level adventures start (or are full of) lame encounters that don't feel venturesome or like part of a rousing tale. And too many CRPGs and MMOs imitated this inauspicious starting point.
— Chris S. Sims (@ChrisSSims) October 24, 2019
On the other hand, monsters such as a bugbear can add real peril to a 1st-level adventure. In this case, the key is foreshadowing the peril or giving alternate approaches that facilitate getting the drop on the scary monster. 3/3
— Chris S. Sims (@ChrisSSims) October 24, 2019
Honestly I think people vastly overestimate the squishiness of first level characters in the first place. Sure, you maybe have single digit HP, but nothing at that level hits hard enough to full on KILL you, so at worst, half the party sits out half the fight, needs heal checks. I'm not sure that's true for 1st-level 5e PCs versus CR 1 or so creatures. They can be dangerous.
— Chris S. Sims (@ChrisSSims) October 24, 2019
All this said, I agree with @SlyFlourish that some low-CR monsters (looking at you, shadow) shouldn't appear until characters are 3rd+ level unless those monsters are integrated into the adventure so as to mitigate or allow players to prepare for the danger. Good article. 4/3 😉
— Chris S. Sims (@ChrisSSims) October 24, 2019