GM Guide - Create an issue on Balancing Encounters with Challenge Rating Formula

[LockerM]

Note from @CBroz1 (found in #64 comments)

Will this include some numeric reference for enemy 'difficulty'? I added Threat Level to the yaml. It would be nice if this were formulaic. Initial thought: Threat Level = (player level * num players) / avg num enemy of this type

Powerful solo enemy: 12 = 3 4 / 1 Powerful boss without minions: 9 = 3 3 / 1 Minions: 3 = 3 * 4 / 4

[LockerM]

I like the idea of using Threat Level, so a GM can more effectively plan the encounters for the day and the individual creatures in each encounter. Then we would aggregate a "Hard" encounter = X Threat Level, "Medium" = Y, "Easy" = Z, on a per-level basis with a formula of some sort.

[LockerM]

Here are the main inputs we could use to determine Threat Level:

• HP (+AP, if applicable)
• AR
• FP
• Numbers of Powers
• Number of House Actions
• Number of Adversary Actions
• Max Damage Dealt by a single Action

I would imagine we could apply a formula to each over time:

• HP / 4
• (3 - AR)
• FP / 2
• Total Number of Powers / 2
• Number of House Actions * Y (i.e. 2)
• Number of Adversary Actions * Z (i.e. 1.5)
• Max Damage Dealt by a single Action - 1

Example Dealer: Captain

Threat Level: 8

STATS

• HP: 6 (6/4 = 1.5)
• AR: 2 (3-2 = 1)
• FP: 4 (4/2 = 2)
• Number of Powers: 2 (2/2 = 1)
• House Actions: 0 *(02=0)**
• Adversary Actions: 1 *(1 1.5 = 1.5)**
• Max Damage Dealt: 2 (2-1 = 1)

Threat Level: 8 (Calc = 1.5 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 0 + 1.5 + 1 = 8

[LockerM]

To revise based on discussion - don't use damage as a variable (damage might get calculated or set as a result of the TL of a creature), keep the TL numbers manageable and approachable for use in easy, quick calculations, and don't think of the number as a 'sum' of parts but an overall balance in a grander equation.

In short, TL will help dictate statistics, not the other way around.

[CBroz1]

base damage can factor into TL, so long as TL is only used to calculate upgraded damage after boosting stats on something

[LockerM]

Also to add to GM Guide from @D-D-2 -

How Threat Level can be modified by adding or removing certain Powers or Actions from a GM Specific List

Can also just suggest adding a Power from another list to the stat block to make a combat or encounter more complex/challenging.