For adventure tier, levels 1-4, start with one enemy creature of the party’s level per PC. At champion tier, levels 5-7, start with one enemy creature per PC, with each creature being one level higher than the PCs. At epic tier, levels 8–10, the monsters should weigh in at two levels above the PCs if they appear in equal numbers.
Lower-level monsters count as fractions of an adventurer-level monster, and higher-level monsters count as multiples. See the monster equivalents chart below.
Monster Equivalents
|
Monster Level vs. Party Level (Adventurer) |
Monster Level vs. Party Level (Champion) |
Monster Level vs. Party Level (Epic) |
Normal counts as… |
Mook counts as… |
Large counts as… |
Huge counts as… |
|
2 levels lower |
1 level lower |
SAME LEVEL |
0.5 |
0.1 |
1 |
1.5 |
|
1 level lower |
SAME LEVEL |
1 level higher |
0.7 |
0.15 |
1.5 |
2 |
|
SAME LEVEL |
1 level higher |
2 levels higher |
1 |
.2 |
2 |
3 |
|
1 level higher |
2 levels higher |
3 levels higher |
1.5 |
.3 |
3 |
4 |
|
2 levels higher |
3 levels higher |
4 levels higher |
2 |
.4 |
4 |
6 |
|
3 levels higher |
4 levels higher |
5 levels higher |
3 |
.6 |
6 |
8 |
|
4 levels higher |
5 levels higher |
6 levels higher |
4 |
.8 |
8 |
|
Mooks
At champion and epic tier, it takes 5 mooks to equal one standard creature. At first and second level, use 3 mooks as a standard creature if the mooks are the same level, an equivalent of .33. At third and fourth level, use up to four mooks per monster, or .25.
Large Monsters
A large (or double-strength) monster counts as 2 standard monsters.
Huge Monsters
A huge (or triple-strength) monster counts as 3 standard monsters.
Monster Special Abilities
When you use monsters with especially nasty special abilities, be aware of the increased threat that they represent and take that into account.
Unfair Encounters
To make the battle more difficult, consider outfitting the monsters in the battle with these features:
- Potent powers
- Nastier specials
- Weight of numbers
- Reinforcements
- Advantageous terrain