Difficulty Balance

Erol K. Bayburt wrote:
> On Mon, 8 Jan 2007 22:51:46 -0600, "gleichman"

> Um, what do you mean? It sounds like you're lumping together the PCs
> having game-mechanical and resource advantages with foes being played
> with stupid tactics as producing a cheap and tainted victory.

That's what I'm saying. Not of course in Mary's specific case, but as a
general warning that as with all things- there can be too much of a
good thing.

If the mechanical advantage is so overwhelming that foolish and
unskilled play will still buy you victory, or if the GM's foes are so
poorly ran that they would fall to the even the most inept tactical
choices- the result is a cheap and tainted campaign.

In days pass, this type of play was a key component in the description
of a "Monty Hall" GM.


One thus must walk something of a razor's edge to produce a feeling of
heroic capability in one's players.. The PCs must be overwhelming at
times, impressive and skillful- able to deal defeat against vast
numbers or topple an immense foe- *IF* they play well.

Error too far towards one side and you have players feeling they are
bumbling fools, barely able to tie their shoes without going below zero
hit points.

Error the other way, and you mechanically may as well declare PC
victory up front without even fighting the battles. Few Monty Hall
style games last for any length of time, as the joys it brings are just
too cheaply bought to matter in the long run.


To add more complexity to the matter, this edge is different for each
group as tactical ability varies greatly between people. One groups
best effort may equal the worse of another, and this is the reason for
different reactions to the same module.

I find that the best approach to the issue is for the GM to avoid
Homogeneous foes and adventures. Over the course of a campaign's major
story line, one should see the players hit everything from cakewalks to
battles where errors bring down serious outcomes. A constant grind on
either end will inflict either boredom or despair.