Re: Difficulty Balance

In article <eag8q2p7s7c8lanj4vp2r9brjapoijb1dt@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
Erol K. Bayburt  <ErolB1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>The first case [Monty] can be a problem, yes. But I find that there's
both a
>lot more tolerance, among players, for it and a lot more GMing advice
>warning against it. To the point where only grognards like us remember
>the term "Monty Haul" and where the tendency is now for GMs to mess up
>in the opposite direction. 

Jon crunched some numbers for me and re****ts, as have others, that
all three Adventure Path series leave the PCs with less treasure
than the specific guidelines in the core rules recommend (except
for very near the end of _Worms_, and the module notes that there
is almost no way for the PCs to benefit from that haul as it is
too close to endgame).

>The second case is a lot more harrowing for me to face as a player and
>a lot more disturbing in terms of not being able to enjoy the victory
>afterwards. There's a lot less GMing advice against it too. In fact,
>ISTR a certain amount of advice *advocating* that GMs do this. 

This is how I feel also.  I don't mind a clean win against well-
played weak foes.  A steady diet becomes somewhat uninteresting
but can be saved by colorful tactics and terrain.  I really dislike
a compromised win, especially against a too-strong foe.  I quit
my last multi-player campaign over this.  I have never in (good
lord, that long?) 27 years even considered quitting a campaign
because the foes, while well-played, were weak.  I just don't
see that as a live issue in games I've played in or observed.

I do have one semi-counterexample to re****t.  Jon offered, years
ago, to run _Sunless Citadel_ for a PC party of mine that was
then two levels too high.  He offered to run it straight, but
I felt ashamed to take him up on that, so suggested that he
adjust for the PCs' level.  I then proceeded to hate it as it
was far too difficult for me.  I felt like an ass.  I can only
say in my own defense that I think there truly is social pressure
never to admit that you like things "easy" and I'd internalized
some of that.  I'd make the opposite call today.

Mary Kuhner mkkuhner@[EMAIL PROTECTED]