Big Mountain Baddie for Level 1 Group?

[JDCAce]

I'm an amateur GM running a game for a group of 1st level characters (Ranger, Oracle, Wizard, Cavalier). They're about to head into the mountains to rescue a lost NPC, and I wanted them to fight something big, but I don't know what is an appropriate challenge for them. I was looking at the Ice Troll, CR 4. Is that too tough for a party of four first-levels? I have an NPC Magus that I could use to help them. What if the troll is the only combat for the day? Would that make it easier?

Any advice for this particular situation, or any advice for planning encounters in general, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Odraude]

CR 4 would be considered an Epic Encounter (APL+3) for a group of level 1 people. That would be a good way to end that minor adventure. I'd actually suggest using a CR 3 or even 2 creature with some minions around to bring the encounter to CR 4. Solo fights don't usually work unless you do a great deal of planning first. Although at level 1, you could probably have an Ice Troll as a solo encounter and have it as a decent challenge.

[Haskul]

Depends on your players are the vetrans? Optimized? If your players are also newish i wouldn't send them against an ice troll. Maybe just a few goblins with a level 3 goblin with or something.

[blackbloodtroll]

Moss Troll is a decent challenge.

I like the idea of two Mongrelman with the Giant Template.

[Odraude]

A Wikkawak, which is a CR 4 type bugbear, would be very interesting to see stalk the party.

[blackbloodtroll]

I like how varied Mongrelmen can look, as it adds a "WTF?!?" moment for PCs.

This works well if both are very different from each other.

This works with Ogrekin as well.

[galahad2112]

Yeah, that's pretty rough. Expect player death. Even with advance planning, 1st level characters WILL drop from one full attack, and they can't deal enough damage to really put the hurt on. Maybe if they can pin it down, have the wizard acid splash it while the others use ranged attacks? Or perhaps the PCs come across a cache of Flaming arrows. That would pile some hurt on. Any way you slice it, the PCs will need some serious help/advantage. And I don't just mean that magus NPC.

[JDCAce]

Thanks for the help! My group has two veteran D&D 3/3.5 players, an intermediate 3.5 player, and one guy brand new to all RPGs.

I like the idea on Mongrelmen. I'll look into them a bit more, as well as the wikkawak.

[Krodjin]

It would be good to know some general details about the Characters. What is Rangers FE? What is Oracle Mystery? Wizards School? Etc.

An encounter tailored to each Characters strengths would let them all shine and probably reduce the effective CR.

[JDCAce]

The ranger has the Guide archtype (therefore no favored enemy, and no favored terrain yet). The Cavalier is of the Order of the Dragon, and the Oracle took the Stone mystery (she's also an aasimar). The wizard did not specialize.