The situation we have is a long roster of occasional players and a tight core group of three who nearly always show up. For background this particular campaign is a social event for friends who have a hard time seeing each other, among other things. So there's no problem with the inconstant attendance.
What the GM does is let the guests play CR monsters at the current PC levels. so if everyone's at level 4, it's a CR 4 GM approved critter for the guest. If group is at 11th level, then a CR level 11 monster is rolled out.
so I'm curious as to opinions on if CR at level is too high, too low, or just right. Or does t change depending on the level? There's no wealth by level, just say a Minotaur or Earth Elemental out of the Bestiary.
I'm not the GM, everyone seems ok with the situation, and I'm just asking as a thought experiment mainly.
The situation we have is a long roster of occasional players and a tight core group of three who nearly always show up. For background this particular campaign is a social event for friends who have a hard time seeing each other, among other things. So there's no problem with the inconstant attendance.
What the GM does is let the guests play CR monsters at the current PC levels. so if everyone's at level 4, it's a CR 4 GM approved critter for the guest. If group is at 11th level, then a CR level 11 monster is rolled out.
According to the numbermancy, a player character near the WBL guidelines and with X levels in a PC class is a CR X encounter by himself, so equivalent to a CR X monster (who may or may not have useful wealth, such as a dragon's hoard, but that is factored into the CR).
So, yes, you're doing it right "by the numbers." More to the point, if your players enjoy it, you're doing it right.
According to the numbermancy, a player character near the WBL guidelines and with X levels in a PC class is a CR X encounter by himself, so equivalent to a CR X monster (who may or may not have useful wealth, such as a dragon's hoard, but that is factored into the CR).
So, yes, you're doing it right "by the numbers." More to the point, if your players enjoy it, you're doing it right.
Exactly what I was looking for- the numbermancy. I gotta remember that term. Again, everyone seems cool with current arrangement and I'm just looking into what others think, esp. regarding the numbermancy! Thanks.
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There's of course a big difference between CR and level. CR tells you how hard it is to defeat a monster using PC-style abilities and gear. It tells you very little about how well the monster would do against other monsters. It's a lot like comparing apples and apple knives.
Consider: a CR 10 vampire might be CR-appropriate for the level 10 party, who have magic weapons and anti-domination gear/spells. But if you put him up against say, a 10HD wight, he'll totally win that fight, because the wight's energy drain doesn't do anything to the vampire, and the vampire has DR and fast healing.
However, against other humanoids, who resemble the PCs in the sort of abilities they could have, CR is a bit more useful as a guideline.
If you're worried, maybe it's better to take slightly weaker monsters but with unusual abilities; the novelty factor of playing something you normally never get to play with should make it a fun game.