Hi.
I'm Japanese pathfinder's GM.
3 days ago, we had a session with 4 people, who are all beginner about this game. Their levels are all 1 (means first session).
However, this game was failed. I used a CR5 monster (only 1 monster) as a final Battle and party was decimated and went to TPK.
After game, Players very complained that that monster was too severe and this session should be nullified immediately.
I've read three basic books (player's, master's and monster's), but, I can't understand what level is appropriate about this level(1lv with 4 people).
That game included 3 middle battle (CR1 x2 + CR0.5 x1, CR1 x2 and CR2 x1) and I placed two(2) cure wounds potions in the dungeon.
So...
1) Considering 1lv and 4 people, what level is appropriate for final boss?
2) Is it OK to include 3 middle battles in this game?
Plus 1 question
3) In this session, I decided this scenario that your(our) party lives in XYZ city(which is my original city) and a dungeon was discovered. Your party was ordered to go there by that city's king. I think that this scenario's story is too poor. To motivate to go dungeon or cave or tower and so on, what story is appropriate?
Any comments are appreciated.
Your average party level (APL) was 1. An encounter with CR = APL+3 (CR4 in this case) is an epic encounter, so a CR5 monster would definitely be a big challenge, though it's possible they could beat it. The PRD section on Gamemastering might be useful.
Intermediate battles are not a bad thing, just keep in mind they use up resources. A group that is out of spells and starting at lower HP is going to have a ton of trouble with an APL+4 encounter, barring extraordinary circumstances.
Also keep in mind that CR is a general guideline. Putting a group against a Wraith (undead, incorporeal, can create spawn, deals HP damage and CON drain, CR5) is not necessarily the same challenge as a Dire Lion (deals damage, CR5), depending on your group composition.
In terms of the scenario, I would agree it's a little weak, mostly because your players didn't even have the illusion of choice. It takes time to get better at setting up stories though.
If you're new to Pathfinder, and so are they, maybe consider a published module to start out? Hollow's Last Hope is pretty decently put together, and is available as a free download from Paizo ... it might be a good place to start until you get a little more used to the system.
With 4 people in the party, your Average Party Level is equal to the average level of your party.
That means (1+1+1+1) / 4 = 1
Your group's APL is 1.
When building encounters, the difficulty of any encounter is measured against the APL.
Easy Encounter: CR = APL-1
Average Encounter: CR = APL
Challenging Encounter: CR = APL+1
Hard Encounter: CR = APL+2
Epic Encounter: CR = APL+3
So you put a CR5 monster against an APL of 1, that's a CR of APL+4, literally off the charts in terms of difficulty.
Character power in pathfinder however also grows exponentially, so 1st level characters are deceptively weak.
At level 1, boss encounters should seldom run higher than CR 2, I've seen such encounters well and capable of providing all the challenge needed by the party, killing party members with some lucky critical hits.
Until you're well acquainted with the rules for building a level-appropriate encounter as outlined in Cheburn's link on Gamemastering, I'd advise running modules. I tried running encounters built from scratch when I first started as well, crippled half the party for 2 weeks in-game time with a four bandits. Then I brushed up, and now I count out the CR of my encounters very carefully.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Challenge rating (CR) is NOT an exact science.
4 same level party members is the standard for challenge ratings.
So 4 level 1 party members would normally face CR 1.
If a CR = party level then the party should win and use about 1/4 or 25% of their total resources (spells, healing, hit points, etc.)
In an average day, the party should encounter between 3 to 5 average encounters. Not all of them involve combat. There may be a trap, a puzzle, a riddle, a cooking contest or dance competition (whatever you like to have in your world) and so on.
There are exceptions. If the players are extremely well coordinated and use excellent tactics, then you can use a harder encounter (higher CR). If the characters are highly optimized you can increase the difficulty again.
In typical modules a boss fight for level 1's was usually CR2 or CR3.
A CR 5 for a final boss is possible, but typically not for beginners who do not know enough of the game to really build power gamer characters.
Usually you will want to make the end boss for a Level 1 group a CR 2-3 challenge. CR 4 and above should probally be avoided till you all (players and GM) know the system better, and can make more optimized characters.
As to your bonus question, that is a fine hook. The players have received an invitation to join an adventure guild or they have been called by a local noble/aristocrat/king to come do a job.
I often use "You (the player) have seen or heard of an offer to join an adventure and have traveled to city X. There you meet the other adventurers (other players) and the benefactor of the adventure (NPC guy who is setting up the quest)"
This approach kinda sidesteps that initial question of "why would I join these people" by skipping ahead to after they have. Why they keep adventuring together is something that can become a long term plot.
For beginners, wouldn't go higher than CR 3 and pick carefully. As a tip, I would recommend to avoid incorporeal monsters or CR 3 real brutes. Yeah you could have an ogre for a boss fight...but the average ogre hit for 15 damage each round and at level 1, that's a lot.
I'd avoid incorporeal creatures until the players have magic weapons, end of story. Also, be very careful about swarms.
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