I'm playing with a group who I'm trying to get into Pathfinder, but they're displaying a lack of interest. So, I figured I could try using "rivals" (antagonistic NPCs with Player Character stats) to showcase how versatile Pathfinder's character creator is. So far, I have used Pathbuilder to create Team Rocket from the Pokemon anime (2 human summoners and a catfolk monk) up to level 20, but as I myself am new to the system, I'm worried I might make the fight with them too challenging.
I'd like advice on how to translate player level into NPC challenge rating. Or, if that's not feasible, advice on what level relative to the actual players I should have these bosses be. I have 3-4 players, if that helps any.
I'd also appreciate suggestions on other "rivals" I could create to help inspire my players.
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My instinct on this is that a PC-rule creature and a monster-rule creature of the same level are still going to be approximately equivalent in power. So a level 6 creature is going to be the power level of a level 6 creature no matter which is used to create it.
There are some differences though.
NPCs and monsters are geared to be single use. They have one purpose and they do their one job rather well. They will be better optimized for that role than a PC character will be.
What that translates to is that the NPCs often have slightly better stats and numbers, such as an attack bonus that is a couple points higher, or damage (especially ranged damage) that has a higher static bonus value.
PCs are instead geared to handle many different types of challenges and adapt their tactics to be what is most effective in the current situation. So they have slightly lower stats, but compensate for that with tactics and teamwork.
So if you create enemies using the PC build rules, you are more likely to get enemies that are slightly less effective at fighting the party unless you are building the enemies to exploit some tactics and teamwork techniques the same way that a group of PCs does.
Edit: Yes, my advice here is also intended for a Pathfinder2e ruleset. PF1 has different measurements of power for player characters and monsters.
As for designing the encounters, be sure to understand the Building Encounters guidelines.
A 4 player party going up against a group of 4 enemies of the same level is going to have each of those enemies contributing 40 xp to the budget and will be 160 xp in total - which is an Extreme encounter and a complete toss-up on whether it is the party or the enemies that have one or two characters still alive after everyone else is dead.
Regardless of whether those enemies are created using PC or NPC build rules.
This is just more of an observation.
If you make your NPC party the same level as the PCs and same number of characters without considering tactics, terrain, and party composition the fight is theoretically 50/50.
That will be an intense encounter where the die rolls can sway the fight for either side easily.
One idea is to create encounter conditions that force one or more of the enemy group to leave the fight if the players are getting beat.
What I mean is have goals for that NPC enemy group that are more important to them than the fight with the players.
One of them can say Hmph looks like you three have this, I'll go take care of X. The fight dynamic shifts and allows the players to overcome the challenge. If the players turn things around enough have most of the NPCs retreat to regroup with the one that left earlier instead of fighting to the death.
If it makes sense let one get captured.
Boom players have a direction and goal to stop the ones that got away from doing X.
When they face the 3 that went to do X, that fight will be tough but manageable.