GM’s, how much is ideal party damage in a round?

[Oli Ironbar]

For easy, mid, and tough encounters in your experiences.

Both against an individual PC and overall amount of party HP to be healed up.

[Azothath]

if you look at the encounter tables, figure APL+1=CR, you should find average AC, HPs, saves. Divide HP by 3 {the infamous 3 round kill off} and add DR to get expected party damage inflicted per round. You'll have to use the transfer ratio of (Wpn & Spl)Atk values/(Wpn & Spl)Defense to get the required party damage per round for a given BAB & weapon set.

an effort around 2016 was done to analyze PF1
→ PF1 PC Benchmarks save local copy then use your copy. Put in values as needed. I'm not verifying the math or assumptions.
→ PF1 PC Creation by the Numbers. I'm not verifying the math or initial data.
→ EDV Calculator expected dmg values I'm not verifying the math or assumptions.

[DeathlessOne]

Likewise, look at the monster creation rules for a table that outlines expectations based on CR rating. Adjust accordingly with how far you deviate from the standard assumptions of 15 point buy and 4 to 5 member parties that most adventure paths assume. If you use the 20 point buy that PFS made common, tack on an additional +1 to the CR range.

Monster Creation Rules

[Claxon]

Ideal from what perspective?

Talking PF1, it really depends on how much your party likes to optimize.

Which I know is against the spirit of your question. You're trying to make a creature (or modify one) that has an appropriate amount of HP.

But asking "how much damage is ideal" is kind of the wrong way to look at it, IMO.

I always based it on "how much damage does my party do?" and just adjusted. Often maximizing hp (instead of average per hit die, maximum) and adding 50% to that. But back when I played PF1, the party that I was apart of was usually 5 or 6 people, usually at least 1 bard buffing everyone, and everyone was an ruthless optimizer. Combats rarely had more than 2 rounds, and usually everything was decided end of round 1 with mop up being any following rounds.

Edit: Actually rereading your question, I think you were going in a different direction. You were asking "how much damage should creatures deal to PCs?".

IMO, enough to almost TPK the party but not actually doing so ;)

Realistically I sent CR+3 creatures against the party and buffed their health substantially.

But honestly this is more an artform, trying to adjust for how your party plays.

[Azothath]

Even with an optimized party, GMs want challenges to be a challenge.
I'd say a reasonable goal is 5-6 rounds of combat before the NPCs tactically lose and have to consider options... Exactly how you get there depends on your GM. Some encounters should be a push-over. Some are about skill checks etc where 'guards'/mooks start showing up if combat occurs or a gp penalty happens. It varies...