User:Tarkisflux/CannedResponses/SGTandCR

I didn't write this, so I can't take credit for it, but it's not wrong, and I don't want to redo it. - TarkisFlux 20:57, September 18, 2009 (UTC)

Hokay, let me explain this to you very, very slowly.

“	Challenge Ratings for NPCs: An NPC with a PC class has a Challenge Rating equal to the NPC’s level.	”
—Dungeon Master's Guide, page 37

The same thing means that a level X PC should be a CR X creature. So a level 5 Barbarian should be a CR 5 creature. And a level 8 Monk should be a CR 8 creature. And a level 7 Wizard should be a CR 7 creature. With me so far? I didn't go too fast? Alright, let's move on.

Two creatures of the same CR are supposed to be at around the same level of power, and when they directly face each other with neither having an overwhelming advantage (like fighting in a pit full of lava against a fire elemental) the victor should be completely random. That is, on average the victor between the two creatures should be each of the creatures, 50% of the time. With trial combats between the two, one creature should win half the time, and the other should win half the time. Why? Because they're supposed to both be of equal power. This means that the Same Game Test attempts to balance classes according to the DMG.

No, a single monster of a CR equal to the average level of a party is not supposed to be a major threat.

“	Challenge Rating This shows the average level of a party of adventurers for which one creature would make an encounter of moderate difficulty. Assume a party of four fresh characters (full hit points, full spells, and equipment appropriate to their levels). Given reasonable luck, the party should be able to win the encounter with some damage but no casualties. For more information about Challenge Ratings, see pages 36 and 48 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide.	”
—Monster Manual, page 7

“	A single monster of a specific Challenge Rating when faced by itself has an Encounter Level about equal to its Challenge Rating.	”
—Table 3-1, Dungeon Master's Guide, page 49

“	The average adventuring group should be able to handle four challenging encounters [of an Encounter Level equal to the party level] before they run low on spells, hit points, and other resources.	”
—Dungeon Master's Guide, page 50

This means that if a party faces a single creature with a CR equal to the party level, they should expend approximately 20-25% of their resources for the day. That's not a very hard challenge, and virtually none of the PCs risks dying. No, a whole party should not win only 50% of the time against a monster that has a CR equal to their party level. It should be a breeze for them. Only when a character is alone against a monster of his CR should he have a chance of dying, and then 50% of the time, since it comes down purely to the dice on who wins and who dies (since the PC is supposed to be of the same CR as the monster, by the book).

Thus, a PC who passes the Same Game Test is balanced according to the DMG. However, not all PC classes are balanced. Monks and Fighters are usually far below in power than creatures of equal CR. Wizards, Druids, and Clerics are often far higher in power than creatures of equal CR. The page you linked in the article that this talk page belongs to tries to explain that. So... yeah. Not only is the "system" right, but it doesn't design anything. Instead, it attempts to detail out the power levels of certain things. It explains how the system works.

Please, give the DMG a read. The page you linked AND the same game test both refer to the core rules, as put forth by the DMG. Not to some strange thing added on, which for some reason people seem to think is different from the core system.