Let's Play Solo!

[Griogre]

...
I've searched for them in DMG, but random versions of encounters were not matching for a dungeon. So I used CR 1 Arctic encounters against 5 man party because that was easy. Now I'm searching everywhere (dmsguild, drivethru, etc) to find some of these.

I've done two first level encounter tables: one for 4 PCs and one for 5 PCs. These are from the 5E Legacy SRD Bestiary. Import the code into a table using ; as the separator. These are smaller tables than I use since I normally use stuff out of the MM, MotM, and stuff from Kobold Press and MCDM. Note the two mismatched dice to roll the imported table will try to set a 1d15+1. The mid 5 will appear about 50% of the time and the two tails a little less than 2%. This mean humanoids are heavily favored to appear which makes sense in any dungeon that might have doors.

Any play testing of the tables would be nice. Those Flying Swords with that AC are likely to be problematic even with the number appearing having been that reduced. I'll try the tables in my next few "Let's Play" games. But replacing the Swords with Crawling Claws, Abyssal Wretches, Neogi Hatchlings, Slaad Tadpoles, Young Kruthik, Manes or Star Spawn Grue would improve the table, IMO. I usually use a larger table of 1d8 + 1d12, but I could not find enough dungeon monsters I would want to use vs. a first level party.

4 PCs:

1d6+1d10	;	Group 1	;	Group 2
2	;	[1x] Acolyte	;	[1d2+1x] Cultist
3	;	[1d2+1x] Stirge	;	
4	;	[1d3+1x] Giant Lizard	;	
5	;	[1d3+2x] Lemure	;	
6	;	[1d3+1x] Skeleton	;	
7	;	[1d2+2x] Kobold	;	
8	;	[1d3+2x] Giant Rat	;	
9	;	[1d3+2x] Cultist	;	
10	;	[1d3+2x] Bandit	;	
11	;	[1d3+1x] Goblin	;	
12	;	[1d2+2x] Zombie	;	
13	;	[1d3+2x] Giant Fire Beetle	;	
14	;	[1d3+2x] Poisonous Snake	;	
15	;	[2x] Guard	;	[1d3x] Mastiff
16	;	[1x] Flying Sword	;	[1d3+1x] Lemure

5 PCs:

1d6+1d10	;	Group 1	;	Group 2
2	;	[2x] Acolyte	;	[1d2+1x] Cultist
3	;	[1d3+1x] Stirge	;	
4	;	[1d3+2x] Giant Lizard	;	
5	;	[1d3+3x] Lemure	;	
6	;	[1d3+2x] Skeleton	;	
7	;	[1d3+2x] Kobold	;	
8	;	[1d3+2x] Giant Rat	;	
9	;	[1d3+3x] Cultist	;	
10	;	[1d3+3x] Bandit	;	
11	;	[1d3+2x] Goblin	;	
12	;	[1d3+2x] Zombie	;	
13	;	[1d3+3x] Giant Fire Beetle	;	
14	;	[1d3+3x] Poisonous Snake	;	
15	;	[2x] Guard	;	[1d3+1x] Mastiff
16	;	[2x] Flying Sword	;	[1d3+1x] Lemure

Edit: Updated the tables slightly changed the roll 2 from Acolyte & Commoner to Acolyte and Cultist. Reduced the Group 2 number (Cultist) appearing by 1. This was mostly just to increase overall table XP. I expect this to be balance neutral.

Second Edit: I released Let's Play: Side Quest! Building 5E Monster Encounters 2 which shows you how to copy the "Code" above into Fantasy Grounds and create an encounter table, and then generate an encounter you load into the combat tracker. Linking the video here with the code for anyone looking at this later.


Third Edit: Fixed creature name typos, changed: Bandits to Bandit and Giant Rats to Giant Rat. Note this is purely cosmetic at this time for 5E since that ruleset uses the creature name on the link which is singular.

Fourth Edit: Updated the tables for the latest (hopefully last) iteration. I changed the Flying (Diabolical) Sword to have Lemure flunkys, raised the min number of Cultist with the Acolyte(s) and increased the number of Giant Rats appearing.

[Tempered7]

Wohoo!
I can't give you rep because forum won't let me but count it as I did so!

These few days were hellfire here despite AC hitting my face but I can do some work now. I'll also bring up SRD 2014 and try to find some monsters to add (I'll write the results here).
Btw, I watched the session 06 but my brain was frying at that moment and I was seeing blurry, so I'm gonna need to watch it again later.

Anyway, first trying for 4 PCs as I'm used to it better.

EDIT: I'll upload my campaign with exported PCs later on. See extension state xml for the extensions I use (or at least install chatlog extension to read it easily).

* First area after the stairs: Nasty 4way hall, encounter: 3 giant fire beetles, too easy for a 4 man party. Especially with Bless.

[Tempered7]

Ok, I finished a sped up version of 2 encounter test. At first it was too easy. But I ended up combining 2 separate encounters, A) 2 gobbos + B) 3 giant rats. Frontline had a very unsuccesful time both with attack rolls and death saves. I wasted Bless in an easier encounter, when I get to the combined one, I saw that rats are worse than goblins somehow.

Here's the chatlog only: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kk2ch...=3n0i3yg0&dl=0 Search for "Session started at 2025-08-19 / 00:53"
Here's the 4 PCs I used: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fruz1...=66xkoqj4&dl=0

And this is the whole campaign mainly for Griogre: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ik2sp...=w75ulus9&dl=0

Tomorrow, I'll test uncombined 5 PC version.

EDIT: I think there's a problem in my eyes as I reread the logs, I found at least 4 mistakes. Didnt roll dmg while I hit, rolled damage while the monster saved... I'm gonna need to redo the test when I'm feeling better.

[Griogre]

Giant Beetles *are* easy they're CR 0, they don't always do damage when they hit, but where people can get into trouble is there AC is just high enough to make PCs miss occasionally. They are also only worth 10xp each. They are pure fodder monsters. Fun fact their AC and damage have been steadily dropping the last few editions.

Giant Rats hit better than Goblins in melee because of Pack Tactics, that's why they are 1d2+2 to give them a "Pack" but no more than party matching numbers. They are slightly better Kobolds without range attacks, but a classic first level monster. The goblins have free disengages so should be constantly retreating, and have bows for range attacks.

[Tempered7]

Giant Beetles *are* easy they're CR 0, they don't always do damage when they hit, but where people can get into trouble is there AC is just high enough to make PCs miss occasionally. They are also only worth 10xp each. They are pure fodder monsters. Fun fact their AC and damage have been steadily dropping the last few editions.

Giant Rats hit better than Goblins in melee because of Pack Tactics, that's why they are 1d2+2 to give them a "Pack" but no more than party matching numbers. They are slightly better Kobolds without range attacks, but a classic first level monster. The goblins have free disengages so should be constantly retreating, and have bows for range attacks.

After these hot waves, my brain turns into potato mash so I make a lot of mistakes.

Those two monster types were 2 different encounters and I kinda mashed them up. 2 gobbos with 3 pet rats. Gobbos didn't start adjacent and then 1 of them incapacitated. They sent the rats into a choke point where the 2 frontliners held guard, then one gobbo used ranged attacks against the frontline while the other one is sleeping xD If I cast Sleep on the rats, it would be an easier fight for the frontline.

I wasted Cleric's Bless at an easy encounter and when I really needed it, I used up all the slots, that's why the frontliners couldn't hit while got ghit alot. Any AC below 17-18 is too low for 1st level fronmtliners to have.

But overall, those were good encounters so far; especially the random numbers are perfectly done. I'll need sleep to actually start a long run without rushing anything. I enjoyed it even though I can't see well right now. Later on, to place them easily, I'll make encounters out of them, rather than a table.

[Griogre]

I did two encounters as well. Though one doesn't count much for play test. I got Kobolds twice, 3 in one encounter and 4 of them in the other. The encounter with 4 kobolds had the party sneak up on them and surprise them! Because of a the door and very good stealth rolls from the disadvantaged fighters.

Since the Kobolds are on the top of a very broad same percent bell curve, getting them twice is no real surprise. What was a bit unlucky (for the playtest anyway) was getting the same two dead in room 1-13 geomorph twice in a row - a one in 700ish chance. That has also closed off two of the avenues of exploration nearest the stairs

My preliminary thought is I need move the pack tactic monster's dice on the encounter tables from 1d2s to 1d3s, but I want to see a few more favorable terrain encounters from them. Doors favor the party, blocking line of sight and muffling their approach - unless the door is trapped. Stuck doors are usually about a wash for either side, unless the monsters hear the party approaching. Halls and chambers should favor the intelligent monsters with range attacks since the will probably see the party before the party sees them.

I'm also a bit worried about the high numbers of CR 0 monsters on the table since they give very little XP.

[Tempered7]

Ok, before I start my test tonight I'd like to introduce a new (old) extension by avermhir. "Treasure Button" https://forge.fantasygrounds.com/shop/items/1602/view
This is great because after cleaning a room or a floor, we can roll for treasure and if there is some, we can just make random tables from this extension.

We can even include a Forge in a room so that we can use templates we found to make a new item, weapon, etc. Image can be taken from https://www.forgotten-adventures.net/live-gallery/ -- Or can be downloaded from FA Map Pack.



I'll start my run right after this darn back pain is done. First, one last 4 man party encounter (It's ready, it's against a flyinh sword) then move on to 5 man party (I'll add a Gnome Artificer).

[Griogre]

I slightly updated the tables above in post #11 just to increase table XP by getting rid of the CR 0 Commoners. I'll wait for more play testing to change anything else.

[Tempered7]

I slightly updated the tables above in post #11 just to increase table XP by getting rid of the CR 0 Commoners. I'll wait for more play testing to change anything else.

Sorry Griogre, Couldnt do anything tonight. Not just back pain didnt stop but my eyes swollen and hurting for a while.
Pain doesn't let me sleep so might as well wait for the pharmacies to open, get painkillers then start anyway.

Btw I thought of a way before starting the encounter. I'll just keep spammingh the random encounter table to test what exactly rolls. Of course take the first result as a real enbcounter. And release the chatlog here.
4 PC: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sby69...=00ynnz6u&dl=0
5 PC: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yzm84...=l1m5e93u&dl=0

Did I make the table right?
rd1table.jpg

[Tempered7]

Ok, let me not stand idle meanwhile. Waiting for the rolls and tiles will take too much time (yesterday's work full of errors took 3 hours).


Analysis of the 4 PC table monsters alone -1 enemy vs 1 appropriate PC out of 20 attacks:
Chatlog analysis at the bottom.

- PART 1 -


Acolyte: AC:10 HP:9.
Acolyte Notes: If he starts by blessing the 1-3 cultists, the cultist had 10 misses / 9 hits + 1 Crit hit out of 20 successive attacks agaisnt the Cleric with 17 AC. In comparison without bless: 15 misses / 3 hits + 2 crit hits agaisnt the same target. His Sacred Flame against DEX:12 Cleric had12 Successes / 8 fails on save.


Stirge: AC:14 HP:2.
Stirge Notes: Quote from monstersknow blog - stirge:

"Note the wording of the Blood Drain feature: a stirge detaches after it drains 10 hp “or the target dies”—not, “or the target falls unconscious.” In other words, the stirge keeps slurping up its victim’s blood even after he or she falls to 0 hp. This means an automatic failed death saving throw on the part of the victim (“If you take any damage while you have 0 hit points, you suffer a death saving throw failure. . . . If the damage equals or exceeds your hit point maximum, you suffer instant death”—Player’s Handbook, page 197). These little blighters are tenacious—maybe fatally so, for entry-level player characters."

Stirge Test Results: 11 Hits / 9 misses to the lowest AC (12 + 3 mage armor) Wiz. With Wizard's Shield 6 Hits + 2 crit hits / 12 Misses. 1 Hit to the wizard without shield and mage armor means "Dying".


Giant Lizard: AC:12 HP:19
Giant Lizard Notes: 9 Hits + 1 Crit / 10 Misses against AC:17 Fighter. On the other hand, the Fighter had 11 Hits + 3 Crits / 6 misses against the lizzo.


Lemure: AC:7 HP:13
Lemure Notes: Quote from monstersknow - lesser devils:

"Generally speaking, devils stick to the Nine Hells and their own infernal rat race... Because of this, PCs probably won’t encounter the lowest-level devil, the lemure, anywhere except in the Nine Hells, so I’ll skip past that one and move directly on to the lesser devils, the ones that PCs are most likely to encounter."

And Keith Ammann lists lesser devils such as imps which have more lethal attacks.
Lemure Test Results: 10 hits + 1 crit / 9 misses against AC:14 Rogue. The Rogue on the other hand had 17 hits (full) + 3 crits against it. Sacred flames hit it 12 times and failed 8 times.


Skeleton: AC:13 HP:13
Skeleton Notes: 7 hits + 1 crit / 12 misses against Wizard (12 base AC) with mage armor, no shield. Fighter's Glaive (+5 to hit) = 16 hits + 1 crit / 4 misses VERSUS Cleric's Mace (+4 to hit) = 8 hits + 1 crit / 11 misses. Someone with a +5 bludgeoing weapon is nbeeded for this.


Kobold: AC:12 HP:5
Kobold Notes: Pack Tactics always ON for the test. 2 kobolds vs 1 Cleric (17 AC with shield). I wonder if reflecting light on their eyes (with the spell) to exploit their sunlight sensitivity would work against negating their ADV to normal (not DISADV)?

Kobold Test Resulkts: 10 hits + 1 crits / 9 misses despite ADV always ON.
Fighter (glaive) against 1 kobold = 16 hits / 4 misses.
Cleric (mace) against 1 kobold = 12 hits + 1 crit / 7 misses. Sacred flame = 6 hits / 14 misses. And Guiding Bolt = 10/10.
Wizard's Mind Sliver against kobold's 8 INT = 12 hits (save fail) / 8-9 miss
Wizard's Frostbite against the kobold = 15 hits / 5 miss (at each save fail, the kobold would get DISATK. That's why I pick this spell instead of firebolt).

And here's the chatlog:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xpjw5...=c6axwdf5&dl=0

Better yet, Chatlog Analyzer website's reuslts:
https://fgu.kuura.art/chatlog/analyz...4_chatlog.html

Marten = Fighter
Castiel = Cleric
Proudfoot = Rogue

Hope it helps.

21/08 EDIT: I'm feeling better now. After few hours, I'll complete the PART 2 anbd then pass on to actual encounters with multiple mobs. This time, I won't combine multiple encounters.