Note: This post was originally published as an article on our Patreon. However, since that page is no longer accessible, we’ve decided to make it available here instead. You may also notice that the same information appears in the NPCs & Opponents section of the Game Master’s Guide.

Against the Darkmaster isn’t based on the assumption that the PCs will face a set number of combat encounters per day, or that the enemies they encounter will always be carefully tailored to their power level. Rather, you should always consider what makes the most sense given the setting and the situation the heroes are in when choosing what type and number of opponents the PCs will meet in their adventures. As a consequence, the heroes may occasionally find themselves confronted with overwhelming odds, and must learn to pick their fights, avoiding unnecessary conflicts or enemies that are simply too dangerous for them. Nonetheless, you might still want to gauge the approximate strength of the Opponents the heroes are going to face when designing your scenarios, if only to get an idea of their chances of survival.

The quickest way to do that is by looking at an Opponent’s Level and category. Common enemies are in general much weaker than a PC of the same Level. They should pose a serious challenge only when their numbers are greater than those of the PCs, or if they’re encountered together with higher tier foes. Elite Opponents, on the other hand, are almost as strong as a PC of the same Level. A single Elite Opponent of 2 or 3 Levels higher than the heroes can act as a major obstacle for the party, particularly when supported by a few lower-level minions, while a group of equal-leveled Elite Opponents will test the party’s capabilities if faced recklessly. Adversaries are at least as strong as a PC of the same level, and can often count on a vast array of special abilities. Some of them can even single-handedly defeat a whole fellowship of heroes. Their presence should always bear a significant weight and relevance within the broader narrative of the campaign.

When you need a more accurate evaluation of the threat posed by a group of Opponents in combat, you may use the following method to calculate their Combat Value (CV):

• Add together the highest CMB and DEF of each creature to get their Base CV.
• Heroic creatures add 15 to their Base CV, Epic creatures add 30.
• Creatures with multiple attacks add ⅕ of their highest CMB to their Base CV for each attack after their first.
• The total Combat Value thus obtained gives you a better idea of a creature’s strength. Confront it with the Combat Value of the PCs to assess how they would fare against the Opponent. If the values are roughly similar, it should be a fair fight. If the Opponent’s CV is less than half that of the PC’s, on the other hand, the encounter is probably going to be a pushover. Finally, if the Opponent’s CV is significantly higher than that of the PC’s, it’s likely that the fight is going to be too much for them.

Example: Athelstane has a CMB of 85 and a DEF of 15, so his Combat Value totals 100. With a CMB of 35 and a DEF of 25, a Redcap has a CV of 60, meaning it’s going to be an easy opponent for Athelstane. An Orc Soldier, on the other hand, has a CV of 90 (60 CMB + 30 DEF), and would prove a balanced opponent for Athelstane. Finally, a Dark Troll Overseer has a total CV of 185 (130 CMB + 40 DEF +15 because it’s a Heroic creature), and clearly outmatches the poor Athelstane.

Obviously, while this method can give you a better understanding of the fighting capabilities of your Opponents, it doesn’t take into account variables such as numbers of combatants, terrain, tactics, and other factors that may play a decisive role in an encounter. Dice are cruel and fickle masters; never assume a combat encounter will play out precisely as anticipated.