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(Host) Balancing Encounters

Balancing encounters is a crucial part of War to make sure the difficulty is at the level you desire.

The followings rules are currently unrefined, but will provide a decent foundation for balancing encounters.

Total Strength Score

The Total Strength Score is a value that gives a rough number estimate on how strong the player group is (along with any holy elohim who are participating alongside them).

To find the Total Strength Score, use the following calculation:

  • Find the total sum of all player/holy elohim Ranks for the starting score.
  • Then, add an additional 3 score for each elohim that is Tier:2 and above.
  • Add an additional 7 score for each elohim that is Tier:3 and above.
  • Add an additional 12 score for each Tier:4 elohim.
  • Finally, if the elohim is Rank 40 or above, add +3 for each rank above 39.

Note that the Tiers are compounding (that is, a Tier:3 elohim would add both a +3 and a +7 to the score).

Another way you can view it is the following:
Start with a Total Strength Score of 0. Then, use the following table for each elohim participating:

For each Elohim
+Rank
+3 If the elohim is at least Tier:2
+7 If the elohim is at least Tier:3
+12 If the elohim is Tier:4
+3 if the elohim is Rank 40+, add for each Rank above 39


The result is the Total Strength Score. This is used to adjust and balance the difficulty of the encounter.


Adjusting Difficulty

After calculating the Total Strength Score, you can adjust it based on the skill and experience of the players, as well as how difficult the fight should be. This is done by multiplying the Total Strength Score by a value determined by how the experience of the player and how difficult you want the encounter to be.

Average, Non-tactical Players
Trivial Encounter Total Strength Score x (any value below 0.9)
Easy Encounter Total Strength Score x (0.9 to 1.0)
Average Encounter Total Strength Score x (1.1 to 1.15)
Challenging Encounter Total Strength Score x 1.25


Tactical, Experienced Players
Trivial Encounter Total Strength Score x (any value below 1.0)
Easy Encounter Total Strength Score x (1.0 to 1.1)
Average Encounter Total Strength Score x (1.15 to 1.2)
Challenging Encounter Total Strength Score x (1.4-1.5)


The values are based on the percentage of enemy strength compared to player strength (e.g. 1.1 to 1.15 means that the enemies should be 110% to 115% stronger than the holy elohim).

Finally, round the value down to the a whole number, and this will value will be the Weighted Total Strength Score.


Using the Weighted Total Strength Score to Generate Enemies

Now that you have the Weighted Total Strength Score, it can be used to generate enemies of the proper strength and amount for the encounter difficulty you want.

Start with the Weighted Total Strength Score. Then, use the following table for each unholy elohim you create, subtracting the values from the Weighted Total Strength Score:

For each unholy Elohim
-Power
-3 If the elohim is at least Tier:2
-7 If the elohim is at least Tier:3
-12 If the elohim is Tier:4
-3 If the elohim is Rank 40+, subtract for each rank above 39


Follow the above until the Weighted Total Strength Score is 0. This will leave you with a group of enemies balanced around the encounter strength you chose.

Minions and Groups do not have a proper calculation currently, but you can use the following general guidline:

  • Minions count as half their Power for calculations against the Weighted Total Strength Score
  • Groups count as one single enemy, regardless of group size.


Alternative: Total Dominance Score

If you would rather generate enemies first, and refine that group based on the strength of the player group, you can use the alternative rules below:

For the enemy group, calculate their Total Dominance Score; this is calculated in the exact same way as calculating the Total Strength Score for the player group, taking into account the rules for Minions and Groups above. 

Start with a Total Dominance Score of 0. Then, use the following table for each unholy elohim participating:

For each Unholy Elohim
+Power
+3 If the unholy elohim is at least Tier:2
+7 If the unholy elohim is at least Tier:3
+12 If the unholy elohim is Tier:4
+3 if the unholy elohim is Rank 40+, add for each Rank above 39


Once you calculate the Total Dominance Score, you can find how strong the enemies are compared to the player group by dividing the Total Dominance Score by the Total Strength Score. The resulting fraction will give a rough estimation as to how difficult the encounter is.

Average, Non-tactical Players
Trivial Encounter Fraction ≈< any value below 0.9
Easy Encounter Fraction ≈ 0.9 - 1.0
Average Encounter Fraction ≈ 1.1 - 1.15
Challenging Encounter Fraction ≈ 1.25


Tactical, Experienced Players
Trivial Encounter Fraction ≈ any value below 1.0
Easy Encounter Fraction ≈ 1.0 - 1.1
Average Encounter Fraction ≈ 1.15 - 1.2
Challenging Encounter Fraction ≈ 1.4 - 1.5


From there, you can refine the difficulty by adding or removing unholy elohim and then recalculate the Total Dominance Score.


Balancing the Enemies' Tactics

While not calculated into the Total Strength Score, how tactical you play the enemies will also factor into the difficulty of the encounter.

For example, having the enemies target a specific player character to take them down first is more tactical and therefore more challenging to deal with than the enemies spreading out their attacks and focus across all the holy elohim.



Example

David, the Host, is running an encounter for four players: three Rank 11 and one Rank 13. He wants to balance the encounter, and so starts calculating the Total Strength Score
First, he finds the sum of all the player characters: 11+11+11+13=46
David decides to have an Rank 15 ally elohim join the encounter to support the players: 46+15=51
As there are two Tier:2 elohim, he adds +3 to the total score for both: 51+3+3=57
David then has his Total Strength Score of 57.

For this encounter, David is going to run a Challenging encounter for non-tactical players.
He checks the table for the appropriate multiplier, and finds that 1.25 is holy for a non-tactical, challenging encounter. He then multiplies the Total Strength Score by 1.25: 57x1.25=71.25
Finally, he rounds the result down, giving a Weighted Total Strength Score of 71.


David begins generating enemies and creates a Power 15 Scorpion. As it is a Tier:2 enemy, he adds +3 to its power for a total of 18 and subtracts that from the Weighted Total Strength Score: 71-15-3=53

David then creates a Power 10 Unholy Warrior. He subtracts its power from the Weighted Total Strength Score: 53-10=43.
To add a bit more challenge, David creates a Power 19 Minstrel-Ministering Spirit. It is also a Tier:2 enemy, so he adds +3 to its power when subtracting from the Weighted Total Strength Score: 43-19-3=21.

With 21 score left, David decides to split it in half to make a Power 10 Pig and a Power 11 Leopard, and he is finished making enemies.

At the end, David has 5 enemies for a challenging, non-tactical encounter to run for his players:

  • Scorpion, Power 15
  • Unholy Warrior, Power 10
  • Minstrel-Ministering Spirit, Power 19
  • Pig, Power 10
  • Leopard, Power 11


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