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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 Rank Score

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

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

  • Find the total sum of all player/good 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.
  • Finally, add an additional 12 score for each Tier:4 elohim.

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 Rank 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


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


Adjusting Difficulty

After calculating the Total Rank 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 Rank 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 Rank Score x (any value below 0.9)
Easy Encounter Total Rank Score x (0.9 to 1.0)
Average Encounter Total Rank Score x (1.1 to 1.15)
Challenging Encounter Total Rank Score x 1.25


Tactical, Experienced Players
Trivial Encounter Total Rank Score x (any value below 1.0)
Easy Encounter Total Rank Score x (1.0 to 1.1)
Average Encounter Total Rank Score x (1.15 to 1.2)
Challenging Encounter Total Rank 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 good elohim).

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


Using the Weighted Total Rank Score to Generate Enemies

Now that you have the Weighted Total Rank 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 Rank Score. Then, use the following table for each unholy elohim you create, subtracting the values from the Weighted Total Rank 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


Follow the above until the Weighted Total Rank 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 Rank Score
  • Groups count as one single enemy, regardless of group size.


Balancing the Enemies' Tactics

While not calculated into the Total Rank 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 good 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 Rank 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 Rank 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 good for a non-tactical, challenging encounter. He then multiplies the Total Rank Score by 1.25: 57x1.25=71.25
Finally, he rounds the result down, giving a Weighted Total Rank 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 Rank Score: 71-15-3=53

David then creates a Power 10 Unholy Warrior. He subtracts its power from the Weighted Total Rank 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 Rank 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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