Calibration allows to set the difficulty of an encounter. To do this, we calculate the difference between the sum of the adversity ratios of creatures and the number of player characters (PCs):
Calibration = (Sum of AR of creatures) - Number of PCs
To simplify the addition of ARs, it is advised to group "tiny" creatures (AR 1/3) by 3 and "small" creatures (AR 1/2) by 2.
Here is a table that allows to determine the difficulty of an encounter based on the calibration value:
| Easy | Balanced | Difficult | Very difficult |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2 or less | -1 | 0 | 1 or more |
If your player characters are starting a new game and are therefore at level 1, it is recommended to set the calibration at -2, and -1 when fighting Bosses or Mini Bosses.
Once they have all reached level 2, set the calibration at -1, and during encounters with Bosses or Mini-Bosses, set the calibration at 0.
Example:
Consider an encounter involving 1 Dragon Boss (3/1) accompanied by its 2 Baby Dragons (1/2).
Sum AR = 3/1 (dragon) + 2 x 1/2 (babies) = 3 + 1 = 4.
Assuming the encounter involves 4 PCs whose level is greater than 1, here is the calibration value.
Calibration = 4 (sum of AR) - 4 (PCs) = 0.
The encounter is correctly balanced for 4 PCs of level higher than 1.