Dynamic scaling
Every book is written relative to the table you actually sit down with, not relative to its number in the binder. Pride first is levels 1–3. Pride fourth is whatever APL you type in.
You do not need a party to write or preview a book. When you have one, enter:
- number of player characters (3–6)
- each character’s level
- class, if you want it on the sheet (optional — it does not change the math)
The companion then refills DCs, creature counts, stat blocks, XP, and treasure.
Source of truth
The roster on Your Table is the source of truth. After a book, update the levels to whatever the characters actually are, then open the next Court. Do not assume every table gains exactly two levels — some skip XP, some linger, some Claimed a Court and ran hot.
Average party level (APL)
APL is the average of the listed character levels, rounded to nearest. Pathfinder 2e assumes a shared level. If the spread is 2 or more, the companion warns you. Prefer a catch-up session over mixing APL 3 and APL 6 in the same fight.
Party size
Pathfinder 2e is built for four. Mixes below are the companion’s default:
| Players | What changes |
|---|---|
| 3 | One fewer creature, or a weaker mix. XP per PC is unchanged. |
| 4 | Baseline. |
| 5 | Add a creature or step one relative level up. |
| 6 | Add bodies or bump a lieutenant. Severe starts to look like 4-player extreme. |
Do not multiply HP of a solo boss by party size. Add creatures or a relative level. Solos already use the High HP / High AC row.
DCs
All skill DCs use the GM Core DCs by Level table at the table’s APL.
| Adjustment | Use for |
|---|---|
| −5 | Very easy — they should feel competent |
| −2 | Easy |
| +0 | Standard for this APL |
| +2 | Hard |
| +5 | Very hard (Inward Gaze at a climax, or a Court fighting back) |
| +10 | Incredibly hard — almost never; Book 8 only |
Creature ability DCs are standard +2 (moderate creature) or standard +4 (elite / solo).
Encounter threat → XP (each PC)
| Threat | XP each | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Trivial | 40 | Flavor fight, skip if tired |
| Low | 60 | Arrival, duels of etiquette |
| Moderate | 80 | Workhorse |
| Severe | 120 | Set pieces, champions |
| Extreme | 160 | Book climax, Book 8 |
XP is awarded to each PC, not divided. A 2-level book needs about 2,000 XP per character if you track it. If you do not, milestone: +1 level in the middle of the book, +1 when the seal breaks.
Creatures
Encounters are stored as roles and relative levels, never as a frozen stat block.
- Boss / solo: APL +2, elite/high statistics
- Lieutenant: APL +0 or +1, elite or standard
- Minion: APL −2, low AC, about half HP, Minion trait
- Counts:
one,players,players-1,half-up(round up)
Stat blocks are generated from GM Core creature-building rows (moderate / high / low). They are table-ready estimates, not copied Paizo monsters. Swap in an official creature of the same level whenever you prefer.
Treasure
Party treasure by level (4 PCs) is scaled by players / 4.
Each book is budgeted as two levels of treasure: current APL + next. Scenes tagged minor / standard / major take 15% / 35% / 50% of one level’s budget. The climax also places a permanent item of the current APL.
Band (fiction, not math)
The numbers use APL. The fiction uses a band so a Court still feels like itself at level 1 and at level 15.
| Band | APL | Pride example |
|---|---|---|
| Mortal | 1–4 | Althar is political; champions do the steel |
| Champion | 5–10 | Althar takes the field; auras forbid Aid |
| Mythic | 11–16 | The citadel unmakes the unfinished |
| Master | 17–20 | The throne room is already Book 8’s weather |
Book 8
Do not open the Master’s Court until seven seals are broken. When you do, type the roster as it actually is (often APL 15 after seven 2-level books from a level-1 start). The finale is a 3-level module.
What you type, every time
- Open Your Table.
- Set preview or add real characters.
- Open a Court.
- Print or run. The numbers on the page are for this party, this week.