Encounter balance in 2024: better or worse?

Is encounter-building that a big deal? In short, yes. So how has it changed in 2024?

1st-level adventures

Most D&D campaigns begin at 1st level. Because of this, it can be hard to create an adventure that feels fresh and original. It is also the deadliest level of D&D, and a relatively ordinary enemy can kill an adventurer in a single blow. In this article, I look at how to plan a 1st-level adventure that is fun, exciting, original, and not too challenging.