--- _tmp/ccsrd.md	2025-07-21 16:40:17.258151981 -0500
+++ _tmp/ccsrd.new.md	2025-07-21 16:46:54.149684103 -0500
@@ -28550,9 +28550,9 @@
 ::: {.og-ed .pt-3 .pb-1 .ps-3 .pe-3 .mt-3 .mb-3}
 **Editor's Notes ---** For more on the special damage, see [Creatures and NPCs with Special
 Damage](#creatures-special-damage), [Modifying Creatures](#modifying-creatures), [Common Trap
-Poisons](#dungeons-castles-and-keeps-traps-common-trap-poisons),
-[Radiation Sickness](#disease-radiation-sickness), and
-[Creating Challenging Encounters](#creating-challenging-encounters). Additionally, [We Are All Mad
+Poisons](#dungeons-castles-and-keeps-traps-common-trap-poisons), and
+[Radiation Sickness](#disease-radiation-sickness).
+Additionally, [We Are All Mad
 Here](https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/we-are-all-mad-here/){.og-icon .og-mcg} contains a section on Mental
 Health in Games [(WAAMH, 159)]{.og-ref}.
 :::
@@ -33077,8 +33077,8 @@
 
 -   **Roles:** Chanting, restraining the subject of the ritual
 
--   **Side Effects:** [Lasting damage](#creating-challenging-encounters), [permanent
-    damage](#creating-challenging-encounters), scarring
+-   **Side Effects:** Lasting damage, permanent
+    damage, scarring
 
 -   **Reagents:** Silver knife, silver vessel
 
@@ -33130,8 +33130,8 @@
 
 -   **Roles:** Applying reagents, chanting, prayers, shielding the corpse from hostile entities
 
--   **Side Effects:** Creature moves a step down [the damage track](#the-damage-track), enmity of a death god, [lasting
-    damage](#creating-challenging-encounters), scarring, sympathetic damage
+-   **Side Effects:** Creature moves a step down [the damage track](#the-damage-track), enmity of a death god, lasting
+    damage, scarring, sympathetic damage
 
 -   **Reagents:** Deceased's corpse, healing ointment, items of emotional significance (such as devotion, hope, or
     regret), items of importance to the deceased, parchment extolling the deceased's history and deeds,
@@ -34525,11 +34525,11 @@
 
 Another variant is a needle trap attached to a small peephole or spyhole in a door or wall. The trap springs when the
 character touches the area around the hole (even a slight touch with their face as they look is sufficient), inflicting
-[lasting damage](#creating-challenging-encounters) to the character's eye and partially blinding them. A gentler
+lasting damage to the character's eye and partially blinding them. A gentler
 variant traps the character's limb in glue instead of inflicting damage. The character\'s extremity might be glued to
 the hole, or they may be able to pull free but have a glue pot stuck on their hand or foot.
 
--   **Damage Inflicted:** 3 points, plus [lasting damage](#creating-challenging-encounters)
+-   **Damage Inflicted:** 3 points, plus lasting damage
 
 -   **Modifications:** Stealth as level 4
 
@@ -54255,8 +54255,8 @@
 
 -   **Form:** Vial, pot, or jar of liquid
 
--   **Effect:** Removes any [ongoing damage](#creating-challenging-encounters), [lasting
-    damage](#creating-challenging-encounters), or [permanent damage](#creating-challenging-encounters) the character
+-   **Effect:** Removes any ongoing damage, lasting
+    damage, or permanent damage the character
     has. However, the character has a permanent 3-point reduction in their maximum Might Pool.
 
     When [dead water](#fairy-tale-cypher-dead-water) and living water cyphers are used together, a dead character can be
@@ -59856,7 +59856,6 @@
 Related Sections
 
 -   [Balancing Encounters](#balancing-encounters) [(434)]{.og-ref}
--   [Creating Challenging Encounters](#creating-challenging-encounters) [(OG-CSRD)]{.og-ref .og-ref-og}
 -   [Modifying Creatures](#choose-modifying-creatures) [(OG-CSRD)]{.og-ref .og-ref-og}
 -   [Familiars](#familiars) [(IOM, 94)]{.og-ref}
 -   [Followers](#followers) [(233)]{.og-ref}
@@ -72375,8 +72374,8 @@
 attack](#special-situation-area-attacks) roll against each target's [level](#understanding-the-listings) (including any
 modifications). If the attack succeeds against all targets, the troll must use an action to break free from the webbing,
 but succeeds since their level---6---is higher than the cypher's effect level---4. Since the wolves are only level 3,
-they will struggle for longer---unless the troll frees them sooner, or if they [work
-together](#creating-challenging-encounters) to free themselves. The entire process could even longer if the GM treats
+they will struggle for longer---unless the troll frees them sooner, or if they work
+together to free themselves. The entire process could even longer if the GM treats
 removing webs like [attacking objects](#special-situation-attacking-objects) due to the object damage track.
 
 Sometimes, cyphers might resolve an encounter quickly---a good thing---but if the encounter would benefit from a little
@@ -75698,8 +75697,6 @@
 ::: {.alert .ps-4 .pb-0 .og-alert}
 ###### Quick Reference: Modifying Creatures [#](#choose-modifying-creatures){.og-h-anchor aria-hidden="true"} {#choose-modifying-creatures .og-border}
 
--   [Creating Challenging Encounters](#creating-challenging-encounters) [(OG-CSRD)]{.og-ref .og-ref-og}
-
 Creature Templates
 
 -   [Beefed Up](#template-beefed-up) [(OG-CSRD)]{.og-ref .og-ref-og}
@@ -75933,54 +75930,6 @@
 you can use to kick things up a notch if the PCs are having too easy a time.
 :::
 
-::: {.alert .ps-4 .pb-0}
-##### Creating Challenging Encounters [#](#creating-challenging-encounters){.og-h-anchor aria-hidden="true"}
-
-[(OG-CSRD Editorial Addition)]{.og-ref .og-ref-og}
-
-This section is based on *Challenging Characters* [(435)]{.og-ref}.
-
-If PCs are breezing through encounters, try some of the following ideas:
-
--   **Gritty Realism:** If the game requires a little more \"gritty realism\", employ [optional
-    rules](#choose-optional-rules) like [Fragility](#horror-rules-fragility) or [Ironman](#horror-rules-ironman)
-    to dial up the threat.
-
--   **Templates:** [Modify creatures](#modifying-creatures) to create new and more challenging variants of creatures or
-    NPCs.
-
--   **Damage Track:** An attack or effect immediately moves a PC one step down [the damage track](#the-damage-track).
-
--   **Ongoing Damage:** An attack or effect inflicts additional damage each round until PCs find a way to counteract it.
-
--   **Lasting Damage:** A PC gains an injury, which reduces the maximum number of points in one or more of their
-    [Pools](#pool). The PC can regain 1 point to their maximum each day they spend resting, or 1 point every three days
-    of regular activity. Until their Pool point maximum is fully restored, any tasks appropriate to the injury are
-    hindered by one or more steps (determined by the GM). The section on [Serious Injuries and
-    Conditions](#horror-rules-serious-injuries-and-conditions) contains a number of potential injury frameworks.
-
--   **Permanent Damage:** Permanent injuries should be used sparingly, but can be interesting. Even a permanent damage
-    might one day be counteracted by appropriate technology, magic, or completion of a [character
-    arc](#sample-character-arcs) like [Recover From a Wound (or Trauma)](#arc-recover-from-a-wound-or-trauma).
-
--   **Damaging Abilities or Equipment:** An attack temporarily hinders the use of, nullifies---or in rare instances,
-    completely destroys---a PC's [special ability](#choose-abilities), [cypher](#choose-cyphers), or
-    [artifact](#choose-artifacts).
-
--   **Enemies Working in Concert:** If four creatures work together, add +1 to the highest level creature, and +2
-    additional points of damage. A level 4 mafia cap with three level 3 triggermen could team up and attack as a level 5
-    NPC, dealing 6 damage instead of 4. This is a useful way of pooling enemies who normally can't overcome a PC\'s
-    [Armor](#rules-armor).
-
--   **Swarms of Creatures:** The GM can combine six to ten creatures and have them act as one creature that is two
-    levels higher and inflicts double the creature's normal damage. A group of thirty [berserkers](#npc-berserker)
-    might be handled as three level 5 creatures with 30 Health each, inflicting 8 point of damage.
-
--   **Dangerous Environs:** Unstable terrain, [hazards](#damage-from-hazards), or extreme weather can all be realized
-    through the [Horror Mode](#horror-rules-horror-mode) rule, causing more frequent [GM intrusions](#gm-intrusion)
-    triggered in response to player rolls.
-:::
-
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 #### Campaign Design Checklist [#](#campaign-design-checklist){.og-h-anchor aria-hidden="true"}
@@ -77087,13 +77036,6 @@
 :::
 :::
 
-##### [How do I combine weaker creatures into a \"swarm\"?](#faq-creature-swarm){.collapsed bs-toggle="collapse" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="faq-creature-swarm"} {#how-do-i-combine-weaker-creatures-into-a-swarm .og-tab .pb-2 .pt-2 .og-h-faq}
-
-::: {#faq-creature-swarm .collapse}
-[Creating Challenging Encounters](#creating-challenging-encounters) includes methods for *Enemies Working in Concert*
-and *Swarms of Creatures*.
-:::
-
 ##### [How do I resolve a \"PVP\" scenario?](#faq-pvp){.collapsed bs-toggle="collapse" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="faq-pvp"} {#how-do-i-resolve-a-pvp-scenario .og-tab .pb-2 .pt-2 .og-h-faq}
 
 ::: {#faq-pvp .collapse}
@@ -77191,8 +77133,8 @@
 ##### [What if the PCs find challenges and encounters too easy?](#faq-challenge){.collapsed bs-toggle="collapse" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="faq-challenge"} {#what-if-the-pcs-find-challenges-and-encounters-too-easy .og-tab .pb-2 .pt-2 .og-h-faq}
 
 ::: {#faq-challenge .collapse}
-In addition to the strategies listed in Handling Players and PCs and [Creating Challenging
-Encounters](#creating-challenging-encounters), dial up the challenge with [GM intrusions](#gm-intrusion) with [Horror
+In addition to the strategies listed in Handling Players and PCs and Creating Challenging
+Encounters, dial up the challenge with [GM intrusions](#gm-intrusion) with [Horror
 Mode](#horror-rules-horror-mode) optional rule.
 
 The optional [Fragility](#horror-rules-fragility) or [Ironman](#horror-rules-ironman)
@@ -77421,7 +77363,6 @@
 ##### Running the Game [#](#choose-edrule-running-the-game){.og-h-anchor aria-hidden="true"} {#choose-edrule-running-the-game .og-h-small}
 
 -   [Calling for Rolls](#calling-for-rolls) [(OG-CSRD)]{.og-ref .og-ref-og}
--   [Creating Challenging Encounters](#creating-challenging-encounters) [(OG-CSRD)]{.og-ref .og-ref-og}
 -   [Difficulty, Vague](#vague-difficulty) [(OG-CSRD)]{.og-ref .og-ref-og}
 -   [Encouraging Players to Spend XP](#encouraging-players-to-spend-xp) [(OG-CSRD)]{.og-ref .og-ref-og}
 -   [Encouraging Players to Use Cyphers](#encouraging-players-to-use-cyphers) [(OG-CSRD)]{.og-ref .og-ref-og}
@@ -77722,7 +77663,7 @@
 -   Complex Encounters [(434)]{.og-ref}
 -   [Balancing Encounters](#balancing-encounters) [(434)]{.og-ref}
 -   Resolving Encounters [(435)]{.og-ref}
--   [Challenging Characters](#creating-challenging-encounters) [(435)]{.og-ref}
+-   Challenging Characters [(435)]{.og-ref}
 -   Higher-Tier Characters [(436)]{.og-ref}
 -   Character Death [(436)]{.og-ref}
 
