Pulling Out of the Tar Pit

I've been lazy, have I?  Just trying to get back into RPG Maker.  Started with two things on my current project:

1.  The Smash Power concept of determining overall loot and damage (by comparing both sides) was replaced by a difficulty "slider".  While it uses the same base code, the change would remove the extra layer of complexity on enemies and items.

2.  The encounters were updated.  Before, a map would have generated an enemy based on progress in a dungeon.  The current change would have stronger fights show up with higher difficulties.  I am also thinking for certain encounters to show up based on certain states or switches, but too early to tell at this point.