Hey, new DM here. I've ran the starter set adventure to get a grasp of DMing and our next campaign is going to be one of my own creation. Its my first time, I have a general plot, BBEGs and location.

My only problem is that I found out recently that my party is going to be made up of 3 level 5 casters: A bard, a wizard and a Sorcerer. (A possible fighter too, but that player is only a maybe at this point so not factored in)

I'm finding balancing things for them difficult.

I don't want to throw powerful ranged enemies at them that might just one shot their squishy low health characters but neither do I want to put down a horde of melee range Projectile-sponge enemies that lead to a boring kiting feast.

I'm wondering how some of you more experienced DMs came up with interesting encounters and puzzles to appropriately challenge a party made of spell casters. Any clever ideas you've had in the past?

Campaign details: - We are all still new to the game, both me and my players

• players will be spending a lot of their time on a ship, sailing between undiscovered islands.

• Based on "the new world", so basicly a pirate-y, wild tropical island chain settling

• Lots of Ancient cities, wild jungles and underwater havens to use as dungeons