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Message: <blockquote data-quote="green slime" data-source="post: 5328810" data-attributes="member: 1325">No one has suggested that every encounter feature a mid-level wizard. You should, however, realise that one of the easiest way to challenge a mid to high level party, is to use large amounts of classed intelligent foes: a cabal of Mindflayers with 10-12 levels of psion, and their subjugated strongarm bodyguards. For example. Doesn't mean every merchant buys their innocence. Doesn't mean certain people won't go out of their way to cause minor problems for them: shoeing their horse poorly, putting weevils in their food, losing their petition, forgetting it, or keeping it on the bottom of the stack, taking the long way round to get something. People who may have been slighted in their "shady" business, and their friends.Make sure to spread them thin. If you throw enough enemies at them, on a large field of battle, it becomes more difficult for them to support each other as well. If the battlefield also has buildings and other natural dividers, Don't allow them to immediately go to the rescue of a swamped character, just "because". To clarify: Using a Large Castle scenario, with multiple buildings and outhouses, a several group of archers open fire on the characters, from several different directions. The archers are obviously no match for even one character; nevertheless, they open fire (at a fair distance, say 300 ft), then scoot back 'round a corner. (5th-6th level archers, could even have the shoot-on-the-run feat). Hopefully, some character pursues one of the groups, to suddenly find himself assaulted/grappled by a bigger group that have been waiting exactly for this. Because he is no longer within sight of the other characters, and the sounds of the rest of the battle muffle his own cries for help, he cannot be assisted by the others. Prepare each battle well: think things through. Mid to high level opponents didn't survive all those intervening levels by baby-sitting doves. Use fleeing enemies to sucker lone pursuing characters (one character usually has a higher speed than the others) into ambushes. Use terrain, cover, concealment, and illusions. Use hordes of classed enemies: (animating them from the dead only means a normal, unclassed zombie). Paladin's and sun Clerics (Pelor). Use mounted feats, especially mounted archery feats, to up the maneuverability and irritability level of groups of foes: A lose formation of 20 6th level hippogriff/pegasus riding archers, engaging at long range will cause pain and irritation. Make them use their resources. Keep track of them. Ask the psion; "How many points do you have left?" Make a note! "How much does that power cost to maintain?"  Keep a close eye on all their resources. Ask "How many potions of healing do you have left? How many arrows?" Above all, you need to be at least as familiar with the characters' abilities as the players themselves. You also need to be aware of those abilities limitations! Otherwise, they may be tempted to pull wool over your eyes when they feel the chips are down. Make sure you always have an up to date version of their character sheet available during your preparation, so you can refer to their abilites / items / capabilities, and check up on spells / powers that you are unsure about. It hasn't been an Epic battle if less than half the characters were rendered unconscious/held/paralyzed/ability drained at least once during the battle. (Not all battles need be Epic). Remember, a strength drained character may collapse under the weight of his own equipment, and be unable to move. Drain to 0 and he is immobile. Won't hinder the psion too much, but eventually, those power points will be gone...</blockquote>

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