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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Duvall" data-source="post: 392154" data-attributes="member: 4923">MonstersI run a campaign that has 7-9 people and have been doing it for a couple years now....more or less successfully.I totally understand the monster problem.  Single (or small groups) of monsters that can really challenge the group are so powerful that they can kill players effortlessly.I tend to run smaller groups of enemies and try to use npcs/monsters they are not familar with. Not knowing what it is you are fighting, or better yet having the wrong ideas about what you are fighting, is a great equalizer for the DM.  Players tend to see kobolds and think "push over"...until they find out that the kobolds have multiple barbarian levels.Another thing I do is take powerful monsters the players wouldn't ordinarily fight and "downgrade" them a bit by changing stats or removing abilities...basically a "lesser" version of a creature.  This further confuses players regarding what they think they know about monsters in my campaign.A few npcs or monsters, used intelligently in the right location/scenario and given time to prepare for battle, can soundly trounce a superior force.  Create situations where the group's size is a detriment or they can't bring their entire force to bear on an enemy.You just have to mix it up a lot and keep them guessing.  If you become predictable, their sheer numbers will just steamroller anything you throw at them.</blockquote>