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Message: <blockquote data-quote="THEMNGMNT" data-source="post: 9290595" data-attributes="member: 6809274">Hi, Mike. Big fan.I've run one campaign past 20th level and one campaign up to 13th level, so I feel your pain. The game changes around 13th level with spells like plane shift and raise dead. I don't think they break encounters so much as they break campaigns. When the villain decapitates a character's little sister, the cleric just shrugs and brings her back to life with a single action spell, the wizard casts feeblemind, and the fighter action surges. Bye bye, villain. Cue sad trombone sound from the DM.Action economy is key. One of my groups has 3 PCs. Higher level combats are still challenging for them. But for my 5 PC group...they are nigh invulnerable. And I know you play with about 6 characters.The fix is simple: Monsters need to hit really, really hard. Elite-style monsters should be able to drop 1 character per round, and Solos should drop 2 or 3 characters every round. Anything less won't even get the players' attention.I have a formula for monster modifications. Basically, as the players level from Tier 1 to Tier 2, and Tier 2 to Tier 3, etc monsters get tougher. Yes, a Tier 1 goblin is tougher than a Tier 3 goblin.  Here's how it works...First, I set a minimum threshold for attack bonus. Tier 1 = +3, Tier 2 = +6, Tier 3 = +9, Tier 4 = +12. I add an additional +3 to Elite and Solo monsters.Second, I increase damage. For Elite monsters, I take their average damage and multiply it by Tier. For Solo monsters, I take maximum damage and multiply it by Tier. And that's how much they do on every hit, period.Third, I don't mess with hit points or armor class -- except for Elites and Solos. I take the attack bonus and add that to their AC. For hit points, I multiply them by Tier using the same formula as damage.Finally, I've developed some additional Legendary Actions that I can apply as needed...<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Legendary Attack: One attack per tier. So a CR17 monster gets at least 4 attacks/per round</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Legendary Reactions: One reaction per tier. A CR17 monster gets up to 4 reactions per turn.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Legendary Movement: Creatures may take a move action without provoking opportunity attacks at any time during the turn. They may do this a number of times equal to their Tier. This ability refreshes on a long rest.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Legendary Accuracy: +1 bonus per Tier to all attack rolls. A creature can choose to turn a miss into a hit a number of times equal to their Tier. This ability refreshes on a long rest.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Legendary Damage: A creature does maximum damage on a hit. They may do this a number of times equal to their Tier. This ability refreshes on a long rest.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Legendary Critical: Critical range expands by +1 per Tier. So a Tier 4 monster crits on 15-20. Criticals double standard damage (since we are not rolling for damage).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Legendary Recovery: Creatures may end one condition at the start of their turn. They may do this a number of times equal to their Tier. This ability refreshes on a long rest.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Legendary Resistance: One resistance per tier. A CR17 monster gets 4 uses of legendary resistance.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Legendary Defense: A creature can choose to turn a hit into a miss a number of times equal to their Tier. This ability refreshes on a long rest.</li> </ul></blockquote>

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