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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 7323708" data-attributes="member: 20323">Be aware that most folks on ENWorld (and pretty much any other public forum where file-sharing happens) will be very reluctant to open a Word document from someone unfamiliar. Viruses. I suggest uploading a PDF if you need to, or, even better, encapsulate everything you need in just a few paragraphs in your original post.Anyhow...Proceeding with just having read your OP, it strikes me that you're trying to cram in three tactical/puzzle combats into a 3-4 hour game, with the players running brand new 7th-level PCs they won't be totally familiar with. Frankly, I've been DMing for years and would be surprised if I could pull off such a feat!Here's what I'd do with your outline (which I'm assuming is tailored to your groups' play style of a slightly more "railroady" leaning):1. Hordes of enemiesGood, start with a bang! As long as you're keeping the horde of monsters to waves of about 12 critters of CR 1/4 or less (e.g. goblins), I think you'll have a good challenge for the PCs; this is based on <a href="https://media.wizards.com/2016/dnd/downloads/Encounter_Building.pdf" target="_blank">Unearthed Arcana Encounter Building guidelines.</a> You mention "shadow or dark mass versions of the real creatures"; if you mean the Shadow undead monster in the MM, be wary of using large numbers of Shadows which can be far deadlier than encounter building calculations will suggest.For this combat, I'd suggest noting the hit dice of the monster you choose and writing down the HP range (e.g. 2d6 goblin equates to 2-14 hp), then improvise monster death based on "cool factor" of the PCs attacks, erring toward the lower end of that monster range.2. Puzzle while holding monsters at bayThe only reason to play out combat in this scene (given you only have 3-4 hours) is to keep puzzle-adverse players engaged. If all the players are into puzzles, then you can just narrate them holding monsters at bay without resorting to rolling initiative again and breaking out the dice. Personally, I'd count on just having time for the puzzle, no combat here.3. Deus ex machinaIt's very hard to pull off a deus ex machina without rankling the players' feathers. They want to play the heroes, after all, not be saved by your favorite NPC or some divine light or somesuch. And, personally, I almost never do it because I want the rare 1-2 it happens in a campaign to be really really special.That said, a reasonable challenge for your party of four 7th-level PCs would be a CR 9 monster, preferably one with legendary & lair actions. I think a Gray Slaad could serve as a reasonable starting place for a "shadow warrior" type, or a Champion or Warpriest (if you have Volo's Guide to Monsters). Depending on party's damage out put with those magic items, you may need to skew towards the higher HP range for your boss monster.</blockquote>

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