How strong are you BBEGs?

[DarkJester]

How strong are your Big Bad Evil Guys, as far as CR compared to the PC's level?

 

[fusangite]

How strong are your Big Bad Evil Guys, as far as CR compared to the PC's level?

Mine tend to advance as the party advances but slower. The last time I had a conventional BBEG, he started off 8 levels ahead of the PCs but, by the time they finally confronted him, he only had a 2-level edge. (The party had gone up 8 levels while he he had gone up 3).

Of course, the first combat in which the characters met him (at 6th vs. 10th), there was a four-level gap but that was okay because they were all on the same side.

 

[blargney the second]

At the time of fighting for keeps, usually about 2 levels ahead.

 

[Shemeska]

I can't answer the poll really, since the BBEG in my previous campaign had no CR and required a macguffin for the PCs to beat him with. The current campaign isn't as brutal in that regard, but until it's absolutely necessary, I haven't written a formal statblock almost two years into the campaign.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

CR +2 or +3 (I voted +3), but they usually have a cabinet or bodyguards accompanying them.

 

[Doug McCrae]

So far, only +1, but they've had allies when encountered. I had a future BBEG at +6 but can't think of a plausible way for a confrontation to ever occur now, so this character may be a failed BBEG.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Two to three levels ahead.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Big Fights are generally with CR +3 or +4 or so in the case of brutes and less (-2 to +2) in the case of casters. I do, however, give out more wealth than the DMG guidelines. I went with +4 because I use more brutes than casters for big boss fights. Caster fights go way too quickly whichever way they go with lots of PC casualties no matter what, so I save them for special occasions. Brute fights can go quite a while (especially if they have high AC + SR) and allow me to use more interesting setups, I find.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

Anywhere from CR+4 to CR+7 These are the BBEG they should not be a pushover, every moment of the fight players should be racking their brains out and fighting HARD to avoid the TPK. They should be the culmination of an entire plot arc not a walkover.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

It really depends. I've gone as far as CR+6 or so before, but I probably average about two or so levels higher than the PCs.

Of cousre, some of the most fun I've had with BBEGs is when they're actually LOWER level than the PCs. Really gets the PC's blood boiling when they find that out, too.