How strong are you BBEGs?
- Thread starter DarkJester
- Start date
My final, endgame BBEG's tend to be PC level +4 or more, but I voted +3 because by the time the PCs get to the final villain, they've encountered previous, lower-level villains from earlier in the game ("I've waited a long time for this!"). These lesser bad guys hold special items or secret knowledge that assist in the final battle.
This gives my players a chance to finally even the score with NPCs who've vexed them since lower levels, and encourages them to keep track of villains personalities.
This gives my players a chance to finally even the score with NPCs who've vexed them since lower levels, and encourages them to keep track of villains personalities.
Can't properly answer the poll since I go much higher than CR + 4. Honestly, I haven't gone as low as CR +4 with a real BBEG since the halcyon days of party level under 8th. But then, real BBEGs in my games tend to be rare; usually what ends up happening is that the party makes a mess in one adventure, and dangling plot threads lead to further troubles they need to clean up later on. So they're more reacting to events and trying to keep a lid on genies they themselves let out of the bottles, rather than trying to foil plots laid down by some ancient dragon, nasty wizard, or insane godlike entity.
When they do face a true BBEG, that creature or character is extremely powerful compared to them at the start, and it becomes the focus of a whole series of adventures. Think Adventure Path here- or at least Adventure Arc. So where the BBEG's CR is in relation to the party depends largely on when the party gets into position to confront that entity, and is variable.
When they do face a true BBEG, that creature or character is extremely powerful compared to them at the start, and it becomes the focus of a whole series of adventures. Think Adventure Path here- or at least Adventure Arc. So where the BBEG's CR is in relation to the party depends largely on when the party gets into position to confront that entity, and is variable.
Li Shenron
Legend
If encountered alone (according to the plan) I think that +2 is enough. But when backed up with minions +1 is already strong.
That is of course, if the DM plays the monsters well. I think that lots of DMs have a tendency of using stronger opponents and downplay them to compensate (or sometimes involuntary, because they never rehearse the encounter before the session...). This is actually IMHO one reason for the often too-fast advancement of the PCs in 3ed, but that's just my 2cp.
That is of course, if the DM plays the monsters well. I think that lots of DMs have a tendency of using stronger opponents and downplay them to compensate (or sometimes involuntary, because they never rehearse the encounter before the session...). This is actually IMHO one reason for the often too-fast advancement of the PCs in 3ed, but that's just my 2cp.
robberbaron
First Post
CR+4, sometimes more.
I don't always expect my players to kill the BBEG. Sometimes their task is merely to foil him.
Sometimes I expect them to bug out and call it even.
I don't always expect my players to kill the BBEG. Sometimes their task is merely to foil him.
Sometimes I expect them to bug out and call it even.
Ogrork the Mighty
Explorer
CR? What's CR? 
