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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Chzbro" data-source="post: 5157088" data-attributes="member: 83964">I feel strongly that one of the biggest reasons why combats feel "easy" or that players don't feel challenged is that often monsters are chosen to fit into the xp "budget" rather than to compliment one another.In my experience, there is more of an onus on the DM in this regard than is generally acknowledged. That's not to say that you can't just throw any group of monsters into a room and have an interesting fight; however, if you want a challenging fight that's not a grind you really need to be aware of how the powers/tactics of the monsters will interact. (Have a creature that does extra damage with combat advantage? Make sure he has was to get that CA or allies who can help provide it with more than just a flank. Have a ranged controller? Be sure he has allies that can take advantage of that control specifically.) If they play off of one another, even an even level fight will suddenly be much more frightening. If they don't, even a +4 encounter can be something of a snooze.I even recommend taking it a step farther and modifying the encounters slightly to account for your particular play group (making it more fun for them, not intentionally trying to kill them). For example, one group I DM for is decidedly melee heavy. One or two well-guarded artillery can chew them up, so I make sure they have to work a little to get after such guys. On the other hand, if a solo (for example) has an immediate interrupt when targeted by a ranged attack, I know that won't be a factor so I might alter that power so that it actually will have an impact on combat.While I'll certainly throw a creature of level +2-3 at my party, I try to keep the encounter level at +1 or so. The level +3 elites are typically brutes. The minions are often soldiers. This way, the big scary guys are big and scary, but not overly difficult to hit and the minions don't drop at the first strong gust of wind. By keeping all the opponents close to even level (although I do tend toward level +1), the fights rarely become grinds.It's also important not to start every fight with the players on one side of the map and the monsters on the other. Have them get hit from two flanks, get skirmishers after their leader, find ways to create multiple fronts. Don't let them easily focus fire while protecting the leader/ranged in every fight.This all takes a bit more work, but like anything, with practice it becomes more and more simple. Honestly though, without the Adventure Tools it would probably be a lot harder. I probably tweak 80% of the monsters I put into encounters, even if all I do is adjust levels or re-skin powers. In my game it's made a world of difference.I have a strong, tactically-minded group, but using these strategies I can typically throw a scare into one or two of them every fight and have them ready for an extended rest after 2-3. Two sessions ago, this group (6 level 4s) squared off against a level 3 solo, a level 5 elite, and a couple waves of nasty even level minions (level +1 or 2 encounter). That fight made me nervous when I was planning it; I mean, I really do want them to win, after all. And in the end, it was a great success. They did win, but they weren't sure they were going to until the end...and everyone was beat up.By no means am I saying that this is the only right way to DM, but it works for me. I, personally, prefer a combat that makes me sweat a little (as a player or DM).</blockquote>

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