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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 4983474" data-attributes="member: 82106">I think the MM2 monster design guidelines for Elite and Solo monsters also makes a big difference when you use those. Since they no longer have higher defenses than normal monsters you can afford to up them a couple levels if you want to present a really tough boss monster and they don't become unhittable. Still best to avoid Soldiers for these purposes though. The real potential drag situations were always N+4 Solo Soldier plus minions. By the DMG1/MM1 guidelines that thing has defenses that are at least 8 higher than normal. Nobody is going to hit it very well, they'll be lucky to hit on a 15 and if they have the misfortune to need to use a power that goes against an extra strong defense, forget it.Now at least with MM2/DMG2 numbers you get an N+4 Solo has defenses 4 higher than normal and only 400% normal hit points. That's much better. Most PCs will still hit on 11-13 which CAN be a bit low at times, but then again they have leaders, right? I mean you don't have to make the baddies TOO soft.Other than that I too advocate quantity over quality. Not only does it make for faster battles, there just isn't a lot of tactics involved in 5 PCs on 3 monsters and even 5 monsters isn't always a great fight. But throwing 8 monsters at them, now they have to really think. Of course if 3 of those are traps that works too.</blockquote>