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Message: <blockquote data-quote="paradox42" data-source="post: 5615845" data-attributes="member: 29746">Very few people on this board have run games beyond level 15 or so; this site is the origin of the E6 game style (where level 6 is the cap before "Epic"). I'm one of the few who's gone really high, though I've never done it with PF as yet (still updating my old campaign setting from 3.5 to Pathfinder incorporating changes based on in-game events from the last Epic game). So if you're willing to accept advice from a 3.5E grognard, I'll suggest first and foremost that you understand the high-CR monsters in the Bestiary (preferably both of them) thoroughly as your first move. Those which mention tactical options, follow closely and try to picture what those actions will do to PCs when they're used. In an "average" 20th-level game, if such a thing exists, most monsters (yes, even the super-nasty CR 20 ones) will last at best a round or two before being taken down or out. So you don't need to necessarily consider all the monster's options- just consider your first priorities with them. This will cut down a great deal on the preparation work you need to do. Also, since you're new to this sort of game, I advise sticking closely to the book-given stats, and not trying to customize monsters much (or at all) nor making NPC villains if you can avoid it- even though NPCs are usually far more effective opponents at 20 than monsters right from the book. Your party has only 3 characters, and they're lacking two notable things from a standard party: (1) Arcane magic, and (2) a real tank. A 20th-level Monk can do a credible impression of a tank if built correctly, but he really isn't one- his BAB is much lower and he can't dish out nearly as much damage per attack. His big thing, if the player built him well, will be Combat Maneuvers- he'll be trying to Grapple, Trip, or otherwise take enemies out of the fight before the other party members get around to dealing with them more permanently. These holes give you openings to send really nasty opponents against them, if you feel the need to; Swarms should give them fits, as should enemies with high DR. Also, with that party combination, they'll be virtually incapable of speedy long-distance travel, so enemies that can Teleport at will (such as powerful demons) will likely be able to make hit-and-run attacks on them easily. Also, your group can't do "Scry-N'-Fry," the bane of many a GM's BBEG, so you're ahead of the game there. The last piece of generic advice I can offer is to pull out all the stops. Don't hold back anything out of fear of killing or hurting the characters- these are 20th-level here, the best of the best, with powers lower characters can only dream of having. 20th-level characters can literally take on whole armies and win- in fact, one of my parties did exactly that at 21st level (it was 7 characters, but they took on an army of about 2000 orcs led by a 15th-level Barbarian chief and several advisors and subordinates above 10th- and took them out in about 10 total rounds with few to no orc survivors and little more than scratches on themselves). 20th-level gaming is all about over-the-top crazy stuff. With more specifics about the party, and what they've done so far, I might be able to offer more specific advice. Can you give us more details about what the party did already? What was the one-shot like, for example? Were there any dangling plot-threads left over from that?</blockquote>

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