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Message: <blockquote data-quote="iserith" data-source="post: 7359203" data-attributes="member: 97077">I think this comes down to scene-framing. At the point where I'm preparing a "boss fight," it's because the goals of the PCs and the goals of the boss (or whatever) are diametrically opposed and are likely to resolve only through the defeat of the other side. Only if those goals change, which mean one or both sides relent, does it mean that combat can be avoided. Typically, at the point at which I'm preparing said boss fight, that ship has sailed. Attempts to defeat the boss via social interaction simply fail. I try to telegraph that when describing the environment.However, in general, I do try to think of ways in which each scene has elements of combat, exploration, and social interaction whenever possible. See, for example, my short-form scenario <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?471472-Halloween-Adventure-The-Laboratory-Tomb-of-Dr-Viktor-Vampenstein" target="_blank">The Laboratory-Tomb of Dr. Viktor Vampenstein</a>. Each of the three scenes has opportunities for all the pillars. However, when it comes to Vampenstein himself, there is no way to resolve the conflict short of violence once he is awakened. Social interaction can provide advantages to the PCs during the fight though.</blockquote>