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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sunseeker" data-source="post: 6061280">Her AC is only 26.  If they're optimizers as the DM there suggests, then a level 9 fighter with a solid strength(at least 18) will be getting a +4 from half-level, and a +4 from str, lets assume say, a greatsword, which in 4e means a +3 proficiency bonus, we're already looking at a +11 to hit.  Make that a +1 weapon and assume they're getting at least a +1 from somewhere else(Weapon Focus or w/e) you're going to be up around +13 to hit.  That means you're hitting on a 13, so around 40% of the time.I think that a 40% chance to hit on a powerful "boss"-type encounter is fair.  Not with optimizers in my experience, at least not unless you are custom building your monsters.  Several near-PC-level monsters will have defenses so low they'll hit 80%+ of the time.  Which means those critters are going to bit the dust very, very quickly.Remember, APL is calulated by dividing by the "average" number of people in a party, which is 4-5(I use 4.5 in my math), which would put their APL around 14.  A "Challenging" encounter should keep the CR around 3 points higher than the party level, which would give us a 12 anyway.  Given that CR is so variable on judging the quality of a monster, a 12 can be more and a 14 can be less challenging depending on party makeup, it's stats, etc...However, I do agree that with a large party, a single turn in the initiative can make the party particularly brutal in layering on effects.  But...that is why I recommended Calastryx, because her multiple heads give her multiple turns in the initiative, lessing the impact of many players, who would otherwise be able to act like one giant tactical unit(which 4e encourages).  If he's got access to DDI, he could use the monster builder to downgrade either one, though it's not perfect, it would at least reduce their to-hit and defenses.  However, having played with 4e optimizers in a large party...I think either one would be a fair challenge for a badass boss that would make the players really work for their victory and leave a real possibility of killing some of them.But.....what the DM here can always do is create a "test" encounter at the PC's before the boss and see how they handle it.  That's what I would always do to make sure my challenge calculations were on.</blockquote>

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