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Message: <blockquote data-quote="drnuncheon" data-source="post: 1436217" data-attributes="member: 96">Here's my hints for introducing a BBEG.1. Don't do it on opposite sides of a fight.  Sure, you can do this in the movies, but guaranteed this will be the one time that they party (sensing his BBEG-ness) will bust out all the stops, whip out an amazing string of crits, and/or the BBEG will fail a pathetically easy save, or something else.  Then you're in the place of having to cheat (sorry, fudge) to save the villain and your plot, or abandoning all your hard work.  If you cheat, the players will get upset.  I've been on the player side of this more than once, and it caused a lot of bad feelings.2. If you introduce the BBEG in such a way as to show his power, you're walking a fine line.  Some players may get discouraged, thinking the GM is just 'showing off' with his cool NPC.  This is always a danger when you've got a really nifty character, because naturally you do want to show off. Just remember the players are the stars, not you.3. The best way, IMO, keeping those two things in mind, is to not introduce the BBEG directly.  Start with rumors.  Then more direct evidence of his existence.  Later, add minions.  Then lieutenants. And only at the end bring out the BBEG.For example, the party could hear about this guy and his awesome power.  Then when they're looking for whatever treasure they're looking for (like demiurge suggested), after struggling to get there, they find the guardian dead and the treasure gone.  They start trying to find out more about this guy, and he sends minions to shut them up.  When the minions don't come back, he sends more powerful people, etc.If you want to introduce him directly, consider making it in a place where the PCs can't just unload onto him - the Duke's Ball, for example, or some other society event.  He may even try to provoke them into acting, just to make them look bad.J</blockquote>

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