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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jeremy E Grenemyer" data-source="post: 9869782" data-attributes="member: 12388">My instinct is the same as yours. You mentioned not downplaying the monster, which I think is important. Players sense when DMs are flubbing dice rolls and "bending" the game reality to fit a narrative. That's not terribly fun.However, something I learned back in 3E is that it's possible to use monsters with much higher CRs than the average party level provided you significantly pair the monster down in power and have the reason for that pairing down be linked to the encounter environment or a larger plot element in the adventure/campaign arc.For example, having a Glabrezu stuck/merged into the wall and floor of a failed summoning circle makes for an interesting dungeon room encounter. Maybe only its head, upper torso and fists are free to use; everything else is in the wall/stuck between realities. Does the Glabrezu attack and eat whatever wanders in? Does it try and make a deal if it encounters a spellcaster---especially a low level caster that could be taught how to cast more powerful magic in time? Would the creature's predicament by a puzzle that one or more PCs might want to solve?I know this is beyond what you asked. Your inquiry just reminded me of some of the things I've done in past games to keep my players on their toes.</blockquote>