Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 GEBELL Feb 05, 2011 1:14:19	I have an idea for my party to face an enemy that is way too powerful for them.  The catch will be that they encounter him moments after he is done with a different fight that nearly leaves him dead. I want to create an interesting combat, and don't want to just have a higher lvl enemy at low hp.  That would just be waiting for someone to roll a 20.   After thinking it over I decided I will just have to convert a lvl appropriate solo.  what I will do is make it so that anytime an attack 'hits' the enemy will block or dodge the attack in a show of super effort.  I will then deduct HP at a set amount (probably 10 or 15).  I will describe so that it's clear he's really hurting, bleeding, and that blocking or dodging the attacks is taking a lot out of him. I will also have it so that he broke his weapon in the initial fight, and is unarmed.  So he can do scary lvls of damage that won't kill people (doing solo monster damage with just fists would be scare, I think). Ultimately I'm worried that my descriptions end up being the only thing keeping this fight from being identical to a fight against a lvl appropriate solo.  Any thoughts or ideas to help make this feel as epic as I would like it to be?  thanks!
#2 Neutronium_Dragon Feb 05, 2011 2:26:29	A solo enemy on its own and in an otherwise-normal environment won't be very interesting no matter how you theme it. Consider using an elite (but count it as 'bloodied' from the beginning) supported by a few regular creatures (his surviving henchmen), with at least a couple of interesting terrain or environmental features as well - possibly the aftereffects of the battle that had just ended.
#3 David Feb 05, 2011 2:48:03	You can let him start bloodied, but I wouldn't worry too much. I'd take the level appropriate fight, but describe it as if the foe is really hurt. (even if he isn't) Don't forget about all the casualties. For bonus points, you can make your players witness their allies being slaughtered while they can't do a thing. And directly after that, you can let him take on the players. That should do the trick.