ergh....

[kierthos]

You know, it's actually extremely difficult to stat out the 'epic boss' in a D&D game, when said boss is a magic-user.

On one hand, I have to buff his AC and HPs up so the fighter and/or the backstabbing thief can't gank him in one round. But higher levels spells (especially 6th level on up) are so damned effective that he could manage a TPK with one spell.

Comments

[dreamshade]

I take it we're talking about 3.x or Pathfinder, not 4th? I understand that a lot of people are turned off by the MMORPG-ish nature of 4th edition's combat, but the situation you describe is part of why I like 4th so much more. Every battle is a battle instead of the occasional game of who can get the game-ending one-shot in first.

Having said that, you could always go with summoned monsters, undead minions, or other "magical" physical forces to provide danger other than the saving throws. Or you could set it in a heavily furnished room and give people bonuses to reflex for ducking behind objects for cover as they advance on the guy (think Powerball from American Gladiators).

[kierthos]

Actually, we're talking Rules Cyclopedia. OLD SKOOL. (Where the classes are Fighter, Magic-User, Thief, Priest, Elf, Dwarf and Halfling.)

The PCs (un)fortunately already have a pretty good idea where the boss fight is going to take place... a stone platform over an active volcano. Not a lot of furniture to duck behind. :P

I've thought up a few ideas since I posted, and I think I have a decent idea of what I'm going to throw at them. I can always tweak it based on the lead-in encounters.