Possible issue with "cool"/"iconic" monsters

[Particle_Man]

1) It has been said by some that 3.x games are progressively harder to DM at high levels. One solution to this is to keep things at lower levels (either by the E6 method, or just by retiring characters at some level, say 10th, and starting over).

2) Some of the monsters that are iconic and cool are very, very tough, and would overwhelm a party of less than high levels.

So,

3) Some campaigns lack the cooler, iconic monsters.

Is there a way to fix this?

[Boci]

make weaker version of them? Give the party time to prepare (sometimes multiple sessions)? What monsters are you thinking of?

[sol_kanar]

I think that most "cool, high-powered" monsters can be re-scaled to a lower CR. But I also think you should be more specific: which monsters concern you the most?

There are Dragons for (almost) every level; an evil guy can become a Lich at 11th level; Vampires only have to be of level 5th or more; so, most of the "iconic-cool" monsters can be faced even at lower levels.

[TheTick]

Mind Flayers?

[Chronos]

Even an 11th-level lich is still likely to mop the floor with a 6th-level party.

And to expand the list, beholders and the Tarrasque.

[Boci]

Even an 11th-level lich is still likely to mop the floor with a 6th-level party.

So make it a 6th level lich.


And to expand the list, beholders

Scale down the eye stalk spells to level 1/2. You can keep the anti-magic or change it to area dispel (but keep the bit about not being able to use its eye stalk).


Tarrasque.

Powered up troll with the partial magic immunity that can only be wished truely dead by wish.