I need a powerful boss for a campaign that i am running. The CR should probably be somewhere around 15 or more. It runs an evil faction, so it has to be intelligent. I was thinking maybe a green dragon or something cool like that. It does not necessarily have to be humanoid. Any recommendations?
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I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Plenty of enemies in the monster manual. Problem is that it has to fit the story. Just having a high level boss doesn't fit in.
Players are in dungeon. Players come across big bad boss that has no relevance to the world. Killing said boss changes nothing.
A boss fight IMHO must have a story line behind it and ahead of it. Can't just pop up out of no where.
So think about the campaign and where it is and where it's going. The boss should have something going on that affects the world. Killing said boss may save lives. Sparing said boss could be that it's fighting against those that are trying to take over something.
But to each their own story. If you just want a hard fight for players then pick a mob in that cr range and go with it.
Mordecai, can you elaborate upon what your campaign's evil faction is? Political, religious, devilish doomsday cult, etc.? What about general operations location? Kingdom court, haunted forest, planar, etc.? Types of factions minions? Goblinoid, orcish, sneaky criminal humans? That'll help us to narrow down suggestions for recommendations between wizardry humans, krakens, fallen angels, demon lords, spider queens...
I know this is a little late for you, but to really create a boss, you need to figure out what kinds of creatures you're fighting. A great campaign ending is to face off against an extraplanar threat. Here are some boss options:
Extraplanar Classic:
Demon Lords. Classic examples include...
Demogorgon
Orcus
Jubilex
Lolth
Archdevils, including Tiamat
The Elemental Princes of Evil, including lesser-known ones like Cryonax, lord of ice.
Of course, those are just the well-known ones. Hardcore fans of Dungeons and Dragons, especially early editions, will love the next category.
Extraplanar Unique
Yogrl or Ssendam, lords of the Slaad.
The General of Gehenna, or the tyrant of the Yogoloths from first edition, the Oinoloth known as Anthraxus, both of which are rulers of Yugoloths.
Of course, you could create a new villain. A coven of hags is a classic, although I see them releasing minions to fight you as entertainment.
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I need a powerful boss for a campaign that i am running. The CR should probably be somewhere around 15 or more. It runs an evil faction, so it has to be intelligent. I was thinking maybe a green dragon or something cool like that. It does not necessarily have to be humanoid. Any recommendations?
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
- Litany Against Fear, Frank Herbert
Drow Matron Mother fits the bill.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
Plenty of enemies in the monster manual. Problem is that it has to fit the story. Just having a high level boss doesn't fit in.
Players are in dungeon. Players come across big bad boss that has no relevance to the world. Killing said boss changes nothing.
A boss fight IMHO must have a story line behind it and ahead of it. Can't just pop up out of no where.
So think about the campaign and where it is and where it's going. The boss should have something going on that affects the world. Killing said boss may save lives. Sparing said boss could be that it's fighting against those that are trying to take over something.
But to each their own story. If you just want a hard fight for players then pick a mob in that cr range and go with it.
Ooh with a tentacle rod to boot.
Blank
To me, IMHO, the most memorable boss fights were frequently against intelligent enemies.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
An Elder Brain runnig a colony of Mindflayers?
https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/elder-brain
An fallen Planetar?
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
And a couple of Draegloth bodyguards
Mordecai, can you elaborate upon what your campaign's evil faction is? Political, religious, devilish doomsday cult, etc.? What about general operations location? Kingdom court, haunted forest, planar, etc.? Types of factions minions? Goblinoid, orcish, sneaky criminal humans? That'll help us to narrow down suggestions for recommendations between wizardry humans, krakens, fallen angels, demon lords, spider queens...
Boldly go
I know this is a little late for you, but to really create a boss, you need to figure out what kinds of creatures you're fighting. A great campaign ending is to face off against an extraplanar threat. Here are some boss options:
Extraplanar Classic:
Of course, those are just the well-known ones. Hardcore fans of Dungeons and Dragons, especially early editions, will love the next category.
Extraplanar Unique
Of course, you could create a new villain. A coven of hags is a classic, although I see them releasing minions to fight you as entertainment.