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When using a module designed for 4 PCs, how would you recommend running boss fights?
Originally, I intended to increase the CR of most bosses, through either the advanced template or adding levels. However, it has been pointed out to me that this often gives abilities that characters of a particular level are unequipped to deal with. My own experience also tells me that merely increasing hp is not enough to keep up with the action economy.
What do you recommend?
Add in a minion. Level of Party -1 for the challenge rating should be pretty good. However, in general challenge rating works pretty close to the same for 4 or 5 so it might not be necessary.
Depending on your group though, you might need to do more. Most published adventures are designed for pretty unopitmized characters. Even moderate optimization can turn these into cakewalks, if that is the case, the quickest solution is usually to just throw the advanced template on everything which helps out quite a bit. IF your group is optimized in one way but not another (to hit and damage but not saves for example), you might only have the template apply some aspects of the bad guys (to ac and hp, but not DCs). That of course takes more time an analysis.
Obviously it is worst if the party is unequally optimized but that is a whole different discussion.