What if a 'boss' monster's actions were tied to the number of PCs?
This is a thought I've been tossing around. One of the big issues with the traditional BBEG is action economy...this is especially true with a greater number of players.
I almost wonder if, similar to the 'advanced' templates, there might be templates applicable to creatures, or at least a set of rules for when the party number gets higher...or conversely, if they're the only creature in that scenario.
I'm aware this exists in other games... Is anyone aware of a 3pp who's produced something similar? Or, what would be your thoughts on implementing it, and its ramifications?
The best way to add extra actions to your BBEG, in my opinion, is not to pit it against the PCs solo, but with underlings - especially underlings that compliment its abilities. There have been several times where a BBEG has disguised itself and a minion - the minion being the bait target to distract the PCs while the BBEG does his thing in my games.
Traps and hazards make for excellent battlefield additions, as do strange terrains and so on.
Take a page from the MMO book: hidden items which buff the BBEG and require the PCs to destroy them in order to weaken the boss.
If the PCs get to dictate the terms of a battle with a BBEG, the battle is already over. As GM, you control their resources and when/if they get to rest and recover them. My BBEGs, unless they're naturally lazy, tend to be pretty proactive and use the tools available to them (such as scrying and so on) to help determine the best time to lay the smack down on the PCs.
While I don't really like it, you could give the boss a bonus standard action each round or some such.
Alternatively, you can give him a "Boss Pool" equal to 1/2 his level/HD + ability modifier or (# of PCs over 4) and let him use the "Slow Time" ability of the Monk of the Four Winds where # of ki points = # of "boss points" expended.
I think there was something like this in the 3.5 DMG II about adding special powers like an extra standard action to NPCs. You might want to check there.
I had also been playing with the idea for one NPC general to have a ghost, shadow, or other incorporeal creature following the NPC around and acting as his "warrior spirit" which would normally be hidden in phase with him/occupying the same square. it would only manifest when he entered combat. I was planning on making the main NPC a fighter of some kind (perhaps with some templates) and the ghost a spellcaster (probably a sorcerer).
Another option would be to make your villain a summoner or druid. Also, necromancer with lots of undead cannon fodder.
There are some monsters in 4E that have special initiative options (typically Solo monsters such as dragons or hydras), where they have their normal initiative count, plus a specific action they can do (like breath weapon, or trample) on their initiative-count-minus-10. In at least one case, it's an extra standard action on initiative count -10, and another extra standard on initiative count -20. Once-per-round interrupts also may refresh at each of these points (depending on the monster).
Other ideas- simulacrums, familiars (with wands and UMD), minions (golems, constructs, undead), dominated monsters, quicken spell, contigency.
If you don't mind reskinning, you could also put together several creatures into one encounter and make them different body parts of the same creature (usually very big!)