Lol. You just shot your argument in the foot, actually. Thanks for bringing up Firkraag. You are right in that bosses ought to be appropriate based on who they are in the story. Not necessarily based on whether they are end bosses, etc.

That is true to a certain degree, but you've made my point perfectly. Imagine facing Firkraag and he was nerfed and not a legit dragon. Instead, they made him a dragon wyrmling or a young dragon. THAT is what they've done with Ragzlin.

And Ragzlin ISN'T like Firkraag. He IS a final boss of EA. So from a video game perspective, there is another reason he should be stronger. It's poor video game design when you fight a more challenging enemy during a side quest than the final boss UNLESS you get some really good rewards for a side quest enemy that helps you face the final boss.

So, it's fine, for example, if the Gith fight is harder if by killing the Gith you get cool stuff that helps you take Ragzlin and Minthara down.

The whole point is the characters are not appropriate for the story. My characters should not even be able to kill Halsin unless they make him very low health, etc.