You can create a custom group consisting of only stock characters that cover various level ranges. The engine will select the members that fit the level range being played.
I would suggest, if your arc is custom-enemy heavy and you have to limit the level range that you set it higher rather than lower. That way, anyone can get xp, the level range acts as a warning to lowbies that the arc may be too tough for them, and the standard enemies will be more of an even match for your custom group. Custom enemies are tough. Their damage scales down fairly well, but their secondary effects don't. The secondary debuffs and mezzes a lot of the powersets have can be murder on lowbies.
Eva Destruction AR/Fire/Munitions Blaster
Darkfire Avenger DM/SD/Body Scrapper
Arc ID#161629 Freaks, Geeks, and Men in Black
Arc ID#431270 Until the End of the World
I've got two problems/ thoughts.
First, in my current beta Arc "Beer Bad" I've got a bunch of drunk fraternity guys as a villian group. Since none are offered in the game, I had to make my own. No problem. But later I wanted to spawn them as a 'battle' with another stock group, and so far the battles are comical at best and lame at worst. I just can't make them 'easy' enough for the stock group to be a challenge. The battle starts and then a few seconds later it's over with a bunch of bodies everywhere and some slightly winded drunk fraternity brothers (and a couple of girls from their sister sororiety). Thoughts?
The other one has to do with level ranges. I want my arcs to open to nearly every level, that means I only have so many villan groups to chose from taht span the entire game/ level range. So either I use those groups or I make my custom groups again. And there I feel like I'm cheating my players because custom mobs are generally harder than stock, and quite often I find myself giving guys the same secondary as primary just to keep them from having too many attacks or too much defense. (plus that one time I gave a blaster ninjitsu.. oh that was stupid).
Thoughts on that front? Is my best bet to keep making custome 'everything' or should I just give up and focus on a specific level range?
I prefer to see the Arcs as story telling not leveling and don't mind if they're 'too easy' as long as people have fun with the story.
Mr. O