Is there a way to have a super bar without chicken slaughter

[RandomCasualty2]

CR limit seems like it would have issues with recurring villains...

Well, the issue is that you gained XP from them, however, if they gained a level, then they would be techically a new monster, since their CR would have gone up.

So when the evil wizard returns in a few adventures, he'd have gained a couple levels, and thus you could get XP from him again since he's a new monster.

Also DMs could always make exceptions for recurring villains too, even if their CR doesn't change. Mainly the XP rule is there to say that if you beat up a bunch of goblins and keep them in chains so you can beat them up to charge your bar, it doesn't work.

[Heath Robinson]

This is so extremely gameable, you can send in mooks before the fight while you wait, you can send in mooks during the fight of whose presence you were already aware ...

So, to "game" the system you have to sit back and watch how your opponents fight or else perform strategic maneuvers. I call that property desirable.

Especially when the BBEG uses it against you. There needs to be a reason they throw waves of monsters at you like they're going out of style.

[Neeeek]

So you can jolly well have a super bar that went up while you were slugging Dr. Octagon because he was charged with the setting phlebtonium and not when you slaughtered a bag of rats.

This would also explain the "heroes fight each other due to a misunderstanding before teaming up to fight the REAL bad guy" plot.