Clearly what you needed to fix the warbeast problem was to introduce the ability to buy rare warbeasts captured in magical eggs by a shady guy in a labcoat. :)

Building a base/lair does have its points as a campaign setting goes, but imagine how much anguish the players would be in should adventurers come calling-- no, the pesky adventurers are wrecking all the nice THINGS the players spent so much time building! :)