Monster Question about defenses

avin · 9th October 2008, 12:30 AM

DMG page 184 says about "other defenses" it's 12 + monster's level. Every 2 points adjusted by +1 or -1.

I think I don't get it...

Let's take the level 2 Elf Scout (page 106 MM), which Dex is 18.

Why his Ref is 15? Shouldn't it be:
12 + 2 (level) + 2 (two points above 14) = 16?

Why his Fortitude is 13 and his Will is 13?

I'm trying to understand how it works and design my own monsters but I'm stucked at it.

avin · 9th October 2008, 04:51 AM

Bump for help

Engilbrand · 9th October 2008, 02:38 PM

I don't have my books handy. Honestly, I would just remind you that they're only rough guides. Things should be around that number.
Here's where the 15 probably comes from:
10 + 4 (Dex) + 1 (half level) = 15
Are his Con and Wis both 14 or 15? That would answer those.
Basically, they give you a rough area that will NOT necessarily make sense mathematically if you compare all of the stats like you would a PC. Why? Because monsters aren't meant to always work like PCs.

I would also recommend using a higher level monster to really figure out how they did it and check their math.

**Grazzt** · 9th October 2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engilbrand

I don't have my books handy. Honestly, I would just remind you that they're only rough guides. Things should be around that number.
Here's where the 15 probably comes from:
10 + 4 (Dex) + 1 (half level) = 15
Are his Con and Wis both 14 or 15? That would answer those.

Your first sentence has it correct. The numbers are just a rough guide. DM, designer, whatever can tweak above or below those numbers as desired. Very few monsters in the MM I've encountered thus far adhere strictly to the formula in the DMG (which is a good thing IMHO; no more straight-jacketed monster formulas as in 3.x)