Outfitting a Monster: CR, HD, or ECL?

[Remathilis]

Hello.

I'm making a re-occurring NPC villain (a raksasha). I'm pretty much taking the raksasha from the monster's manual, swapping a few spells known, re-rolling its hp, and giving it treasure to use. However, I'm not sure how I should be doing the latter.


A Rakashsa is a CR 10 monster. It has 7 HD, and a total ECL of 14. I want to give it NPC-style treasure (as apposed to randomly rolling a CR 10 treasure and cherry-picking). Should I use its CR (the best example of its power as a foe) its HD (making it equal to a 7th level char) or its ECL (what it would have if it was a PC). Its a major jump in treasure for each.

Thoughts are appriciated

 

[Hussar]

Well, it's an NPC, so shouldn't you use effective Character level?

 

[Shroomy]

If you are going by RAW, it would be neither, since it goes by EL.

 

[SeRiAlExPeRiMeNtS]

Well, it's an NPC, so shouldn't you use effective Character level?

I think that the book say this but it isn't a good idea... lets see a vrock fighter 1 should have weath of a 25th level npc?

 

[Mortis]

I think that the book say this but it isn't a good idea... lets see a vrock fighter 1 should have weath of a 25th level npc?

A vrock fighter 1 has 10 racial HD + 1 fighter HD + a level adjustment of +8 for a total of 19, so would have the treasure by ECl of a 19th level character.

Regards
Mortis

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

I have several Rakshasa NPCs floating around, all with class levels. I've used the NPC wealth guidelines on page 127 of the DMG and had no problems. I give them their gear based on their ECL (most of them are 19 or 20, taking into account their LA). It provides them with gear appropriate to their classes and abilities and makes them challenging and gives the PCs spiffy new goodies when the Rakshasa are defeated.

 

[Shroomy]

I think that the book say this but it isn't a good idea... lets see a vrock fighter 1 should have weath of a 25th level npc?

I believe that a vrock fighter 1 would have 900gp worth of gear (for the one fighter level) and 5800gp worth of treasure (for being an EL 10 encounter).

 

[Remathilis]

If you are going by RAW, it would be neither, since it goes by EL.

In this case (1 raksasha) wouldn't EL = CR anyway?

 

[Shroomy]

In this case (1 raksasha) wouldn't EL = CR anyway?

Yep, if it is all by its lonesome.

 

[kinem]

The SRD says ECL, but DotU goes by CR, so that may be the new 'official' way.

I'd say go by CR. Going by ECL could easily result in too much gear.

Also, not all monsters have an ECL, since some have LA "-", but they all have a CR.