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15th level NPC vs. 9th level party
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<blockquote data-quote="pawsplay" data-source="post: 3505448" data-attributes="member: 15538"><p><em>I hear a lot of people say that high-level NPCs aren't really as challenging as monsters with equivalent CRs.</em></p><p></p><p>You'll hear people say a lot of things. My opinion is that a high level NPC can be either tougher or weaker than a monster of the same CR, but most of the time, it's going to be pretty close. </p><p></p><p>A lot of the reasons multiclassing as a caster can be weak don't apply to enemy NPCs. They don't need many spells a day. Few party members will have Spell Resistance. Their spell DCs might be a bit low, but conversely, the consequences of losing a save versus an enemy NPC can be quite steep. In this particular case, spellcasting level is a bit low, but it's still higher than the PCs.</p><p></p><p>This particular NPC seems a little on the weak side. Now, NPCs don't care about XP penalties, but that should be a signal things are a bit strange. The total attack bonus on her strike is the same as her HD, a sure sign of terminal wussiness. Right off the bat, an Ascetic feat would be helpful. </p><p></p><p>Now let's look at some optimization 101. First of all, why does this NPC have two feats related to touch attacks when their Str is so low and their attacks so weak? Ditch them and just use shocking grasp instead. Use the feats for something else. </p><p></p><p>There's an attack spell at nearly every level. That's a sorcerer no-no. Further, why take lightning bolt when you can already deal lightning damage from <em>like lightning</em> and <em>shocking grasp</em>? Where are some good defenses, like blur or displacment or other AC-independent defenses?</p><p></p><p>Why does a sorcerer/cleric/monk need Iron Will?</p><p></p><p>In fact, what are all those monk levels for with such a low Wisdom?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pawsplay, post: 3505448, member: 15538"] [i]I hear a lot of people say that high-level NPCs aren't really as challenging as monsters with equivalent CRs.[/i] You'll hear people say a lot of things. My opinion is that a high level NPC can be either tougher or weaker than a monster of the same CR, but most of the time, it's going to be pretty close. A lot of the reasons multiclassing as a caster can be weak don't apply to enemy NPCs. They don't need many spells a day. Few party members will have Spell Resistance. Their spell DCs might be a bit low, but conversely, the consequences of losing a save versus an enemy NPC can be quite steep. In this particular case, spellcasting level is a bit low, but it's still higher than the PCs. This particular NPC seems a little on the weak side. Now, NPCs don't care about XP penalties, but that should be a signal things are a bit strange. The total attack bonus on her strike is the same as her HD, a sure sign of terminal wussiness. Right off the bat, an Ascetic feat would be helpful. Now let's look at some optimization 101. First of all, why does this NPC have two feats related to touch attacks when their Str is so low and their attacks so weak? Ditch them and just use shocking grasp instead. Use the feats for something else. There's an attack spell at nearly every level. That's a sorcerer no-no. Further, why take lightning bolt when you can already deal lightning damage from [i]like lightning[/i] and [i]shocking grasp[/i]? Where are some good defenses, like blur or displacment or other AC-independent defenses? Why does a sorcerer/cleric/monk need Iron Will? In fact, what are all those monk levels for with such a low Wisdom? [/QUOTE]
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15th level NPC vs. 9th level party
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