Pathfinder 1E Advancing Monsters With a CR Below 1

[airwalkrr]

I haven't actually bought any of the official pathfinder adventure modules, so I cannot say how they do it in those, but without seeing those, I have to say that something got lost between the idea that NPC classes are never considered key and the creation of the NPC database. Based on the knowledge I have, I would say the NPC database was created by someone who had not thoroughly read the PF rules, only saw the part about NPCs being -1 CR than their level, and stacked that with 3.5 rules.

I could entirely wrong. Maybe that database is following the PF rules. But if it is, it highlights how PF failed to adequately address the NPC class challenge rating determination problem in 3.5. The fact that they have a 5th level commoner as CR 3 is just laughable. And I would rather face a 20th level adept over a 19th level wizard every time, even though, under both systems, they share the same CR in relative terms (3.5 would have them as CR 19 and PF, if the database for NPCs is correct, would have them both at CR 18). But that is really quite ludicrous. Because I'd rather face a 19th level wizard over practically any CR 18 monster aside from a brute.

I am just going to say screw it and compared my PF NPCs to other CRs to approximate the level of challenge. There is such a disparity that no "system" can really properly address it. Although the rule of thumb of NPC class CR = NPC class levels / 2 is probably a good guideline.

 

[Cleon]

I am just going to say screw it and compared my PF NPCs to other CRs to approximate the level of challenge. There is such a disparity that no "system" can really properly address it. Although the rule of thumb of NPC class CR = NPC class levels / 2 is probably a good guideline.

Yes, that's what I'd do too. Guesstimating the "CR equivalent" of NPCs often gives more appropriate figures than strictly following the rules.