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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 4029950" data-attributes="member: 7635">I'm a little confused about how to generate custom monsters or NPCs (and in general, the "table").Lets say I want to make a mercenary group for some mid level PCs to face. Nothing too fancy, just a group of baddies to wail on. In 3.X: I would make them 3rd level warriors with a 5th level fighter as their leader. I'd go through the trouble of giving them treasure, feats, armor, etc until I had 4-5 complete NPCs with probably more info than I needed. (Warrior #4 has 4 ranks in craft:cooking!)While this is a horrible headache for an encounter that should take 15 minutes to wrap up (or less depending on how many failed their reflex save vs. fireball), it does create an internally consistent battle: The warriors where chain (+5) and sheilds (+2) so their AC is 17+dex (if any). The fighter, wearing the same armor, has the same AC (maybe better for dex or +1 armor) and if the PCs drop him, they can take his chain and shield and have his exact same AC (+/- difference in dex bonus). Now, if I am to understand "the chart" concept, a 3rd level "warrior" (since there is no NPC classes per se) should have an AC 15-19 (for example). I randomly assign them a 16 since I want them to be able to be hit. The 5th level "fighter" has an AC 19-22, so I give him a 20. However I describe them as all wearing the same armor (chain + shield). Taking into account a +1 "level" bonus to AC though and temporarily discarding dex differences, their armor is giving them wildly different bonuses (chain =15, chain = 17) furthermore, A pc puts on the armor and use their PHB "static" values (chain +5). I'm sure I can hand-wave the rest to dex, some magical ability, whatever, but it does seem "odd" that these characters, wearing the "same" armor, have widely varying ACs...Worse yet is giving "gear" to a monster: Does switching the pit fiend's breastplate with a +2 full plate of command improve his AC? how much? Furthermore, will I be able to challenge my PCs with fighters, rogues, warlocks, and other "PC" classed foes? Do they get skills and feats like a PC? Can I mix "the chart" with PC classes (such as a hobgoblin shaman who also has warlord levels? Will there be a way of determining the proper challenge level/XP for such customized foes?While I realize there is a lot of things about 4e not known, there have been several references to NPC/Monster "charts" that make a good challenge and I'm curious: does the chart influence the numbers (3rd level challenge 15-19 where in full plate or naked) or does the numbers influence the chart? (a typical 3rd level challenge has X for dex, y from level and z armor, resulting in a spread from 15-19 depending on exact armor or dex score.) Is it the chicken or the egg?</blockquote>

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