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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cleon" data-source="post: 8378508" data-attributes="member: 57383">No, the reason is that according to the Encounter Numbers rules in the DMG, a sand-shifter with the minimum summoning of two petrified ancestors is equivalent to a CR 10 encounter (three CR 7 opponents) while one with the maximum of six ancestral allies is equivalent to CR 13 (seven CR 7 opponents).That's a significant spread, so I'd like at least an optional rule to cover it and using Encounter Level adjustment is in keeping with the RAW.That said, it makes sense to fold the whole thing into one EL section rather than having that "Sand-shifter Challenge Ratings includes the petrified ancestors and stony steeds" paragraph before it.Something like:Optional Rule - Sand-Shifter Encounter Levels: A petrified ancestor is just as powerful as a desert giant, so four ancestors plus an adult sand-shifter are as physically dangerous as five CR 7 desert giants, which would normally be an EL 12 encounter. A sand-shifter's Challenge Rating of 10 allows for the fact that all the petrified ancestors would crumble into the dunes the instant their sand-shifter falls. However, the DM should consider whether to apply a Encounter Level adjustment to reflect favorable or detrimental conditions. For example, a sand-shifter could have a –1 EL adjustment (EL 9) for 2 petrified ancestors or +1 (EL 11) for 6 ancestors, while one who sends 5-6 ancestors to attack intruders while keeping itself somewhere secure from counter-attack could even be +2 (EL 12). An adult sand-shifter has an EL of 7 without any summoned allies; immature sand-shifters are EL 3 for a child, EL 5 for an adolescent.Oh, and the Immature Sand-Shifter section needs a bit of tweaking to reflect the above. It also has a sloppy usage of "child" which was subsequently used to identify the smaller size of juvenile sand-shifter:Immature Sand-ShiftersImmature desert giant sand-shifters appear to be normal juveniles, but are CR 9 due to their sand-shifting abilities. They summon stony steeds for the tribe's warriors to ride into battle and are then kept far away from danger, often with a single adult desert giant relative to protect them. Although juvenile desert giants are meant to be non-combatants they sometimes carry weapons. If armed, they will only have spears and/or javelins – lances and hurling spears are prizes a desert giant earns when attaining adulthood.Immature sand-shifters may be Large adolescent desert giants (9 Hit Dice, Str 21, Con 17, NA +8) or desert giant children of Medium size (6 Hit Dice, Str 17, Con 15, NA +7). They have Charisma 13 and their other abilities are the same as an adult desert giant plus the following special ability:</blockquote>

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