Converting First Edition monsters from DRAGON magazine

[BOZ]

i agree!

 

[Shade]

Ditto.

 

[BOZ]

updating... what's left? CR? should be higher than HD, due to the big spellcasting powers. 10-13? i don't feel it's anywhere near an epic challenge though, as it doesn't have much else.

 

[Shade]

Change "save DC 14 + spell level" in spells prepared to "save DC 14 + spell level or 15 + spell level for illusion spells)"

As for CR, we can look at it one of two ways:

1.) If it were a 20th-level human wizard, it would be CR 20, right? At least CR 17 for the minimum caster level to cast 9th-level spells.
2.) If we were to just determine the CR for the tybor without its spellcasting ability, and then add wizard levels as non-associated class levels, what would it give us?
3.) Find another critter with 20th-level spellcasting ability that isn't CR 20+.

 

[BOZ]

should we seek an outside opinion?

 

[Shade]

Probably not, as it will result in 20 responses of "in my campaign...", followed by 10 more about how the CR system doesn't work, then another 10 stating that you shouldn't use CR (or XPs for that matter), and 5 stating that monsters shouldn't have stats at all, just be flavor text, and 2 people suggesting we switch to True20 or Castles & Crusades.

(I know..."bitter much?" is headed my way).

 

[BOZ]

heh, don't take it so heavy, man! buck up soldier, you got a job to do! just remember, don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes!

i'm going in, cover me!

 

[Shade]

I've got your back...but be warned, I haven't taken Precise Shot.

 

[Shade]

I found a critter whose sorcerer caster level equals its HD...the phaerimm!

Hatchling = 1 HD = CR 1
Juvenile = 4 HD = CR 5
Young Adult = 7 HD = CR 9
Adult = 10 HD = CR 12
Mature Adult = 13 HD = CR 15
Elder = 16 HD = CR 18
Revered Elder = 19 HD = CR 21

And duh...of course...dragons!

Planetars cast as 17th-level clerics, but are only CR 16. There's no way the tybor remotely approaches the power of a planetar.

 

[BOZ]

nope, not even close.