CR quetsion

[wujenta]

Hi everyone,

One of my players is going to DM next week and has asked what CR would have a mind flayer / monk 12 with the following starting stats: 18,16,14,14,12,10. As I see, the stats are a lot better than the elite array used for monster with class level, so I told him that I would assign a cr of 27 (8 from mind flayer, 12 from class levels and 7 from ECL, as he has characteristics as a PC) but I´m not sure about it.

What do you think?

 

[Falconnan]

I'd lose the ECL as a factor, bringing it down to CR 20. Next, subtract two do to the fact that the monk class is not the ideal for an illithid. It helps, but it is not a class that truly enhances an illithid. Psychic Warrior, however, might work, as would psion/wilder, or the lovely erudite from Dragon #319. Also, sorcerer would not be a bad fit, either.

CR is an artform, not a hard math/science combo. ECL is almost never a factor, however. CR + Class level is just the start. How does the monster's abilities meld with the class. If one aids the other, cool. Might even be CR + CL + 2. For no overlap, subtract 2. If it blends normally, straight CR + CL.

Food for thought, at any rate.

 

[Philip]

Too high, I would assign a CR of 14 or 15, depending on how much magic items you are giving the Mind Flayer.

 

[the Jester]

Mind Flayer = CR8.
Good stats = +1.
Monk levels up to 8 = +4
Monk levels up to 12 = +4

Total CR 17.

ECL has nothing to do with CR, it's a completely separate issue.

The first 8 monk levels count as half a CR each because it doesn't play to the illithid's strengths. Everything above 8th counts as 1 CR because the mind flayer's racial HD are 8, and after you exceed that it becomes a straight 1 for 1.

Hope this helps!

 

[Greybar]

Or to be really fancy (and not canon), you could use Upper_Krust's system and break it down piece by piece. Note on the attributes that you should look at the mindflayer's base stats and then remember that during the 12 monk levels you'll get three ability boosts (which might not make it so crazy after all).

I'd volunteer to run it through Upper_Krust's system for practice during my lunch, but since the mindflayer isn't in the SRD I don't have the necessary data here at work.

However, I'd say the short answer is to listen to The Jester. Not only does not follow the official rules, he's someone with a good bit of experience with this (as proved in his story hour).

john