CRs of NPCs

[darkbard]

is it just me or do the CRs of NPCs seem horribly inflated? sure, i realize that an NPC of equal level to a party of PCs has a fair chance of dishing out damage equal to about 20% of the PC party of 4's resources [largely depending upon initiative, of course]. but let's look at an NPC in comparison with a "monster". let's compare a 14th level human sorcerer with a CR 11 bone naga [which casts spells as a level 14 sorcerer]. the sorcerer has one less feat [the same if he's chosen a familiar and that familiar is withing arm's reach], less hps [14d4 compared with 15d12], no SR [the naga has SR 23], no poisonous bite, no continual detect thoughs or guarded thoughts, no undead immunities [the naga is immune to crit hits, poison, etc, etc].

does the fact that an NPC has equipment to boost his abilities truly justify a CR of 14 to the bone naga's 11? or am i missing the boat entirely and the problem is in the bone naga's CR?

 

[Eternalknight]

Well a 14th level sorcerer can have a lot of nasty magic items...

 

[Mark]

I'm not sure that the CR system works well when comparing it to itself. Now if you took four NPCs, such as in a party of adventurers, I'd give them good odds against a creature with a CR that compares to their party level...

 

[Eternalknight]

Another thing I'd be willing to bet is that a group of 4 PC's from one campaign wouldn't stack up against a group of 4 PC's from another campaign, simply because of differing styles of game. CR is a tricky thing; use at as a rough guide, nothing more.

 

[darkbard]

yes, your points are all valid; i realize that the system is a rough guide and nothing more. but by the rules said party would receive a lot more xps for defeating the sorcerer than the bone naga. does that seem right to y'all?