[D20 Future] What's the CR of a robot?

[Olive]

How do I figure this one out? I reckon I can estimate it pretty well, but is there a formal system?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

There is no formal process.

 

[jaerdaph]

There was an old DRAGON article when 3.0 came out that explained how Challenge Rating* was determined. It's hosted at the Creature Catalogue here at EN World as a PDF:

How to Create a Monster

This same process will work with d20 Modern, but check out this Bullet Points by Charles Ryan about adjusting CRs:

Bullet Points: Conversions

And this Notes from the Bunker article by Rich Redman as well:

Notes from the Bunker: Challenge Ratings and Monster Advancement

*This Challenge Rating will only be a best guess estimate. Actual CR, in theory, can only be acurately determined by playtesting.

 

[Aussiegamer]

basically I would have the base HD detemine the CR as a construct. The DC is a different matter, I would have a base DC 4 under party DC total. As this would make the wealth about equalt to NPC to PC comparison for D&D3.5.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

basically I would have the base HD detemine the CR as a construct. The DC is a different matter, I would have a base DC 4 under party DC total. As this would make the wealth about equalt to NPC to PC comparison for D&D3.5.

There is no "base CR" of a construct, however. Too many things, such as ability scores and natural armor play a role for there to be a "base CR".

how do you figure out the CR of a robot with 8 Dexterity increases? What if it has integrated armor giving it +10 to Defense?

What if it's liquid metal? That gives it +2 to Strength and Dex right there, plus fast healing 10!

 

[Aussiegamer]

This is used in D&D3.5 and could be the answer you are looking for.


Creature’s Original Type CR Increase
Aberration, construct, elemental, fey, giant, humanoid, ooze, plant, undead, vermin +1 per 4 HD added
Animal, magical beast, monstrous humanoid +1 per 3 HD added
Dragon, outsider, nonassociated class levels +1 per 2 HD or 2 levels added
Directly associated class levels +1 per level added
Other Modifiers:
Size increased to Large or larger +1 to CR
Monster’s ability scores based on elite array* +1 to CR
Monster possesses special attacks or qualities that significantly improve combat effectiveness +2 to CR
Monster possesses special attacks or qualities that improve combat effectiveness in a minor way +1 to CR
Template added + template CR modifier

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Those rules are decent for updating a creature, but the creature has to have stats of it's own (and a base CR) already for those rules to work.

 

[Aussiegamer]

true, so look at MM3.5 page 296 it gives a basic set up.

I would look at a base type that you are after then apply the above for making it better. You would think they would have a HD to CR table but it is pretty fluid looking.

I have never looked at building a monster so this is my first look and I don't think it is very good.

Maybe a base could be

4HD construct is CR1, after all you are starting a creature from 0HD. but maybe that is off.

 

[Greatwyrm]

I'd probably compare it to an animated object of similar size. That will at least give you somewhere to start.