Downgrading Solo/Elite Monsters?

[Shin Okada]

As a DM and a Miniature collector, there are times when I want to use some iconic D&D monsters (say, Beholder, Non-Wyrmling Chromatic Dragons, Purple Worm, etc.), in a pair or en mass. And frankly speaking, I do not like an encounter against a solo monster much.

When there is only Solo or Elite version of such monsters are in MMs or other supplements, is it practical to downgrade them, say, making a Solo monster into an Elite or making an Elite into a normal monster?

I guess I can calculate most of the stats (say, Hps, defenses, etc.) easily. But I am not sure about re-adjusting their powers.

Are there any good articles to do this?

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Well, I don't know of any articles, but in general I would do something like the follows:

If the monster has more than 1 daily or encounter power (outside of racial powers such a wildstep for elves or second chance for halflings), drop the most powerful.

Make any recharging power recharge less often by 1 (so, a 4+ would now recharge on a 5+) with a 6+ power becoming an encounter power.

Drop/reduce any auras.

If the creature acts multiple times per round, change their economy - an elite should typically get two attacks/round, a standard 1. This can be done by changing the action types of certain actions, or dropping immediate actions.

My final suggestion would be to look at monsters that have both standard/elite/solo versions - for example, the Beholder has a standard version (MM2, I think), while Dragon's have wyrmlings, which are elites. See how those differ from their more uber cousins, and apply similar changes to the monster you are downgrading.

This should perhaps be in the houserules section, though...

 

[Teemu]

Draconomicon 2 has advice on how to change solo dragons into elites. Basically, you switch the basics to elite (hp, action points, saving throw bonuses) and remove the immediate action most dragons get. Also, breath weapon becomes an encounter power. It also suggests you check that the elite then matches others of its level.

 

[Aulirophile]

The official Adventure Tool's Monster Builder actually does this with a couple of clicks and I've never had an issue with the results.

 

[Shin Okada]

The official Adventure Tool's Monster Builder actually does this with a couple of clicks and I've never had an issue with the results.

Thanks. But unfortunately, I am a Macintosh user...