Equipping Advanced Monster NPCs

[Mapleaxe]

How do you decide how much GP-worth of equipment/treasure to equip your advanced monsters with?

For example, if I were sending a Troll Ftr3 (Cr 8) at my players would I equip him as a 3rd level NPC or as a 8th level NPC or as a 3rd level NPC with 5 CR monster treasure to boot or some other combination?

 

[Crothian]

I'd give him treasure as CR 8, since he's CR 8.

 

[Mapleaxe]

I'd give him treasure as CR 8, since he's CR 8.

Yes, but would that be 8th Level NPC equipment or CR 8 Monster Treasure?

 

[dcollins]

According to the core rules, it's by class levels only. DMG p. 24: "A creature with class levels has equipment worth an amount based on the total of those class levels." That is, as a Ftr3 for the troll in question.

The DMG method makes the most sense to me. However, the FRCS rules it differently.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

That is, as a Ftr3 for the troll in question.

By the current philosophy of WotC, that would mean that the troll would have equipment equivalent to that of a Level 9 character, higher than his CR.

He has 6 levels in Giant and 3 levels in Fighter. (Of course I would probably increase his CR above the norm since trolls don't usually use weapons and armor.)

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

By the current philosophy of WotC, that would mean that the troll would have equipment equivalent to that of a Level 9 character, higher than his CR.

Not as I understand it. class levels only. Which means that a troll fighter 3 is equiped as a 3rd level NPC. This is one of the big differences between ECL and CR calculations for levelled monsters. For instance, an Aasmar fallen paladin 6/Blackguard 4 is CR 10 as an NPC and gets equipment as a 10th level NPC. OTOH, since Aasmar are ECL +1, the same character as a PC is considered and equipped as an 11th level character.

He has 6 levels in Giant and 3 levels in Fighter. (Of course I would probably increase his CR above the norm since trolls don't usually use weapons and armor.)

That's what the +3 CR for three fighter levels gives him. If you wanted to advance him by HD, to CR 8, he'd have 15 HD or so and no equipment. If you advance him to CR 8 by class levels, he gets weapons and armor (although he probably doesn't want weapons. . . .) but less hit points, saves, and attack bonus.

 

[Dash Dannigan]

Heck, why not give the troll both? It would make sense in the troll's progression through life, starting as a base troll and a base treasure value (be that gold, killed heroes and kept some of their stuff, etc.). Then as he advances 3 levels of Ftr provide the Troll with the requisite NPC allotment at 3rd level worth of useful fighter equipment. If the troll happens to have treasure he can use then by all means, but the levels of Ftr he took should be the only ones actively geared towards fighter (essentially te gold he makes during his career as a ftr), unless the troll has access to a trade-barter system and in effect he could buy more equipment with his treasure. This is acceptable but keep in mind realistically what this trade-barter system would be capable of provding for the troll.