FC1: Advancing Nabassu - I don't get it

[Arnwyn]

I'm curious is anyone knows how to advance a juvenile (5 HD) nabassu (from FC1)?

There seems to be two different methods - one is the normal advancement rules (as noted on the Advancement line of the stat block), but then there is also the "Feed" ability (which notes how a juvenile nabassu gets to become a 15 HD mature nabassu).

Unfortunately, these two methods are inconsistent with each other, as the "Feed" ability has nothing to do with gaining HD (nor does it give a CR recommendation that would be appropriate for the advanced abilities it gets for feeding). It seems like little thought was put into this. Does anyone have any insight?

 

[frankthedm]

I'm curious is anyone knows how to advance a juvenile (5 HD) nabassu (from FC1)?

There seems to be two different methods - one is the normal advancement rules (as noted on the Advancement line of the stat block), but then there is also the "Feed" ability (which notes how a juvenile nabassu gets to become a 15 HD mature nabassu).

Unfortunately, these two methods are inconsistent with each other, as the "Feed" ability has nothing to do with gaining HD (nor does it give a CR recommendation that would be appropriate for the advanced abilities it gets for feeding). It seems like little thought was put into this. Does anyone have any insight?

I was wondering the same blasted thing. If you notice the EL on the Sample encounter is EL 6, with the Nabassu already having claimed 8 commoners as soul food and made 4 more into corpse crunching expendables. That is about a EL 6 ‘mixed pair’ encounter with a CR 5 and a few CR1s. Unless the Ghouls are “counted in” the Nabassu’s CR as summoned allies are for other demons and the 2 pseudo HP are what makes that Nabassu CR / EL 6.

"The Haunted Henge (EL 6): ...The nabassu has fed on eight humanoids so far and transformed four others into ghoul thralls. "

Since the benefits are fairy solid and the Nabassu is no wimp for its CR, some increase is warranted.
For every three humanoids the juvenile nabassu devours in this fashion, it gains the following benefits:
+1 profane bonus on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks
+5 hit points
+1 profane bonus to its natural armor
+1 effective level (whenever the nabassu's level is used in a die roll or calculation, increase it by 1)
Outsiders normally gain 1 CR for each 2 HD, so mirroring that for the pseudo HD it eats it’s way through, I think is about fair to determine a ballpark CR on the Nabassu. Though IF PCs let the thing feed hoping to XP farm, Cap the CR at the first time they let it go, if you award any xp at all for such an appauling act.

 

[Arnwyn]

I was wondering the same blasted thing. If you notice the EL on the Sample encounter is EL 6, with the Nabassu already having claimed 8 commoners as soul food and made 4 more into corpse crunching expendables. That is about a EL 6 ‘mixed pair’ encounter with a CR 5 and a few CR1s. Unless the Ghouls are “counted in” the Nabassu’s CR as summoned allies are for other demons and the 2 pseudo HP are what makes that Nabassu CR / EL 6.

I did indeed see that Sample Encounter EL, and tried to use it to figure out what the heck was going on. It didn't help.

The ghouls that a Nabassu creates aren't really summoned monsters, since they don't appear right away - thus I'd be loathe to include the CR of those ghouls in with the Nabassu's CR (though I can see the argument to do so). But then I'm back to being confused about the CR of a feeding Nabassu again...

Outsiders normally gain 1 CR for each 2 HD, so mirroring that for the pseudo HD it eats it’s way through, I think is about fair to determine a ballpark CR on the Nabassu.

I thought about that, and think that's probably best. So what I'm considering is ignoring the "Advancement" line in the stat block, and increase the CR by 1 for every six creatures it feeds on (which mirrors an advancement of 2 HD). Hmph.

Though IF PCs let the thing feed hoping to XP farm, Cap the CR at the first time they let it go, if you award any xp at all for such an appauling act.

I don't think I need to worry about that with my group.