Figuring Created Monster CRS

[Xaov]

Alright I am working on a midnight campaign. For those of you that are familiar with it its basically a very low magic setting.

Now I am trying to build my own monsters, However I don't know how to distribute stats, abilities, levels, etc. to get proper challenge rating. The session is going to be the first. So we are going to have to deal with low magic, low levels.

If you guys could explain to me how to work out challenge ratings I would appreciate it.

 

[Slobber Monster]

There are detailed guidelines in the back of the 3.5e Monster Manual which address things like appropriate AC, HD, attacks, etc by CR. Too much to summarize adequately here. I suggest you start with that, then come back for help with specifics.

So far as the low magic thing goes, that will need to be considered carefully when assessing things like damage resistance, invisibility, and special attacks which assume the availability of a magical cure or counter.

 

[Xaov]

I see. Unfortunately I don't have the 3.5 MM. So anything I go for is going to be going off of the Monster's Handbook by Fantasy Flight Games

 

[satori01]

well first things go buy a MM 3.5. There is no sense trying to recreate the wheel when alot of perfectly good player killers are already out there to be use. Try using templates and advancing creatures first before making your own monsters. It is a good way to see how the nuts and bolts fit together, and what warrants a change in CR and what does not.

 

[Darkness]

I see. Unfortunately I don't have the 3.5 MM. So anything I go for is going to be going off of the Monster's Handbook by Fantasy Flight Games

Use the SRD, then. I think it doesn't address creating monsters from nothing, but the Improving Monsters file is also somewhat useful for your purposes. Also, you can use the 3.5 monsters themselves, maybe with changed names and slight variations to their powers.

 

[Derulbaskul]

In one of the early Dragon magazines for 3E (276?) there was an article on how to create monsters. That article seems to provide something of a base for the monster creation guidelines given in MM3.5 (and subsequently ignored by the majority of the designers who worked on both MMII and MMIII, but I digress...). I seem to recall that it may have also been made available on the WotC wesbite at one point in time as well.

Anyway, if you're working on monsters for Midnight I would strongly suggest posting your ideas over at www.againsttheshadow.org in the messageboards. The friendly folks over there are always happy to help someone tinker with Midnight creations.

 

[Voadam]

Badaxe games sells a CR calculator on www.rpgnow.com