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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Garnfellow" data-source="post: 1436219" data-attributes="member: 1223">The CR 3 advespa is a pretty tough case. It’s a classic example of pairing a fairly weak monster with some relatively powerful abilities. As a theoretical example, imagine the difficulty of assigning a CR to a ½ HD bunny rabbit that can disintegrate opponents with its bite attack. Such situations are even more problematic at low levels, where parties lack resources and the margin for error is much smaller.I like to use a method described in Savage Species to help peg CRs—comparing the monster’s stats against the stats of typical NPCs, usingthe charts in the DMG for reference. The advespa’s AC of 17 is worse than a typical 1st-level fighter’s; its best attack bonus of +8 and 30 hp are between a 3rd- and 4th-level fighter’s. This quick comparison suggests that CR 3 passes the straight-face test.But then there are the special abilities, some of which would be hard for low level characters to deal with. The advespa has /4/ claw attacks each doing 8.5 average damage each AND a sting that does 4.5 average damage and poison. That’s a heck of a lot of damage to dish out each round. And its other defenses compensate for its low AC: DR 5/silver or good, spell resistance 15, regeneration 2 -- to say nothing of its typical devilish immunities to fire and poison as well as acid and cold resistance 10. Oh yeah, the thing can fly, too.Of all these abilities, it’s the multiple attacks that trouble me the most. The poison does “only” Strength damage and has a DC of 15, which even 1st-level fighters should make 50% of the time.Against a 3rd-level fighter (AC 21, hp 27), an advespa using its full attack does an average of 14 points of damage each round, meaning the fighter probably won’t survive two rounds under that sort of attack. This is nasty, but on the other end of the equation the fighter is doing an average of 4 points of damage each round. If you figure a full 4 member party, the advespa probably won’t last much more than 2 rounds either. As I wrote earlier, the problem with pegging low-level CRs is that your margin of error is so small and so easily susceptible to bad rolls one way or another. Against 4 3rd-level characters, I could easily see the advespa getting wiped out quickly and I can also see the advespa mopping the floor with the PCs – it wouldn’t take much to tip the encounter one way or another. In a situation like this, my design instincts are to play it conservative and bump up the CR to 4. Better safe than sorry . . .</blockquote>

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