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Message: <blockquote data-quote="dcollins" data-source="post: 1742887" data-attributes="member: 876">I wrote a simple combat simulator a while back that I use to compare monsters in a straight-up fight. I find this particularly useful for gauging CR/ECL of monsters specialized for combat brutes (which includes lizardfolk & gnolls).In the past I ran it on Lizardfolk and found that the natural armor & attacks definitely makes them worth EL +1 against a normal NPC fighter (lizardfolk are allowed as PCs in the campaign I DM). I just ran it on Gnolls, and I think now that EL +0 may be appropriate, but it's closer than I expected. The big Strength boost really pays off in melee combat (i.e., the ability modifiers skew towards a better specialized fighter).Results:Gnoll Ftr2 -- opposed by NPC Ftr4 wins 49%, by Ftr5 wins 75%.Gnoll Ftr7 -- NPC Ftr9 wins 76%, Ftr10 wins 51%.Gnoll Ftr12 -- NPC Ftr14 wins 35%, Ftr15 wins 73%.In the first case it's best approximated by EL +0; in the second case by EL +1; and in the third case EL +0 (but just barely). Also, this is melee combat, it would do less well in an archery duel.So if I had to pick one myself I would pick EL +0, but it's definitely on the high side of that category. (Equivalent to original stat in the 3.0 DMG, btw.)</blockquote>