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Pathfinder 1E Help me determine a good CR

Palha

First Post
I am currently planning the encounter of the BBEG for the short campaign I am running. I am hoping to just modify a dragon already made, just with my own spells and abilities, but I am unsure as to what CR dragon to use. The dragon will have an amulet that absorbs ALL damage done to him, but will be released upon destruction of the amulet. It must be specifically targeted to be hit, and has a decent amount of HP due to its magical design. I am just trying to change up my groups motto of "Just hit it until it dies" lol. We have a Barbarian, Magus, Wizard, Bard, and Fighter. Everybody is level 15.
 

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You have 5 players, and at least one OP class(Magus), though by 15 most of those under Pathfinder will be pretty powerful.

So here's the CR math:
number of players(X) times party level(Y)Divided by estimated group size(4)

So, (5x15)/4=18.75. Personally, because of the huge power levels of Wizard anyway as well as Magus being fairly OP, I'd go up at least +2 on that, so for a fair fight you're looking at roughly a CR 20/21. Pathfinder gives rules on what sort of adjustment should be used for different degrees of fights(http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering) and an "Epic" fight is a +3 adjustment, so now you're looking at a CR24.

Now you've got to ask yourself. Are you players powerhouses? If they've got a "hit it until it dies" mentality, I'd make a safe bet that they are.

This is the stats for Pathfinder's biggest dragon: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/mo...s/dragon/metallic-gold/gold-dragon-great-wyrm

And it's still only a CR23.

However, with a REALLY powerful party, having only one baddie can get his beat up real quick. I would suggest adding some minions of some lesser sorts of dragons or something to help spread out the damage a bit. According to Pathfinder's CR math, two of the above dragon's is only a +2 to the CR number, which places you right around your goal CR for your party.

Also: remember to describtely call out that "A vortex of energy swirls around a small stone on the Dragon's neck as you attack, seeming to draw in the power of your assault while leaving the dragon unharmed."...followed by villainous dialogue topped with: BREATH WEAPON! :-p
 
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