Help needed in monster creation

Laundreu

First Post
So I'm running a campaign, starting Friday. While these monstery-folks aren't necessary for that session, I'd like to get them done (so I don't forget and end up on the spot, which I do all too often).

Problem is, I simply don't understand the rules of CR, LA, ECL, and so on well enough - heck, I don't even know how to create a balanced power. So I come to ENWorld for help, succor, and that kind of thing.

I need two creatures that I don't have access to in various Monster Manuals or the like. Y'see, the elves in my campaign are less like DnD elves and more like Pratchett's, being glamorous, beautiful, awesome, graceful, strong, and giggling psychopaths (chaotic evil, emphasis on both). Problem is, I'm not totally sure on how to account for this in DnD terms - presumably, a bonus to Charisma, Dexterity, and Strength, as well as the usual low-light vision and the Drow spell resistance (I want them to be scary to my players as well as any NPCs that they come across). Their favored class is (almost 'of course', really) is Hexblade.

The other is the unicorn. Not, mind you, the prancing and pure Unicorn of DnD (and myth and legend), but this unicorn, which is really a different kettle of fish - it's the elves' mount, and is just as evil as its rider. They were an avatar of Purity, but most such beings can't survive contact with the non-pure (e.g., most anything else in the world), and so the species made the jump from exemplifying the word to feeding off of those who exemplified it. So, since it needs to feed on the pure, and the purest beings available are generally children, they're a particularly unpleasant baddie to deal with - at least, in my opinion.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.
 

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Well, I am going to try giving some advice, take it or leave it. ;)

You should definitly post the level of the group because we don't know how strong of monsters you want. The Challenge Rating (CR) is the average level of 4 people you need to kill it, so a CR 2 orge should have 4 level 2 people fighting it and all be different classes. I believe ECL is added on to character classes to determine how much experience they gain and how much to level.

As I said, you need to post the level of the group for anyone to give you monsters, good luck with your (first?) campaign! :D
 

ElvishBard said:
You should definitly post the level of the group because we don't know how strong of monsters you want. The Challenge Rating (CR) is the average level of 4 people you need to kill it

..and use 1/5 of their resources.

ElvishBard said:
I believe ECL is added on to character classes to determine how much experience they gain and how much to level.

No, a characters ECL is the total of their racial level adjustment (Tieflings are +1 for instance), racial HD, and class levels. ECL is a characters "actual" level, in that, it's what you use to determine XP needed to level and so on.

As to the question at hand... probably the easiest way would be to find something around the proper CR and modify, while maintaining balance. It would be easier if you posted the party mix and level.

Calypso
 

Well, yes and no - the players are currently level 1 (Goblin Cleric of the God of Technology and Law, Gnome Wizard, and Halfling Duellist (CombatWombat51's class)) but they won't be facing these elves yet. They're more 'mid-level lieutenants of the BBEG', in terms of what I want them to do. (And the unicorns are just freaky. As well as able to take character classes.)

In a summary, I want them to be something rarely glimpsed, often spoken of in whispers and seen in the carnage they leave, so that when they are first revealed, there is much consternation amongst the players.

I hope this helps.

(Quick unrelated question - with three level 1 characters, the encounters should properly be CR .75, rather than CR 1?)
 

Laundreu said:
(Quick unrelated question - with three level 1 characters, the encounters should properly be CR .75, rather than CR 1?)

Nah, CR 1 should be fine. It just means they'll consume more than 1/5ish of their resources.
 


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