Help with determining CR

[danzig138]

Hello, I need some help determining the appropriate CR for this creature. I thought it should be pretty low, since she's a low-power creature, but then I added the shambler power, and that's 3-6 11 HD shambling mounds, and even once per day, that seems to be a powerful ability, so I don't know how much it should bump the CR. Thanks in advance.

Small Fey
Hit Dice: 1d6 (3 hp)
Initiative: +3 (Dex)
Speed: 20 ft.
AC: 14 (+1 size, +3 Dex)
Attacks: Slam -2 melee
Damage: Slam 1d2-3
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Spell-like abilities
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, spell-like abilities
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 5, Dex 16, Con 11, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 16
Skills: Bluff +8, Climb +1, Handle Animal +8, Hide +12, Intuit Direction +5, Listen +8, Move Silently +8, Spot +8, Swim +1
Feats: Alertness, Dodge, Lightning Reflexes
Climate/Terrain: Ant warm or temperate marsh
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: ??????
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: 2-3 HD (Small)

Spell-like abilities: A swamp mother can use the following spell-like abilities: At Will – scare, screen, speak with animals; 3/day – slow; 1/day – shambler. All effects take place as if cast by a 9th level Sorcerer.
Skills: In her natural terrain, a swamp mother gains a +4 racial bonus to Hide checks.

 

[Geoff Watson]

I would give her a low CR, and count the Shambling Mounds seperately.

Since she could easily have 30 shamblers following her around at any one time, or 900 guarding her base (probably best to go for a mix; ~25 helpers and ~150 guards), that power makes her really dangerous.

Geoff.

 

[danzig138]

Thanks

I think I'm going to make the shambler power once per week. Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't know if I can work that, since I'm doing this with hopes of publication, so I think I need to figure the CR with the shambler ability included. Certainly, it would be easier if they were seperate.

 

[the Jester]

Er, monsters like this are tricky! You never know whether the pcs fighting it will all get slaughtered or kill her before she gets to act (it really only takes one hit).

I'd say CR3 or thereabouts, but the shambler power is vicious.

 

[Saeviomagy]

If the shambler power was to be used during the fight only, it would be fine to include it in the CR.

I'd suggest that you change 'organisation' to include some shambling mounds though, to represent ones which she prepared earlier.

I'd make the CR about 3.

Mind you, that CR is probably about as stupid as the CR for a group of grigs...