Hit Dice and CR

[Mouseferatu]

I'm not sure why people have a problem with this. Hit dice and hit points are not just a factor of size--nor should they be.

Why is it so hard to believe that a race of creatures is simply naturally tougher than humans? Perhaps they feel less pain, and so can take more damage. Perhaps they have better defensive instincts, or more stamina. (Remember, hit points are not just physical damage, but also exhaustion and the ability to turn heavy blows into glancing ones.) Perhaps they see better or have better reflexes, allowing them to hit targets more accurately than an average human (and thus, a better starting BAB).

I don't see the problem at all.

 

[Xarlen]

Well, one hopes that when Savage Species comes out, this may be averted.

I want to take an Illithid at its' base form, and give it Psion levels, while keeping its' natural abilities. SCREW the 'Illithid levels'. You fight an Illithid? You're dealing with a 12th level Psion, with the Illithid's Su, Sp, and Ex abilities, not the OTHER stuff that comes along with it.

The vampire rodent has a point. But while he has a point, there's still the problem that monsters with class levels are really hard to deal with, in mid-high levels. A 12th level Psion Illithid isn't exactly a good CR 20 match.

Too bad you can't take the ECL calculator, run an Illithid's Su, Sp, and Ex abilities through, then calculate the ECL, add it to a Psion, and get the CR, since CR!=ECL.

Ah well.