D&D General How you think CR should work

[Upper_Krust]

I have a new CR method for a 5E Epic book I am working on and I think it is very simple to convert over the 4E method with two caveats:

1. You first convert the PCs into CR (which is approx. 2/3rds PC Level). Easy enough.
2. It gets a bit whiffy for monsters below CR 8 (because the official monster stats are consistent above CR 8 and inconsistent below CR 8) and you have to convert them into percentages of a CR 8.

So it works sweet for Epic Tier (and above), but I don't think its necessarily a smoother method than the official one at lower tiers. Still working on it though.

 

[jgsugden]

Like the vague tool it is.

CR gives you an idea of where the monster fits ont he power curve, but a DM needs to evaluate the monster versus the capability of their PCs to really understand the challenge they will provide. A T-rex can be a fearsome foe for a group of 4th level PCs, but it can also be a joke to a flying archer by themself - and that can be a single 1st level PC. A monster that induces sleep fighting elves is quite different than when it fights creatures without immunity to sleep effects.

No single number is going to accurately describe the challenge a monster may provide to all parties, because there is to much variance. Further - it doesn't need to do so. Adventure design does not require fine balance. You can put monsters in the game that are too strong for the PCs. You can add monsters to the game that are easy to kill, but provide other challenges (in the form of things the PCs have to stop those easy monsters from doing for example).