I hope I'm wrong about this

[kreynolds]

Well...I don't think the CR system is disposable. In fact, I heavily rely upon it. BUT...I have found that you cannot truly know the CR of an advanced/custom monster without playtesting it. That's where the CR system comes in handy for me. It isn't the end-all/be-all of accurate calculations but it gives me a place to start.

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

This portion of the system is wrong, "broken", and a mistake. I agree there.

Here's my question: short of using the ever-so-popular method of "DM determines XP arbitrarily," what system do you suggest for assigning XP?

As I have no faith in the CR system, I have nothing left but the ever-so-popular.

Don't get me wrong, I worked with CR, straight out of the box for several months. No biggie.

Kreynolds,

IMO, if you use the math and tables from the CR system, but re-tool what the CR really is on a case by case basis, you really are using DM judgment in the guise of using the CR system.

The concept that X encounters worthy of 25% resource drain to a party yields a level of advancement is sound. But just using that methodology does not mean you are using the true CR system. If you are using your judgement to determine that your party was or was not sufficiently tested, I bet you are doing better than the CR system.

 

[Wippit Guud]

Just for some comparison advancements...

Ape: CR 2 at 4d8+8. CR 3 at 6d8+12. CR4 at 8d8+16
Beholder: CR 13 at 11d8+11. CR 14 at 16d8+16. CR 15 at 22d8+22
Chaos Beast: CR 7 at 8d8+8, CR 8 at 12d8+12, CR 9 at 16d8+16
Great Wrym Gold Dragon: CR 26 at 41d12+451, Cr27 61d12+671, CR 28 at 83d12+913

Hmmm...

Words for the smaller creatures...

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

But hey, it will only take 6.7X10^7 apes to take out that 83HD Great Wyrm Gold Dragon.

 

[kreynolds]

But just using that methodology does not mean you are using the true CR system. If you are using your judgement to determine that your party was or was not sufficiently tested, I bet you are doing better than the CR system.

I never said, eluded, nor implied that I use the "true CR system". But thank you for the complement anyway.

 

[CRGreathouse]

As I have no faith in the CR system, I have nothing left but the ever-so-popular.

While this is a good method (and my personal method), I was more interested in what XP system would be best for the game itself, that is, for those DMs without the experience to award XP on their own.

 

[Shin Okada]

When I advance a monster by HD (not by class level) Usually, I re-assign CR using Monster Creation rules in Dragon #276. As a rule of sum, divide average HP by 13.5. I think you can find more detailed guidance for this rule on Jamis Black's Creature Catalogue page, which is hosted by this site.

 

[hong]

Sorry, but the CR system does not come close to working as a means of establishing an exp and level advancement system.

Sure it may give a rough scaling of monster power, but even that fails often. But if it were simply a power scale, no big deal. It is supposed to be a means of determining xp. It is a complete failure on that task.

From what I've seen, it works well enough for me. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all XP award system, and DM judgement will always be necessary to handle situations that go outside the boundaries of what's assumed in the DMG tables. That doesn't mean CRs are bad, or the rules of thumb provided are unworkable in the majority of situations.

 

[The Allamistako]

Momentarily, I use the CR system, but only give half of the EP's the chart would indicate - my PLAYERS complained they were getting too many EP's!!!

-Alla

 

[hong]

Momentarily, I use the CR system, but only give half of the EP's the chart would indicate - my PLAYERS complained they were getting too many EP's!!!

Let me guess; they're level 1-4? They won't be saying the same thing once they hit level 7-10, I think.