LA for Innate Spell-like Abilities?

[Thurbane]

The SRD has this to say:

ADDING SPECIAL ABILITIES
You can add any sort of spell-like, supernatural, or extraordinary ability to a creature. As with a class level, you should determine how much, or how little, this ability adds to the creature’s existing repertoire. A suite of abilities that work together should be treated as a single modifier for this purpose. If the ability (or combination of abilities) significantly increases the monster’s combat effectiveness, increase its CR by 2. Minor abilities increase the creature’s CR by 1, and truly trivial abilities may not increase CR at all. If the special abilities a monster gains are not tied to a class or Hit Die increase, this CR increase stacks.

A significant special attack is one that stands a good chance of incapacitating or crippling a character in one round. A significant special quality is one that seriously diminishes the monster’s vulnerability to common attacks. Do not add this factor twice if a monster has both special attacks and special qualities.

Make sure to “scale” your evaluation of these abilities by the monster’s current CR.

 

[Pyrex]

Right, but he didn't ask about CR, he asked about LA.

 

[Nifft]

Right, but he didn't ask about CR, he asked about LA.

See post #8. -- N

 

[Pyrex]

See post #8. -- N

Ah, I see.

In that case I stand by my answer of "use the Half-Fiend template as an example".

 

[Nifft]

Ah, I see.

In that case I stand by my answer of "use the Half-Fiend template as an example".

Yep yep. It's a good one. Might be a bit over the top in terms of reverse-engineering, but the idea that you don't grant abilities too much before an NPC of the same CR would have them is good.

-- N

 

[Fieari]

Upper Krust's ECL/CR system (ver 5) has more detailed and specific rules for this. Extensive playtesting has shown this as valid, though it isn't WotC official by any means.

[b]SPELL-LIKE ABILITIES[/b]

Use Table 1-7 to determine the ECL bonus for Spell-like Abilities.

(To determine the equivalent spell-level of Epic Spells.
Spellcraft DC ÷ 10 (round down), then add 7.
eg. Hellball (DC 90) 90 ÷ 10 = 9 + 7 = 16th-level spell)


[b]TABLE 1-7: SPELL-LIKE ABILITIES[/b]
[i]Usable		ECL Factor[/i]
Always Active	Caster Level x Spell Level x 0.005
At Will		Caster Level x Spell Level x 0.005
5/day (or more)	Caster Level x Spell Level x 0.005
4/day		Caster Level x Spell Level x 0.004
3/day		Caster Level x Spell Level x 0.003
2/day		Caster Level x Spell Level x 0.002
1/day (or less)	Caster Level x Spell Level x 0.001

eg. Pit Fiends Spell-like Abilities = ECL +6.102
	18 (Caster Level) x 64 (Spell Levels) x 0.005 (At Will) = ECL +5.76
	18 (Caster Level) x 9 (Spell Levels) x 0.001 (1/day) = ECL +0.162
	20 (Caster Level) x 9 (Spell Levels) x 0.001 (1/year) = ECL +0.18

eg. Succubus Spell-like Abilities = ECL +1.64
	12 (Caster Level) x 28 (Spell Levels) x 0.005 (At Will) = CR +1.64

[b]SPELL DURATION MODIFIER (OPTIONAL)[/b]
For those who wish even greater detail Spell-like abilities can also 
be modified by that spells initial duration. Modify spell-like abilities
with an ‘Always Active’ or ‘At Will’ usage by Table 1-8.

NB. Instantaneous spell effects are not affected.

[b]TABLE 1-8: SPELL-LIKE ABILITY DURATION MODIFIER[/b]
[i]Spell Duration		Spell Level	Modifier Example[/i]
Permanent 		x 1/4		Forbiddance
Days 			x 1/2 		Illusory Script
Hours 			x 1 		Control Weather
Minutes 		x 2 		True Seeing
Rounds 			x 4 		Fire Shield

Fractional ECLs are supposed to be added to other fractional ECLs from other abilities in order to get an overall total ECL for a creature. Furthermore, it only works when the follow guidelines are followed:

SPELL-LIKE ABILITY PARAMETERS
Caster Level < or = Hit Dice
Total number of Spell-like Abilities < or = Hit Dice

Highest Spell-Level Abilities only function 1/day.

Spell-like Abilities can be drawn from Domains relevant to the
creature (use Alignment and two other Domains deemed relevant).
eg. A Balor could draw Spell-like Abilities from the Chaos;
Destruction; Evil and Fire Domains.

[b]TABLE 3-7: DETERMINING LEVELS OF SPELL-LIKE ABILITIES[/b]
		Maximum Spell Levels Allowed
HD	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
1 	+1*
2 	+1*
3 		+1*
4 		+1*
5 			+1*
6 			+1*
7 				+1*
8 				+1*
9 					+1*
10					+1*
11 						+1*
12 						+1*
13 							+1*
14 							+1*
15 								+1*
16 								+1*
17 									+1*
18 									+1*
19 									+1*
20 									+1*
*Of this Spell Level or Lower

eg. 5 HD Creature
Caster level of 5
Maximum Total of 5 Spell-like abilities:
	2 1st-level (or lower level)
	2 2nd-level (or lower level)
	1 3rd-level spell (usable 1/day, unless of lower level)

eg. 13 HD Creature
Caster level of 13
Maximum Total of 13 Spell-like abilities:
	2 1st-level (or lower level)
	2 2nd-level (or lower level)
	2 3rd-level (or lower level)
	2 4th-level (or lower level)
	2 5th-level (or lower level)
	2 6th-level (or lower level)
	1 7th-level spell (usable 1/day, unless of lower level)

 

[Pyrex]

One problem with UK's system is that it values all spells equally.

The ability to cast Goodberry at will should not have the same impact on CR as the ability to cast Magic Missile at will.

 

[frankthedm]

One problem with UK's system is that it values all spells equally.

The ability to cast Goodberry at will should not have the same impact on CR as the ability to cast Magic Missile at will.

Forbidance at will is horrific. If the creature has any Int, it can cast the minimum area without cost over and over blanketing an area with permanent 10' x 10' x 10' cubes of 6d6 / 12d6 non typed damage. They can't overlap, but making them the minimum size for a shapeable spell means a 10'x10'x100' could deal 60-120d6 to those foollish enough to go through it.