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MM monster stats not making any sense
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<blockquote data-quote="Kordeth" data-source="post: 4388993" data-attributes="member: 5036"><p>No. The point you're missing is that monsters do not follow the same rules PCs do, and using the PHB rules for monsters is not how you create monsters. A PC's AC, for example, is 10 + 1/2 level + Int <em>or</em> Dex before armor is factored in. A monster's AC is 12-16 (depending on role) + level. Period. Don't add the ability modifiers the PHB tells you to add to a <em>player's</em> stats to a monster's stats.</p><p></p><p>Looking at the Galeb Duhr and comparing it to the DMG, a level 8 artillery monster should have a base Fort of 20 (12 + level). It should also have an average Con of 17 (13 + 1/2 level), but the Galeb Duhr has a 19 Con. Per DMG p. 184, that means you increase its Fort Def by +1. That leaves a baseline level 8 artillery with higher-than-average Con with a Fort of 21. The GD's 23 is a smidge higher, but a +2 "racial" bonus seems in-line with a creature of living stone. It's balanced somewhat by a lower-than-average Reflex Defense.</p><p></p><p>As for the Gargoyle, the DMG table shows it should have an AC of 23 (14 + level 9) and a Ref Def of 21 assuming an Average Dex. The gargoyle "trades" 2 points of Ref for 2 of AC--again, not out of line for a living statue.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Kordeth, post: 4388993, member: 5036"] No. The point you're missing is that monsters do not follow the same rules PCs do, and using the PHB rules for monsters is not how you create monsters. A PC's AC, for example, is 10 + 1/2 level + Int [i]or[/i] Dex before armor is factored in. A monster's AC is 12-16 (depending on role) + level. Period. Don't add the ability modifiers the PHB tells you to add to a [i]player's[/i] stats to a monster's stats. Looking at the Galeb Duhr and comparing it to the DMG, a level 8 artillery monster should have a base Fort of 20 (12 + level). It should also have an average Con of 17 (13 + 1/2 level), but the Galeb Duhr has a 19 Con. Per DMG p. 184, that means you increase its Fort Def by +1. That leaves a baseline level 8 artillery with higher-than-average Con with a Fort of 21. The GD's 23 is a smidge higher, but a +2 "racial" bonus seems in-line with a creature of living stone. It's balanced somewhat by a lower-than-average Reflex Defense. As for the Gargoyle, the DMG table shows it should have an AC of 23 (14 + level 9) and a Ref Def of 21 assuming an Average Dex. The gargoyle "trades" 2 points of Ref for 2 of AC--again, not out of line for a living statue. [/QUOTE]
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