Monster advancement
- Thread starter Kamaloo
- Start date
Land Outcast
Explorer
Monster Manual
Table 4-4
Table 4-4
Kamaloo
Explorer
That doesn't tell me whether or not the number of HD you advance is up to you or not. Maybe I'm not being clear.
I see that monsters have two advancement examples, but the HD indicated for them read (in the example) "7 to 8" or "9-18", suggesting that you can select anything within that range. Is that so, or do you just bump them up to the example level? If not, does their CR stay the same when their HD go up?
I see that monsters have two advancement examples, but the HD indicated for them read (in the example) "7 to 8" or "9-18", suggesting that you can select anything within that range. Is that so, or do you just bump them up to the example level? If not, does their CR stay the same when their HD go up?
ValhallaGH
Explorer
Bump them up as desired, recalculate CR based upon their adjusted stats and abilities (remember to recalculate the save DCs for special abilities).
So: yes, you choose any number of HD in that range.
No, the CR of the creature is not the same. Recalculate CR based upon increased HP, BAB, feats, skills, size, stats and any improvements to special abilities.
So: yes, you choose any number of HD in that range.
No, the CR of the creature is not the same. Recalculate CR based upon increased HP, BAB, feats, skills, size, stats and any improvements to special abilities.
frankthedm
First Post
Rule #1 CRs are an art not a science. The numbers do not always make fair CRs. Look at what the PC party can accomplish, and use that to assign the CR once the HD increases have gotton you to the ballpark number.
Creature Type CR Increase
Aberration, construct, elemental, fey, giant, humanoid, ooze, plant, undead, or vermin +1 per 4 HD added
Animal, magical beast, monstrous humanoid +1 per 3 HD added
Dragon, outsider +1 per 2 HD added
BTW Feats listed in monster entry are only typical, not racial unless listed as such. Some might feel designers intentionaly "threw away" feats on "alertness" and "toughness" to keep creatures at lower CRs, others might feel since the Players have access to more potent feats from splatbooks, the monsters should also be using those splat book feats.
Creature Type CR Increase
Aberration, construct, elemental, fey, giant, humanoid, ooze, plant, undead, or vermin +1 per 4 HD added
Animal, magical beast, monstrous humanoid +1 per 3 HD added
Dragon, outsider +1 per 2 HD added
BTW Feats listed in monster entry are only typical, not racial unless listed as such. Some might feel designers intentionaly "threw away" feats on "alertness" and "toughness" to keep creatures at lower CRs, others might feel since the Players have access to more potent feats from splatbooks, the monsters should also be using those splat book feats.
