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Monster Creation rules: Anyone else not find them particularly helpful.
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<blockquote data-quote="dave2008" data-source="post: 7056797" data-attributes="member: 83242"><p>First, you need to determine whether or not your group aligns with the standard MM monsters. By this I mean the MM seems to be geared for a group of 4 average players using the Basic rules. If you allow feats, multiclassing, magic weapons, your players are optimizers, good tacticians, or more than 5 players you will probably need to buff the monsters.</p><p></p><p>Assuming you fall into the first category, it is fairly simple as each CR is given a DPR range (99-104 for CR 16). The simplest to achieve this is (remember something about a Hill giant), give it a Huge weapon. Claws typically do about 1d6 damage, so Huge claws should do 3d6. Since Huge should have at lest a Str of 22 (+6), you are looking at 16 (3d6 + 6) at least per attack However, your looking at 6 attacks per round if you want to make that work. Personally that seems like to many to me. Thus, you need to make some adjustments. Here are some options:</p><p></p><p>1) Give it a feature like the Hobgoblin's "Brute"</p><p>2) Give the claw attack a theme rider damage, such as "plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage."</p><p>3) Give it another attack, possibly a recharge power that does high damage, conceptually like a dragon's breath weapon.</p><p></p><p>With these I use #2 or #3 the most (#1 feels a bit like cheating to me - I'm weird that way)</p><p></p><p>So, maybe:</p><p><em><strong>Claw.</strong> Melee Weapon Attack: </em> +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. <em>Hit: </em> 16 (3d6 + 6) slashing damage plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage.</p><p></p><p>That gets you a DPR of 90 with 3 attacks, so basically 90% of the way their.</p><p></p><p>To get that last little bit I would give it another attack option in the form of a bonus action, reaction, or legendary action. For Huge creatues (Hill Giants) I like to give them a bonus action / reaction for making a stomp attack against a prone target. Or possible a bonus action to make a bite attack against a grappled opponent (add a grappling rider to the claw attack). To keep it really simple:</p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><u>Actions:</u></span></span></p><p></p><p><em><strong>Multiattack.</strong></em> The giant ghoul makes three claw attacks</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Claw.</strong> Melee Weapon Attack: </em> +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. <em>Hit: </em> 16 (3d6 + 6) slashing damage plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage and if the target is a Large or smaller creature it must make a DC 19 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><u>Reactions:</u></span></span></p><p></p><p>Stomp. The giant ghoul makes the following attack when a creature starts it turn prone within the giant ghoul's reach. <em>Melee Weapon Attack:</em> n+11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. <em>Hit: </em> 16 (3d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.</p><p></p><p>This gets you to 106 (technically 2 hp over CR 16, but close enough). However, since it is a reaction, I would not apply it to all 3 rounds and that will get you to 100 DPR - spot on!</p><p></p><p>Now to clarify, this is a simple monster with no means to counter ranged attacks or conditions. If you need those, then you have some more work to do! I hope that helped.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="dave2008, post: 7056797, member: 83242"] First, you need to determine whether or not your group aligns with the standard MM monsters. By this I mean the MM seems to be geared for a group of 4 average players using the Basic rules. If you allow feats, multiclassing, magic weapons, your players are optimizers, good tacticians, or more than 5 players you will probably need to buff the monsters. Assuming you fall into the first category, it is fairly simple as each CR is given a DPR range (99-104 for CR 16). The simplest to achieve this is (remember something about a Hill giant), give it a Huge weapon. Claws typically do about 1d6 damage, so Huge claws should do 3d6. Since Huge should have at lest a Str of 22 (+6), you are looking at 16 (3d6 + 6) at least per attack However, your looking at 6 attacks per round if you want to make that work. Personally that seems like to many to me. Thus, you need to make some adjustments. Here are some options: 1) Give it a feature like the Hobgoblin's "Brute" 2) Give the claw attack a theme rider damage, such as "plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage." 3) Give it another attack, possibly a recharge power that does high damage, conceptually like a dragon's breath weapon. With these I use #2 or #3 the most (#1 feels a bit like cheating to me - I'm weird that way) So, maybe: [I][B]Claw.[/B] Melee Weapon Attack: [/I] +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. [I]Hit: [/I] 16 (3d6 + 6) slashing damage plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage. That gets you a DPR of 90 with 3 attacks, so basically 90% of the way their. To get that last little bit I would give it another attack option in the form of a bonus action, reaction, or legendary action. For Huge creatues (Hill Giants) I like to give them a bonus action / reaction for making a stomp attack against a prone target. Or possible a bonus action to make a bite attack against a grappled opponent (add a grappling rider to the claw attack). To keep it really simple: [FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][U]Actions:[/U][/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B]Multiattack.[/B][/I] The giant ghoul makes three claw attacks [I][B]Claw.[/B] Melee Weapon Attack: [/I] +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. [I]Hit: [/I] 16 (3d6 + 6) slashing damage plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage and if the target is a Large or smaller creature it must make a DC 19 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. [FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][U]Reactions:[/U][/SIZE][/FONT] Stomp. The giant ghoul makes the following attack when a creature starts it turn prone within the giant ghoul's reach. [I]Melee Weapon Attack:[/I] n+11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. [I]Hit: [/I] 16 (3d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage. This gets you to 106 (technically 2 hp over CR 16, but close enough). However, since it is a reaction, I would not apply it to all 3 rounds and that will get you to 100 DPR - spot on! Now to clarify, this is a simple monster with no means to counter ranged attacks or conditions. If you need those, then you have some more work to do! I hope that helped. [/QUOTE]
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