NPC Challange Rating
- Thread starter sdt
- Start date
Kalendraf
Explorer
A human warrior 1 should probably have a CR rating of 1/2.
You can compare this to the orc warrior in the MM.
The formula for finding CR of a NPC classes is to take the level and subtract 1. That however, would lead to a number = 0 which makes no sense. I don't have an exact rule handy, but it appears when you reach that point, you instead start dividing, so you wind up with 1/2. The result is something like this:
NPC level -1 = 0: CR 1/2
NPC level -2 = -1: CR 1/3 (goblins CR is NPC level -2)
NPC level -3 = -2: CR 1/4 (kobolds CR is NPC level -3)
Many other humanoid races have + adjustments which would make their CR rating be 1 or higher.
You can compare this to the orc warrior in the MM.
The formula for finding CR of a NPC classes is to take the level and subtract 1. That however, would lead to a number = 0 which makes no sense. I don't have an exact rule handy, but it appears when you reach that point, you instead start dividing, so you wind up with 1/2. The result is something like this:
NPC level -1 = 0: CR 1/2
NPC level -2 = -1: CR 1/3 (goblins CR is NPC level -2)
NPC level -3 = -2: CR 1/4 (kobolds CR is NPC level -3)
Many other humanoid races have + adjustments which would make their CR rating be 1 or higher.
Kalendraf
Explorer
One more thing though... You mentioned the elite array. NPCs are expected to use the non-elite array (13,12,11,10,9,8). This throws a bit of a monkey in the works...
A human fighter 1 w/ elite array = CR 1
A human warrior 1 w/ non-elite array = CR 1/2
I suspect the warrior version w/ elite array is going to wind up slightly stronger than a CR 1/2, but weaker than a CR 1.
A human fighter 1 w/ elite array = CR 1
A human warrior 1 w/ non-elite array = CR 1/2
I suspect the warrior version w/ elite array is going to wind up slightly stronger than a CR 1/2, but weaker than a CR 1.
Kalendraf
Explorer
The 3/4 CR is one possible way to tackle it. But maybe it's closer to one end than the other?
The differences would be...
F1: Bonus Fighter Feat, Elite Array, d10 HD
W1: No extra feat, Non-Elite Array, d8 HD
The stat difference between Elite vs. Non-elite is essentially +2,+2,+2,+2,+1,+0 or 25 vs. 15 on point buy. That's actally a fairly big difference, especially at 1st level. For a warrior, those extra bonuses are no doubt going to be applied to provide +1 to attack, damage, AC, hit points, some saves and some skills. The HD difference at 1st level is very minor, only 1 point avg. The feat is harder to judge. I can't think of any feats that are necessarily as good as the bonuses from the high stats though. Thus, I suspect the elite array probably bumps the warrior closer to CR 1. Maybe more like a CR 0.9.
But feel free to estimate it as CR 3/4.
When it comes to applying a value like the 3/4 to formulas, it should be fairly easy for exp determination. Just take .75 of the CR 1 exp value from the DMG and you're set.
EL calculation will be a bit more complicated. Two of them is what? EL 1.5 or maybe even EL2. Two CR 1's are EL 3, so rounding up to EL 2 for a pair of CR 3/4 foes is probably ok.
The differences would be...
F1: Bonus Fighter Feat, Elite Array, d10 HD
W1: No extra feat, Non-Elite Array, d8 HD
The stat difference between Elite vs. Non-elite is essentially +2,+2,+2,+2,+1,+0 or 25 vs. 15 on point buy. That's actally a fairly big difference, especially at 1st level. For a warrior, those extra bonuses are no doubt going to be applied to provide +1 to attack, damage, AC, hit points, some saves and some skills. The HD difference at 1st level is very minor, only 1 point avg. The feat is harder to judge. I can't think of any feats that are necessarily as good as the bonuses from the high stats though. Thus, I suspect the elite array probably bumps the warrior closer to CR 1. Maybe more like a CR 0.9.
But feel free to estimate it as CR 3/4.When it comes to applying a value like the 3/4 to formulas, it should be fairly easy for exp determination. Just take .75 of the CR 1 exp value from the DMG and you're set.
EL calculation will be a bit more complicated. Two of them is what? EL 1.5 or maybe even EL2. Two CR 1's are EL 3, so rounding up to EL 2 for a pair of CR 3/4 foes is probably ok.
Last edited:
(Psi)SeveredHead
Adventurer
sdt said:
CR 3/4 seems to be the consensus. If you're really concerned about mechanical balance, I would suggest promoting this warrior to a 1st-level fighter instead.
Similar Threads
