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<blockquote data-quote="Wicht" data-source="post: 6299082" data-attributes="member: 221">Now I disagree with this. Firstly, there are definite objective reasons for each CR being what they are in Pathfinder. A given CR creature is supposed to have stats within a narrow range of AC, HD and saves of a parity with other creatures of the same CR. However, the CRS do not reflect the variability which comes from the powers that any given creature has, and these powers are not factored into the CR except by the intuition of the designers. But this variability still does not make the CR completely meaningless.The CR provides a definite set of guidelines for planning. It cannot replace the experience, intuition and intelligence of the DM, but in a game as flexible as Pathfinder, it shouldn't be expected to. Anything so narrow would make the game bland.&nbsp; CRs also provide a platform by which to plan out experience and treasure in design. Again, its a guide, not a straight-jacket, but as a guide its not broken. So, the DM has to learn how to anticipate the outcomes (in general) of an encounter, taking into account environment, weapons and armor, available equipment, powers, numbers of attackers or defenders, and a host of other unknowable (to the game designers) factors. The CRs should not be taken as a final word on anything, but rather simply one of a number of variables. But they are not meaningless.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Wicht, post: 6299082, member: 221"] Now I disagree with this. Firstly, there are definite objective reasons for each CR being what they are in Pathfinder. A given CR creature is supposed to have stats within a narrow range of AC, HD and saves of a parity with other creatures of the same CR. However, the CRS do not reflect the variability which comes from the powers that any given creature has, and these powers are not factored into the CR except by the intuition of the designers. But this variability still does not make the CR completely meaningless. The CR provides a definite set of guidelines for planning. It cannot replace the experience, intuition and intelligence of the DM, but in a game as flexible as Pathfinder, it shouldn't be expected to. Anything so narrow would make the game bland. CRs also provide a platform by which to plan out experience and treasure in design. Again, its a guide, not a straight-jacket, but as a guide its not broken. So, the DM has to learn how to anticipate the outcomes (in general) of an encounter, taking into account environment, weapons and armor, available equipment, powers, numbers of attackers or defenders, and a host of other unknowable (to the game designers) factors. The CRs should not be taken as a final word on anything, but rather simply one of a number of variables. But they are not meaningless. [/QUOTE]

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