D&D General Quick Question on Monster CR (Elite Griffons)

[SkidAce]

I know I can come up with an answer, but I like a certain verisimilitude in my designs, and ran into a thought concerning CR.

If I was designing a specific monster to challenge a specific party, easy peasy.

But I'm currently designing for a campaign setting. Was playing Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen, and fighting basically a legendary griffon (which apparently has lightning resist).

So the muse slaps me, I'm going to design griffons based on lightning and storms, and work them into the lore of my world. Thematics, no problem.

CR? Basic griffons are CR2, and their claws and multiattack can shred a commoner (4hp) and standard guards (11hp). So 99% (in my world) of NPCs are toast. Perfect for standard griffon.

I could double the CR to 4 (revise damage, attack, and hp to reflect), add lightning resist and there's the "Elite" griffon.

And then double the CR again (to 8) for the legendary griffon, and possibly higher (9/10) for specific individuals. This feels like it would work, and have a semi logical progression.

However, maybe you would go higher with your CRs, say 2, 6, 18? That seems a bit steep for griffons, but could work.

There is no real answer, just trying to get a feel for a progression that "seems" appropriate from a world view.

 

[Distracted DM]

I know I can come up with an answer, but I like a certain verisimilitude in my designs, and ran into a thought concerning CR.

If I was designing a specific monster to challenge a specific party, easy peasy.

But I'm currently designing for a campaign setting. Was playing Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen, and fighting basically a legendary griffon (which apparently has lightning resist).

So the muse slaps me, I'm going to design griffons based on lightning and storms, and work them into the lore of my world. Thematics, no problem.

CR? Basic griffons are CR2, and their claws and multiattack can shred a commoner (4hp) and standard guards (11hp). So 99% (in my world) of NPCs are toast. Perfect for standard griffon.

I could double the CR to 4 (revise damage, attack, and hp to reflect), add lightning resist and there's the "Elite" griffon.

And then double the CR again (to 8) for the legendary griffon, and possibly higher (9/10) for specific individuals. This feels like it would work, and have a semi logical progression.

However, maybe you would go higher with your CRs, say 2, 6, 18? That seems a bit steep for griffons, but could work.

There is no real answer, just trying to get a feel for a progression that "seems" appropriate from a world view.

You could look to A5E's elite monsters. They count as two monsters of their CR and present a genuine challenge, in part due to their Elite Recovery mechanic.

For example, an ogre vs a cave ogre (an elite ogre). Double the HP, more damage, can deal with hunting parties.

That way you're not doubling CR every time :'D

 

[Minigiant]

Well remember the big dinos are CR 5-8.