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<blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 4031795" data-attributes="member: 3146">Actually, from what I've been reading, there is a pretty big difference between 3e and 4e in this regard. As far as I can tell, in 3e, if you want a chimera to challenge a 12th level party, you add hit dice per the MM guidelines, attack bonus, feats, etc, and then when you're done, you take a look at your creation to see if it is really a reasonable EL 14 encounter. (EL=party level is not challenging, nor is it supposed to be; EL=party level +2 is generally on the easy side of challenging; EL=party level +3 is the more challenging side of challenging).In 4e, on the other hand, it seems like the designers have worked out some mathematical values for x-level monsters. A level 26 opponent has an AC of about X, hit points of about Y, Defenses of Z, and attack and damage of A and B. As SRM posted, the ogre may do a little more damage than you'd expect but be a little less likely to hit, but basically, he falls in that ballpark.In that context, while 3.x monsters may be all over the map in terms of hit points, armor class, saving throws, etc (some very powerful monsters will have lousy armor class but great saves and boatloads of hit points, etc), it sounds like 4e monsters of any given level will stick within a much narrower range.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Elder-Basilisk, post: 4031795, member: 3146"] Actually, from what I've been reading, there is a pretty big difference between 3e and 4e in this regard. As far as I can tell, in 3e, if you want a chimera to challenge a 12th level party, you add hit dice per the MM guidelines, attack bonus, feats, etc, and then when you're done, you take a look at your creation to see if it is really a reasonable EL 14 encounter. (EL=party level is not challenging, nor is it supposed to be; EL=party level +2 is generally on the easy side of challenging; EL=party level +3 is the more challenging side of challenging). In 4e, on the other hand, it seems like the designers have worked out some mathematical values for x-level monsters. A level 26 opponent has an AC of about X, hit points of about Y, Defenses of Z, and attack and damage of A and B. As SRM posted, the ogre may do a little more damage than you'd expect but be a little less likely to hit, but basically, he falls in that ballpark. In that context, while 3.x monsters may be all over the map in terms of hit points, armor class, saving throws, etc (some very powerful monsters will have lousy armor class but great saves and boatloads of hit points, etc), it sounds like 4e monsters of any given level will stick within a much narrower range. [/QUOTE]

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