Three quick questions

[Fallenibilis]

First im pretty sure i know the answer but i for safety's sake im gonna ask about it.

Does Heavy Fortifed Armor prevent a rogue from sneak attacking if they have Penetrating Strike?

If it works just like a sneak attacking a Construct and you deal only half damage if you only have Light Fortification would you do full sneak attack damage most of the time and 1/2 damage the 25% of the time that your sneak attack should be negated?

And my final question how much does equipment, class combo's, and alternate class features play into a creatures CR?

Thanks Falleniblis

 

[Dandu]

Does Heavy Fortifed Armor prevent a rogue from sneak attacking if they have Penetrating Strike?

If it works just like a sneak attacking a Construct and you deal only half damage if you only have Light Fortification would you do full sneak attack damage most of the time and 1/2 damage the 25% of the time that your sneak attack should be negated?

Fortification

This suit of armor or shield produces a magical force that protects vital areas of the wearer more effectively. When a critical hit or sneak attack is scored on the wearer, there is a chance that the critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally.

The rogue could make a sneak attack... it'd just be negated.

 

[Fallenibilis]

So then the ACF Penetrating Strike from Dungeonscape wouldn't have any effect?

So i assume that undead would the have a reason to wear fortified armor, not a great one albeit but a reason.

 

[Dandu]

A reason, yes.

If the point is to not be vulnerable to Penetrating Strike, you could also fight in an area of concealment.

 

[Empirate]

Obscuring Mist or Darkness do wondrous things to any cocky Rogue to try and ruin your day...

 

[Fallenibilis]

Thanks guys anything on the third question mainly the equipment bit? I'm currently trying to equip some of the Powerful NPCs of my world and i was wondering how much equiping them using the PC wealth table instead of the NPC table or using the wealth of a NPC of a higher would increase their CR?

 

[Empirate]

Using PC wealth increases the encounter's difficulty significantly - but you don't want to do that too much, as it gives the PCs far too much treasure. I'd not increase CR for humanoid foes with good gear: humanoids are at the low end of their CR anyway (i.e., they're often overrated as far as CR goes).

Class combo and alternate class features don't come into CR calculation at all. Only the overall level does.

Note that you should aim to use similar optimization to the players: if they're all playing high-powered minmaxed builds, there's no reason you shouldn't use those with your NPCs and monsters (Giants with Crusader levels, Spiked Chains and Stand still are fun, but so are Dragons with Monk's Belts). Otherwise, lay back on the optimization if your players are more casual.

 

[frankthedm]

Note that you should aim to use similar optimization to the players: if they're all playing high-powered minmaxed builds, there's no reason you shouldn't use those with your NPCs and monsters (Giants with Crusader levels, Spiked Chains and Stand still are fun, but so are Dragons with Monk's Belts). Otherwise, lay back on the optimization if your players are more casual.

Its more efficent to just lower the numerical CR on monster if the players over optimize. CR is supposed to be a measure the challenge the creature presents. For a number crunched group, what the book might call a CR 8, is really a CR 5 and should only have the rewards of a CR 5 creature.

 

[Dandu]

Does that mean if the party is horribly optimized and badly played, they should get more for defeating a CR8 encounter?

 

[ValhallaGH]

Does that mean if the party is horribly optimized and badly played, they should get more for defeating a CR8 encounter?

That's an ad-hoc experience question.

My gut says "No. Learn to play, bitches." But my gut is full of hate and bile.

(Hate is a tastey lunch.)