What's the CR of an efreeti aristocrat?

[the Jester]

OK, so how's the CR work btb on:

an efreet aristocrat 1?
an efreet aristocrat 2?
an efreet aristocrat 10?

I would surmise that all npc classes should count as nonassociated classes for purposes of advancing monsters... but what about the -1 to the CR for being an npc class?

Is an efreet (standard CR 8) with 2 levels of aristocrat still CR 8? (Add 1/2 of the nonassociated levels and then subtract one for it being an npc class.) Or CR 9?

Am I just confusing myself here?

 

[CrimsonTemplar]

Based on what I see in the SRD and the formulas you've posted I'd say that CR 8 is fair. He won't gain many hit points (average of 10 or so), only +1 BAB and +3 to Will saves from having 2 levels of Aristocrat. That won't make him all that much more nasty than a regular Efreet.

 

[jgsugden]

CR formulas are nothing more than guidelines. If you want to see what the appropritae CR for a monster would be, design it and then run it up against an 'average' mock party - fighter, rogue, cleric, wizard - of the level you estimate to be the correct CR. Run the battle a few times. If it is an easy battle, drop the CR a bit. If it is a hard battle, up the CR a bit.

That is the *only* way to get a good CR for the creature.

And don't worry if you're off by a bit. The law of averages will help you out. Sometimes you'll be too high in CR, somethimes too low ... so in the end, the CRs will all balance out to approximate the correct number.

As for your specific example: Efreet w/ 2 aristo-cat (MEOW) levels would be CR 8 in my book, but I'd bump it up to 9 if it had a useful item in its treasure ...

 

[the Jester]

Well, the efreet in question is actually an 8th-level aristocrat/10th-level mortal hunter...

so would you say:

CR 8 (efreet) + 3 (aristocrat) +10 (mortal hunter) = CR 21 sounds about right?

What if I give Mr. Efreet Noble a few extra spell-like abilities?

Anyhoo, just trying to approximate a fair CR... thanks!