What's up with the protector's CR?!?

[Matrix Sorcica]

Just looked in my Tome of Horrors and found horror indeed!
The Protector is listed as CR 4, but casts spells as a cleric of its HD (7)...At the same time they have good stats and airwalk at will.

It get even worse if you advance them fully. Can anyone say 21st level casting ability at CR 8? I think my players will be a little sceptical when they at 8th level get confronted with some Harm and Destruction spells - after the Blade Barrier of course.

Anyone has any idea as to why the Protector's CR is set so low, and maybe what a more correct one would be?

Thanks.

 

[Knight Otu]

Errata is found on Necromancer forums. Should be 7.

 

[the Jester]

Yeah, there are a few nasties like that... the greater basilisk is likely to wipe out half a 7th-level party with its breath weapon imo... CR7??

 

[Grazzt]

The Protector's CR should be 7. The unoffiical rule is that monsters that cast or replicate spells should have a CR equal to their caster level. (Monte Cook came up with this on his site many months ago). We followed this throughout the Tome, but apparently one slipped by.

 

[Grazzt]

Yeah, there are a few nasties like that... the greater basilisk is likely to wipe out half a 7th-level party with its breath weapon imo... CR7??

Only if they get right in front of it. Its breath weapon (which should probably be called "bad breath" since it is always active, rather than used like an actual breath weapon ) only extends like 5 feet in front of it. Stay outta range and attack it with reach weapons, spells, or missile weapons.

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

The Protector's CR should be 7. The unoffiical rule is that monsters that cast or replicate spells should have a CR equal to their caster level. (Monte Cook came up with this on his site many months ago). We followed this throughout the Tome, but apparently one slipped by.

Okay, but that still leaves you with a potential CR 11 monster that casts spells as a 21st level cleric.

Just because there is an 'unofficial rule somewhere' people can't really be exspected to know about it. It should be included in the creatures write-up, IMO.
But, apparently one slipped through...

 

[Grazzt]

Okay, but that still leaves you with a potential CR 11 monster that casts spells as a 21st level cleric.

CR 11 that casts spells as a 21st-level cleric? Am I missing something? If you are referring to the monster advancement rules regarding CRs and HD, then the protector would be CR 21 and cast as a 21st-level cleric...using the unofficial ruling again that replicating or casting spells sets the monster's CR equal to its HD.

 

[the Jester]

Only if they get right in front of it. Its breath weapon (which should probably be called "bad breath" since it is always active, rather than used like an actual breath weapon ) only extends like 5 feet in front of it. Stay outta range and attack it with reach weapons, spells, or missile weapons.

Ahh, I stand corrected!

I hadn't noticed the short range.

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

CR 11 that casts spells as a 21st-level cleric? Am I missing something? If you are referring to the monster advancement rules regarding CRs and HD, then the protector would be CR 21 and cast as a 21st-level cleric...using the unofficial ruling again that replicating or casting spells sets the monster's CR equal to its HD.

I know. What I meant was that this unofficial rule should be mentioned in the ToH or somewhere else related to the Tome. Otherwise, it's a bit much to expect other users of ToH to be aware of this rule (I wasn't for example). Not all roleplayers frequent these or other boards.

My 0.02 local currency.