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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mesh Hong" data-source="post: 4725339" data-attributes="member: 73463">Generally creatures that are:strong or robust (STR or CON) will have a high Fortitude defencenimble or clever (DEX or INT) will have a high Reflex defenceinsightful or of forceful personality (WIS or CHA) will have a high Will defence The defences of a creature are a product of its character or stats. You can add invisible or fluffy racial bonuses afterwards to help balance it if you wish. I know monsters and PCs use different systems, but these are some of the basic principles of the D&D universe as set out in 4e. Practically everything in the world runs off the core principles of Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, WIsdom and Charisma in one way or other. It is usually considered good practice to include one weaker defence as a "chink in the armour" and rewards clever and varied PC attack powers and styles. Obviously you should try and present PCs with a varied range of creatures that are weak against differring attack options. Getting back to point, I do not see the vast difference between: deciding on the stats of the creature in question then applying the defences, then adding a layer of tweek to either the stats or the defences themselves if they look out of whack. or Deciding the defences directly and then either filling out the appropriate stats or leaving them out entirely. They both end up at the same place, design wise. One just has a very slightly deeper layer of thought applied to it which can help in getting a feel for the creature being design. While the other is quicker and therefore perhaps slightly more efficient time wise. I am not saying that my way is the only way, in fact I was going out of my way to applaud the sytem for allowing differing approaches that would lead to similar or at least consistantly balanced outcomes.  I know I am probably reading more into your post than you intended and I do note you phrase 'mechanically important', but I still think that it can be useful when creating a rounded and grounded creature to consider its defences (and maybe its bonus damage on attacks) as a product of its stats.</blockquote>

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