Ability scores for Monsters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ability scores for Monsters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Baptor
06-13-07, 01:57 PM Heya,

As a DM, I create alot of my own monsters. One thing I have always had trouble with is deciding what their ability scores will be.
I copied some notes from a friend who has Savage Species, so I know what a few basic things are worth in CR, but I don't know for instance, what sort of Strength a 10 hit die magical beast would have.
I look around the MM and find lots of differences. One CR 10 might have a ton of hit dice and not much strength, while another has few hit dice and a massive Strength score.
How do you determine this stuff?
Morwen
06-13-07, 03:11 PM It would depend on what the monster is designed to do, and on what size it is (the larger the monster, the more strength it will usually have).

For instance, a monster designed to be a melee combatant will have a lot more strength than a monster designed to be a trickster or spellcaster.
Baptor
06-13-07, 03:23 PM Well clearly, but you are missing the point of my question.

Are there any formulas? Does one simply play it by ear?

Lets say I want to build a CR 10 outsider, purely melee combatant, with perhaps only one or two special abilities, lets say one that helps his melee skills, such as Rend or Constrict, and a fear aura.
How would you go about it?
cwslyclgh
06-13-07, 05:12 PM Are there any formulas?no, there are some guidelines, but no formulas.

Does one simply play it by ear?pretty much.

Lets say I want to build a CR 10 outsider, purely melee combatant, with perhaps only one or two special abilities, lets say one that helps his melee skills, such as Rend or Constrict, and a fear aura.
How would you go about it?you didn't list a size, I'll go with large...

for a CR 10 large melee brute outsider, I would probably go with a strength in the 18-26 range, a Dex in the 10-16 range, a Con in the 14-22 range, an Int in the 8-12 range, a Wisdom of 12-14, and a charisma of 12-16.
Baptor
06-13-07, 05:20 PM no, there are some guidelines, but no formulas.

pretty much.

Ack, oh well.

Thanks for your input. What did you do to become a scribe? What does that mean? I've never seen that before.
cwslyclgh
06-13-07, 05:35 PM What did you do to become a scribe?I was the keeper of the (3.0) Tome and Blood FAQ, so when the Wizo's decided to try out the scribe idea, I was one of the people that were asked if they wanted to volunteer before they opened it up to the general populace (then closed it again once they had the number of scribes that they wanted), I accepted... sat through a training session with Wizo Shadow, and became a scribe. My basic duties are to be helpful around the boards.
Tequila_Sunrise
06-14-07, 02:31 AM Well clearly, but you are missing the point of my question.

Are there any formulas? Does one simply play it by ear?

Lets say I want to build a CR 10 outsider, purely melee combatant, with perhaps only one or two special abilities, lets say one that helps his melee skills, such as Rend or Constrict, and a fear aura.
How would you go about it?

I've actually done my best to create formulae for creating all types of monsters based on the 3.5 MM standard for CR. I'm still fine tuning them, but battler-type monsters are the easiest. Especially dragons and giants, because they have the most examples from the MM to compare to. Check out my site (http://lucasbuchanan.com/Standardized%20Monster%20Progressions) for details.

PS: The idea that monster stats are based on what they should be "realistically" is rediculous. Only animals and vermin follow a vague sense of real-world logic, and they suck because of it. The MM guidelines for advancing monsters are also rubbish, as if just adding a bunch of HD creates an interesting challenge.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Baptor 06-13-07, 01:57 PM	Heya, As a DM, I create alot of my own monsters. One thing I have always had trouble with is deciding what their ability scores will be. I copied some notes from a friend who has Savage Species, so I know what a few basic things are worth in CR, but I don't know for instance, what sort of Strength a 10 hit die magical beast would have. I look around the MM and find lots of differences. One CR 10 might have a ton of hit dice and not much strength, while another has few hit dice and a massive Strength score. How do you determine this stuff?
Morwen 06-13-07, 03:11 PM	It would depend on what the monster is designed to do, and on what size it is (the larger the monster, the more strength it will usually have). For instance, a monster designed to be a melee combatant will have a lot more strength than a monster designed to be a trickster or spellcaster.
Baptor 06-13-07, 03:23 PM	Well clearly, but you are missing the point of my question. Are there any formulas? Does one simply play it by ear? Lets say I want to build a CR 10 outsider, purely melee combatant, with perhaps only one or two special abilities, lets say one that helps his melee skills, such as Rend or Constrict, and a fear aura. How would you go about it?
cwslyclgh 06-13-07, 05:12 PM	Are there any formulas?no, there are some guidelines, but no formulas. Does one simply play it by ear?pretty much. Lets say I want to build a CR 10 outsider, purely melee combatant, with perhaps only one or two special abilities, lets say one that helps his melee skills, such as Rend or Constrict, and a fear aura. How would you go about it?you didn't list a size, I'll go with large... for a CR 10 large melee brute outsider, I would probably go with a strength in the 18-26 range, a Dex in the 10-16 range, a Con in the 14-22 range, an Int in the 8-12 range, a Wisdom of 12-14, and a charisma of 12-16.
Baptor 06-13-07, 05:20 PM	no, there are some guidelines, but no formulas. pretty much. Ack, oh well. Thanks for your input. What did you do to become a scribe? What does that mean? I've never seen that before.
cwslyclgh 06-13-07, 05:35 PM	What did you do to become a scribe?I was the keeper of the (3.0) Tome and Blood FAQ, so when the Wizo's decided to try out the scribe idea, I was one of the people that were asked if they wanted to volunteer before they opened it up to the general populace (then closed it again once they had the number of scribes that they wanted), I accepted... sat through a training session with Wizo Shadow, and became a scribe. My basic duties are to be helpful around the boards.
Tequila_Sunrise 06-14-07, 02:31 AM	Well clearly, but you are missing the point of my question. Are there any formulas? Does one simply play it by ear? Lets say I want to build a CR 10 outsider, purely melee combatant, with perhaps only one or two special abilities, lets say one that helps his melee skills, such as Rend or Constrict, and a fear aura. How would you go about it? I've actually done my best to create formulae for creating all types of monsters based on the 3.5 MM standard for CR. I'm still fine tuning them, but battler-type monsters are the easiest. Especially dragons and giants, because they have the most examples from the MM to compare to. Check out my site (http://lucasbuchanan.com/Standardized%20Monster%20Progressions) for details. PS: The idea that monster stats are based on what they should be "realistically" is rediculous. Only animals and vermin follow a vague sense of real-world logic, and they suck because of it. The MM guidelines for advancing monsters are also rubbish, as if just adding a bunch of HD creates an interesting challenge.