Adding to fraction CRs. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Adding to fraction CRs. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ashlock
03-16-05, 09:34 AM Sounds exciting, doesn't it?

I'm just trying to find the official word on this. I've only seen speculation.

If a template adds +2 to the CR, how do you calculate the total if the base creature has a fraction CR, like 1/2 or 1/4?
d_nychus
03-16-05, 09:50 AM Well, if it's anything like adding class levels to races with NPC classes, I would say just round down.

Just like if you added two NPC class levels to a CR 1/2 to get a CR 2, you would add 2 to the CR 1/2 creature to get a CR 2.

Just my guess.
Ashlock
03-16-05, 12:06 PM I tried to figure it out by looking at the fiendish template.

Normally, a dire rat is CR 1/3. For fiendish creatures, it reads, "HD 3 or less, as base creature," but a dire rat has 1 HD. So why did it go from 1/3 to 1/2 when the template was added to it?

Argh.
Wayward Son
03-16-05, 04:56 PM Just going by WotC's math on fractional CRs (that is, that the denominator is equal to the number of these creatures to make a CR 1 challenge), I'd say this:

Treat each +1 of CR added by the template as adding the fraction to itself. Once you reach a whole number, add the remaining CR as normal.

Ok, that wasn't as clear as I hoped. :D

Here's an example: You are adding a template to Bob the Orc. (I don't have my books here, so I won't go with a specific template.) The template adds +1 CR to Bob's 1/2 CR, so you effectively treat Augmented Bob as twice the orc he was before and (1/2 CR + 1/2 CR) he is now a CR 1. If the template instead added +3 to his CR, Super Bob would then be a CR 3 (1/2 base + 1/2 to bring him to 1, then the remaining +2).

Just so we can get into the crunchy math of it all, let's instead look at Bob's cross-swamp rival, Fred the Kobold. At his base, Fred is a mere 1/4 CR, and hardly a match for Bob. Fortunately(?) for Fred, he has a pretty funky ancestory, giving him a +1 CR and making him a 1/2 CR threat (1/4 base +1/4 for the template). Sadly, Fred is a curious sort, and that has landed his snout in a few extraplanar experiments. By the end of it all, Fred has had some modifications, giving him another +4 CR in aquired templates. This leaves him at a total CR of :lightbulb: 3! (1/4 base + 1/4 for the first template + 2/4 for the first +2 from the new templates, bringing him to 1 + 2 for the balance of the CR adjustment). Now he and Bob are equal threats to a balanced party of 4 adventures, and Bob goes in search of a mad wizard to give him some grafts so he'll be better than that mangy little kobold. :plotting:

So, there's my take on it. Of course, I could be completely wrong, but that's how the system makes sense, using WotC's CR math.

Have fun.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ashlock 03-16-05, 09:34 AM	Sounds exciting, doesn't it? I'm just trying to find the official word on this. I've only seen speculation. If a template adds +2 to the CR, how do you calculate the total if the base creature has a fraction CR, like 1/2 or 1/4?
d_nychus 03-16-05, 09:50 AM	Well, if it's anything like adding class levels to races with NPC classes, I would say just round down. Just like if you added two NPC class levels to a CR 1/2 to get a CR 2, you would add 2 to the CR 1/2 creature to get a CR 2. Just my guess.
Ashlock 03-16-05, 12:06 PM	I tried to figure it out by looking at the fiendish template. Normally, a dire rat is CR 1/3. For fiendish creatures, it reads, "HD 3 or less, as base creature," but a dire rat has 1 HD. So why did it go from 1/3 to 1/2 when the template was added to it? Argh.
Wayward Son 03-16-05, 04:56 PM	Just going by WotC's math on fractional CRs (that is, that the denominator is equal to the number of these creatures to make a CR 1 challenge), I'd say this: Treat each +1 of CR added by the template as adding the fraction to itself. Once you reach a whole number, add the remaining CR as normal. Ok, that wasn't as clear as I hoped. :D Here's an example: You are adding a template to Bob the Orc. (I don't have my books here, so I won't go with a specific template.) The template adds +1 CR to Bob's 1/2 CR, so you effectively treat Augmented Bob as twice the orc he was before and (1/2 CR + 1/2 CR) he is now a CR 1. If the template instead added +3 to his CR, Super Bob would then be a CR 3 (1/2 base + 1/2 to bring him to 1, then the remaining +2). Just so we can get into the crunchy math of it all, let's instead look at Bob's cross-swamp rival, Fred the Kobold. At his base, Fred is a mere 1/4 CR, and hardly a match for Bob. Fortunately(?) for Fred, he has a pretty funky ancestory, giving him a +1 CR and making him a 1/2 CR threat (1/4 base +1/4 for the template). Sadly, Fred is a curious sort, and that has landed his snout in a few extraplanar experiments. By the end of it all, Fred has had some modifications, giving him another +4 CR in aquired templates. This leaves him at a total CR of :lightbulb: 3! (1/4 base + 1/4 for the first template + 2/4 for the first +2 from the new templates, bringing him to 1 + 2 for the balance of the CR adjustment). Now he and Bob are equal threats to a balanced party of 4 adventures, and Bob goes in search of a mad wizard to give him some grafts so he'll be better than that mangy little kobold. :plotting: So, there's my take on it. Of course, I could be completely wrong, but that's how the system makes sense, using WotC's CR math. Have fun.