Calculating CR.. what is the best method? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Calculating CR.. what is the best method? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tealgorthian
08-24-05, 08:55 PM I'm trying to make a series of monsters for my modified City of the Spider Queen, that will take my players across several planes, and alternate realities.

But I have no idea how to calculate CR. Can someone point me to some good guidelines for how much hitidice and abilities are worth?

They are obviously not a linear scale, and my math-fu is a bit weak at the moment. I need to get back in college :\
cammobeast
08-24-05, 09:13 PM P.302 of the MM 3.5 is stupidly simple and suprisingly effective.
The Abominable Darkling
08-25-05, 09:19 AM I second that. The key is not to calculate CR at all. You choose the CR you want before you begin statting the monster.
Tealgorthian
08-25-05, 01:49 PM Part of the problem is I already HAVE the idea for the monster I want. I ran it in 2e. But then I didn't bother with stats, I just winged it :P

Thanks for the ideas though :)
Willie the Duck
08-25-05, 10:09 PM Part of the problem is I already HAVE the idea for the monster I want. I ran it in 2e. But then I didn't bother with stats, I just winged it :P

Thanks for the ideas though :)

So decide what cr the monster ought to have based on the party level and how challenging you want it to be. look at a bunch of monsters of that CR (prferably of the same basic 'type' as the monster you want. so if it is a 100' tall melee machine, look at the tough melee monsters of that cr), and take stats that approximate that level of difficulty.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tealgorthian 08-24-05, 08:55 PM	I'm trying to make a series of monsters for my modified City of the Spider Queen, that will take my players across several planes, and alternate realities. But I have no idea how to calculate CR. Can someone point me to some good guidelines for how much hitidice and abilities are worth? They are obviously not a linear scale, and my math-fu is a bit weak at the moment. I need to get back in college :\
cammobeast 08-24-05, 09:13 PM	P.302 of the MM 3.5 is stupidly simple and suprisingly effective.
The Abominable Darkling 08-25-05, 09:19 AM	I second that. The key is not to calculate CR at all. You choose the CR you want before you begin statting the monster.
Tealgorthian 08-25-05, 01:49 PM	Part of the problem is I already HAVE the idea for the monster I want. I ran it in 2e. But then I didn't bother with stats, I just winged it :P Thanks for the ideas though :)
Willie the Duck 08-25-05, 10:09 PM	Part of the problem is I already HAVE the idea for the monster I want. I ran it in 2e. But then I didn't bother with stats, I just winged it :P Thanks for the ideas though :) So decide what cr the monster ought to have based on the party level and how challenging you want it to be. look at a bunch of monsters of that CR (prferably of the same basic 'type' as the monster you want. so if it is a 100' tall melee machine, look at the tough melee monsters of that cr), and take stats that approximate that level of difficulty.