Post/Author/DateTime	Post
raidzuo 10-22-06, 11:22 PM	When creating a monster from scratch, how do I calculate it's CR? Is there some sort of table, or do I have to guess?
Roivas 10-22-06, 11:36 PM	I think the monster manual has guidlines for such, but they are sketchy at best. I'd recommend testing the monster while giving it a target CR. Use the 4 cardinal NPCs for the fight and have everyone aware of each other at the start of the fight. If the creature presents a good challenge to the fake party your CR keep it as such, adjust if nessisary up or down. Alternatively you can post it's stats online and hear other people's opinions on it's CR. Either way really.
Slagger the Chuul 10-22-06, 11:49 PM	Finding the nearest existing monster to your new creation is a good idea, since that tells you the sort of Challenge Rating at which you're looking. From there, you have to consider what makes your creature different from the existing one, and how that will increase or decrease the CR.
raidzuo 10-23-06, 12:02 AM	I feared it would be something like this. It's hard to "guess" CR for 6 50th level players you have DM'd in over 500 10 hour+ sessions. As time goes on, I find myself pulling punches, or giving the monster an ability it didn't have to make things more difficult. I just wish there was a standard. There was a chart in 2nd edition that was pretty handy :(