CR of critter with Class Levels and Template [Archive] - Wizards Community

CR of critter with Class Levels and Template [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rogue1stclass
03-24-04, 12:26 PM I have an NPC coming in my game and I'm a little confused as to how to calculate CR for it.

It is a Fiendish Gnoll Cleric 6.

My inclination is that it should be CR 8, 1 for 2 HD of Humaniod, 6 for the Cleric levels, +1 for the Fiendish Template on an 8 HD creature.

The bits that confuse me, though, are the Level Adjustment and the Template.

Do you add the Level Adjust to CR?

Does the Fiendish Template count Class Levels, or just base HD?

The MM doesn't doesn't address either of these questions directly.
ieattrollsforbreakfast
03-24-04, 02:24 PM As you are talking about CR and not ECL I assume you are DM, and thus the first thing you must do is IGNORE THE LEVEL ADJUSTMENT. Thats for players wanting to play the monster and has nothing to do with challenge rating at all.
So ignoring anything to do with level adjustments and challenge rating of individual HD, its pretty simple.
The gnoll is CR 1 by itself IIRC, thats with no templates or class levels. Adding 6 cleric levels adds 6 to the CR, and the fiendish template adds +1 to CR. That gives you a total CR of 8.
I think the fiendish template counts class level HD. Most templates do unless it specifically says that it only applies to racial HD (it wont say that if its 3.0 MM).
captainswift
03-24-04, 02:31 PM LA and CR are exclusive. You do not add the LA to figure CR, or vice versa.

A gnoll is CR 1. 6 character levels add 6 CR, for a total of 7. Since it is now an 8 HD creature (2 natural, 6 class), you add 1 CR for the Fiendish template. So yes, your fiendish gnoll cleric is CR 8.
So now we know he's an appropriate foe for a party of four 8th level characters (if he's alone and this is meant to be a moderately challenging encounter).

However, if he wants to join the party, we look at it this way. 2 HD of humanoid, plus his natural LA of +1 makes a gnoll EL 3. Add 6 character levels, he's EL 9, then the template adds LA +2, for a total of EL 11, so we know the fiendish gnoll padre is an appropriate member of an 11th level party.

If only it were all simple, but alas, we have what we have.
Rogue1stclass
03-24-04, 04:45 PM Thanks...that's what I thought.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rogue1stclass 03-24-04, 12:26 PM	I have an NPC coming in my game and I'm a little confused as to how to calculate CR for it. It is a Fiendish Gnoll Cleric 6. My inclination is that it should be CR 8, 1 for 2 HD of Humaniod, 6 for the Cleric levels, +1 for the Fiendish Template on an 8 HD creature. The bits that confuse me, though, are the Level Adjustment and the Template. Do you add the Level Adjust to CR? Does the Fiendish Template count Class Levels, or just base HD? The MM doesn't doesn't address either of these questions directly.
ieattrollsforbreakfast 03-24-04, 02:24 PM	As you are talking about CR and not ECL I assume you are DM, and thus the first thing you must do is IGNORE THE LEVEL ADJUSTMENT. Thats for players wanting to play the monster and has nothing to do with challenge rating at all. So ignoring anything to do with level adjustments and challenge rating of individual HD, its pretty simple. The gnoll is CR 1 by itself IIRC, thats with no templates or class levels. Adding 6 cleric levels adds 6 to the CR, and the fiendish template adds +1 to CR. That gives you a total CR of 8. I think the fiendish template counts class level HD. Most templates do unless it specifically says that it only applies to racial HD (it wont say that if its 3.0 MM).
captainswift 03-24-04, 02:31 PM	LA and CR are exclusive. You do not add the LA to figure CR, or vice versa. A gnoll is CR 1. 6 character levels add 6 CR, for a total of 7. Since it is now an 8 HD creature (2 natural, 6 class), you add 1 CR for the Fiendish template. So yes, your fiendish gnoll cleric is CR 8. So now we know he's an appropriate foe for a party of four 8th level characters (if he's alone and this is meant to be a moderately challenging encounter). However, if he wants to join the party, we look at it this way. 2 HD of humanoid, plus his natural LA of +1 makes a gnoll EL 3. Add 6 character levels, he's EL 9, then the template adds LA +2, for a total of EL 11, so we know the fiendish gnoll padre is an appropriate member of an 11th level party. If only it were all simple, but alas, we have what we have.
Rogue1stclass 03-24-04, 04:45 PM	Thanks...that's what I thought.