Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xeviat-DM 09-25-05, 04:33 AM	In a campaign I'm running in a new setting I designed, I need a mount for a 5th level character to take the place of the Heavy Warhorse he would normally have (CR of a terrestrial mount is suposed to be 3 lower than the character). The setting they are in does not have native mammals larger than cats, the ecosystem is made up mostly of reptiles and birds on land, so a new mount needed to be designed. I started with the Horse and used the Reptilian Template as a guide. Here's the creature as I've designed preliminarily: Riding Saurian Large Animal HD: 3d8+12 (29 hp) Init: +1 Speed: 40 ft., Swim 40 ft. AC: 15 (-1 Size, +0 Dex, +6 Natural); touch 9; flatfooted 15 BAB/Grapple: +2/+10 Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d8+4) Full Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d8+4) F/R: 10 ft./5 ft. SA: Improved Grab (bite SQ: Low-light vision; scent; hold breath Saves: Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +1 Abilities: Str 18, Dex 11, Con 19, Int 1, Wis 11, Cha 6 Skills: Listen +5, Spot +5, Swim +12 Feats: Endurance, Run Align: N CR: 2 It's largely a crocodile ... but larger and without a taleslap. Do you think the CR is spot on, or do I need to recalibrate it?
mythSSK 09-25-05, 05:47 AM	Well, let's look at a few other creatures at CR 2 and see where your riding saurian sits in comparison. Taking a quick flick through the SRD, and I see that Apes, as well as being a CR 2 creature, are animals as well, which should make them a good measuring stick. An average riding saurian has the same hp as an average ape. An average ape has a slightly better initiative (+2 vs. +1). Average saurian beats out the ape in speed. (both have an alternate speed as well). Saurian narrowly wins out in AC by 1. Natural attacks is the first section where there is a clearly superior creature - the ape has three attacks, two at +7, one at +2, dealing (1d6+5) and (1d6+2) respectively, beating your saurian by a landslide. Ape has reach, 'nuff said. Saurian has improved grab and hold breath, both relatively minor advantages vs. the ape. Ape's saves are also superior, as are its ability scores. Hmm, looks like the ape is in almost every aspect your saurians superior. Ofcourse, the saurian could just run away, but we're not worried about how they'd fare in a 1v1 fight, only comparing them. Let's see how the Saurian weighs up against a CR 1 critter. I'll use a Light Warhorse, which is kind of similar to what you're wanting the riding saurian for anyway. Hp: Saurian wins. Init: tie. Speed: Horse is faster, but saurian has a swim speed. AC: Saurian wins. Attacks: Saurian wins by a lot. Rest: Saurian wins. Looking at that, I'd say your Saurian is somewhere between CR 1 and 2, but clearly leaning towards the higher end of that spectrum. It's not quite as powerful as other creatures of its CR, but its far stronger than a CR 1 critter. CR 2 looks good to me. (PS. My second comparison was a lot briefer than the first, as I didn't think a more thorough look was warranted).