Evolved Undead Template Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Evolved Undead Template Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mysticnurse
07-08-05, 02:39 PM Lemme bounce this one off you guys and gals:

I want to apply the Evolved Undead template to a Wight, but I want the Evolved Wight to be a CR 8. Now, the base CR of a Wight is CR 3 and Libris Mortis says that the Evolved Undead Template may be applied "more than once, evolving more with each application." I have, in the adventure I'm generating, more than one way for this Wight to "evolve" 5 times.
I will apply a +5 to the Wight's AC, as its natural AC improves by +1 per "evolution" and I will determine 5 spell-like abilities listed on the chart in the Evolved Undead entry in Libris Mortis.
The problem I have with this that I'm not sure progresses with proper game balance is the Ability and Special Qualities that are applied with this template:
for a 5-times-over evolved Wight, the Wight would get a +10 to its Strength and +10 to its Charisma (+2 for each "evolution). Furthermore, is would gain Fast Healing 15 (Fast Healing 3 for each "evolution").
These 2 things seem excessive. Am I missing something or are my calculations correct?

Thanks.
The Abominable Darkling
07-08-05, 03:20 PM The problem I have with this that I'm not sure progresses with proper game balance is the Ability and Special Qualities that are applied with this template:
for a 5-times-over evolved Wight, the Wight would get a +10 to its Strength and +10 to its Charisma (+2 for each "evolution).
This much is correct.

Furthermore, is would gain Fast Healing 15 (Fast Healing 3 for each "evolution").
This is incorrect. An evolved undead gains fast healing 3. It doesn't matter how many times it gains this ability; it is still only fast healing 3. (It doesn't get +3 to its existing fast healing).

These 2 things seem excessive. Am I missing something or are my calculations correct?
Other than the fast healing bit, you're spot on. However, the creature you describe would be an extraordinarily weak CR 8. It would still have only 4 hit dice (and thus around 26 hit points).

It would also have a caster level four for its spell-like abilities. According to the template, you can only choose spell-like abilities if its caster level is high enough to cast the spell in question (this is a special feature of the evolved undead template and not a general rule). The only spell on the list it could take would be see invisibility. A CR 8 monster that can cast see invisibility five times per day is not particularly scary.

I recommend adding 8 racial hit dice (this would bump the CR by +2) and then applying the evolved undead template 3 times. Creatures rarely get to make use of more than three spell-like abilities in a fight anyway. Do be careful though. Whenever you adjust a creature's CR by more than 1 or 2 through templates, hit dice, or whatever, things can get a little wonky.
Mysticnurse
07-08-05, 05:25 PM Thanks!
The Abominable Darkling
07-08-05, 05:38 PM You're welcome. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mysticnurse 07-08-05, 02:39 PM	Lemme bounce this one off you guys and gals: I want to apply the Evolved Undead template to a Wight, but I want the Evolved Wight to be a CR 8. Now, the base CR of a Wight is CR 3 and Libris Mortis says that the Evolved Undead Template may be applied "more than once, evolving more with each application." I have, in the adventure I'm generating, more than one way for this Wight to "evolve" 5 times. I will apply a +5 to the Wight's AC, as its natural AC improves by +1 per "evolution" and I will determine 5 spell-like abilities listed on the chart in the Evolved Undead entry in Libris Mortis. The problem I have with this that I'm not sure progresses with proper game balance is the Ability and Special Qualities that are applied with this template: for a 5-times-over evolved Wight, the Wight would get a +10 to its Strength and +10 to its Charisma (+2 for each "evolution). Furthermore, is would gain Fast Healing 15 (Fast Healing 3 for each "evolution"). These 2 things seem excessive. Am I missing something or are my calculations correct? Thanks.
The Abominable Darkling 07-08-05, 03:20 PM	The problem I have with this that I'm not sure progresses with proper game balance is the Ability and Special Qualities that are applied with this template: for a 5-times-over evolved Wight, the Wight would get a +10 to its Strength and +10 to its Charisma (+2 for each "evolution). This much is correct. Furthermore, is would gain Fast Healing 15 (Fast Healing 3 for each "evolution"). This is incorrect. An evolved undead gains fast healing 3. It doesn't matter how many times it gains this ability; it is still only fast healing 3. (It doesn't get +3 to its existing fast healing). These 2 things seem excessive. Am I missing something or are my calculations correct? Other than the fast healing bit, you're spot on. However, the creature you describe would be an extraordinarily weak CR 8. It would still have only 4 hit dice (and thus around 26 hit points). It would also have a caster level four for its spell-like abilities. According to the template, you can only choose spell-like abilities if its caster level is high enough to cast the spell in question (this is a special feature of the evolved undead template and not a general rule). The only spell on the list it could take would be see invisibility. A CR 8 monster that can cast see invisibility five times per day is not particularly scary. I recommend adding 8 racial hit dice (this would bump the CR by +2) and then applying the evolved undead template 3 times. Creatures rarely get to make use of more than three spell-like abilities in a fight anyway. Do be careful though. Whenever you adjust a creature's CR by more than 1 or 2 through templates, hit dice, or whatever, things can get a little wonky.
Mysticnurse 07-08-05, 05:25 PM	Thanks!
The Abominable Darkling 07-08-05, 05:38 PM	You're welcome. :)