Monster Creation Query

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Steerpike65

Dec 14, 2014 1:07:51

My DMG arrived the other day and I was checking through some monsters I created previously to see if they matched up with the monster creation rules in the DMG. The only area where I was significantly out was with hit points but then I read the section on Immunities and Resistances in relation to  effective hit points (p. 277) and that threw me a bit.

 

Specifically, if my new 2nd-level monster has immunity to fire and resistance to poison and acid, and has 32 hit points, what are its effective hit points?

 

Do you apply the HP multiplier once only, once per resistance/immunity or once for resistances and once for immunities?

#2

Moonshadow50

Dec 14, 2014 9:06:46

I believe the intention is for the x2 modifier to be applied once and only once for resistances and once and only once for immunities. So even if you have 2 immunities it would only count as one x2 modifier for purposes of effective hit points. Personally I would scale it so at level 0-4 you would have no more than one immunity and one resistance 5-10 no more than 2 immunity’s and 2 resistances etcetera.

 

(Reply to #2)

Steerpike65

Thanks for the reply Moonshadow50.

 

So, if my 2nd-level monster has 32 hit points does your take on the calculation make its effective hit points 128 (i.e. 32 x 2 for Immunity = 64,plus 32 x 2 for Resistances = 64 (64 + 64 = 128)) or 96 (i.e. add extra 32 for Immunities and extra 32 for Resistances)?

 

Thanks.

#4

Moonshadow50

Dec 14, 2014 10:26:23

The CR2 hit point range is 86-100 See the table on pg 274 of the DMG so 96 (i.e. add extra 32 for Immunities and extra 32 for Resistances should be correct.

#5

Devilbass

Dec 16, 2014 21:45:59 		Don't forget that it also implies the use of "the rule of sense". It suggests only increasing the effective HP of the monster if the immunities and/or resistances are not easily circumvented. So for example, if a creature had only resistance to poison damage, you probably shouldn't increase the effective HP as in most cases that is unlikely to increase the actual difficulty/survivability of the monster.