Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 daedel Apr 07, 2015 1:13:48	Hi all: if i create a NPC based solely on a pc class, what would be his/her challenge rating? I've read in the DMG that you have to calculate it the same way you would do for a new monster, but there are many class features that honestly I don't know how they will impact the CR. Is there an easy way to calculate this, like CR=class levels, or similar?
#2 Kentus Apr 07, 2015 1:37:58	No, since not all classes are balanced around their overall features CR-wise. If we take the ranger and the paladin, for example, you see that the paladin is much more combat focused, while the ranger does a lot for exploration, so the challenge in facing both in combat stat-wise would be different, favoring the paladin. And CR mostly cares about combat-related features, since it's hard to measure tactics possible with specific features in CR (like using stealth and natural explorer to do hit and run in your favored terrain).   But you can simply use similiar features to measure them, like the Rogue's Cunning Action is similiar to the Goblin's Nimble Escape.
#3 AaronOfBarbaria Apr 07, 2015 2:03:12	I find that the first step in creating NPCs that have class flavor to them without having all sorts of features I don't know how will affect CR is very simple: don't give them every last feature that a PC would get - just give them a few that evoke the flavor of the class and are easier to evaluate for CR purposes.   Just like how the Archmage NPC in the monster manual has a lot of spellcasting and spells from the wizard class, but does not have the features that would be gained from an arcane tradition, nor any of the other class features of a wizard like arcane recovery or spell mastery, or how the fighter-styled NPCs don't have second wind and action surge.
#4 mbeacom Apr 07, 2015 7:48:22	AaronOfBarbaria wrote: