Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Lawolf Aug 12, 2014 16:33:26	I ran the monsters from the updated rules plus everything else we have seen through some spreadsheets and this is what I have determined.   Average monster AC = .4CR + 12    Average monster attack bonus = .5CR + 4.   Yes there are some variations here, but for the most part this is a good way to calculate AC and attack bonus based on CR.    Monsters with high AC for their CR often had lower attack bonuses. Monsters with spellcasting capabilities were much higher CR than their combat values would indicate. Monsters that inflict powerful conditions or had significant resistances/immunities also had higher CRs than their combat values would indicate.   Assigning CRs to monsters looks like a lot of guesstimation was done as many monsters of similar CRs and similar capabilities will have very different HP, AC, and attack bonuses.
#2 Kalani Aug 12, 2014 16:48:44	Monsters have proficiency bonuses like PCs.... with the exception that their proficiency bonus scales to +9 at CR30 (see Tarrasque).   The Tarrasque is also a good example showing that even high level monsters do not need stupid-high AC.... The Tarrasques AC (including its impressive natural armor) is only 25, well within the hit range of 10th-20th level characters (not that they would necessarily survive a retallitory strike however, nor stand much of a chance of beating it).   Its not its raw stats that make the Tarrasque scary though. Its is ungodly special defenses*, combined with its ability to take legendary actions. That, and its ungodly HP score (676)... The tarrasque is the only known example with a d20 HD - yes you read that correctly.   The only way to safely attack the Tarrasque, is with a magical bow, preferably while flying.   *Immunities: fire, poison; bludgeoning, piercing, slashing from nonmagical weapons; charmed; frightened; paralyzed; poisoned; legendary resistance (3/day); magic resistance (advantage on all magic saves); reflective carapace (immunity to magic missile, line spells, and spells requiring an attack roll)
#3 Xeviat-DM Aug 12, 2014 16:47:01	Hit dice seem to be by size category now.
#4 pukunui Aug 12, 2014 17:15:34	Lawolf wrote:
#5 Wuzzard Aug 12, 2014 18:07:43	Where is the tarrasque listed for 5e?
#6 Kalani Aug 12, 2014 18:15:49	Wuzzard wrote:
#7 thewok Aug 12, 2014 18:14:43	Wuzzard wrote:
#8 CelticPaladin Aug 12, 2014 18:19:47	Kalani wrote:
#9 dmgorgon Aug 12, 2014 19:58:39	I'm not sure I like the high hit point totals for these monsters.    Of course, damage is a bit bloated in this edition.
#10 Kalani Aug 12, 2014 20:11:37	dmgorgon wrote:
(Reply to #10) Chaosmancer	Kalani wrote:
#12 Kalani Aug 13, 2014 14:32:14	Not yet, however I expect there to be such rules in the DMG, based on the fact that the DMG will include mass battle rules.   According to the article, mass battle rules operate on a time scale of 1minute (instead of 1rnd), with creatures being grouped into stands (each stand acts as if it was a single miniature). There are special rules regarding solo creatures (such as PCs), with solos being better off attaching themselves to a stand (if a stand attacks a solo, it makes 1 attack/creature in the stand. If a solo is part of a stand, an enemy stand can only make 1 attack against the solo instead).
#13 zgrose Aug 13, 2014 16:51:14	The Tarrasque is probably best immune to all damage. As I understand it, the creature is meant to challenge the PCs wits, not their DPR.
#14 Lawolf Aug 13, 2014 17:12:20	How big is a Tarrasque? The small end of gargantuan is 20ft by 20ft, which conveniently fits inside a forcecage. Forcecage + Cloudkill can kill anything that is smaller than 20ft by 20ft with no save.
#15 Kalani Aug 13, 2014 17:38:25	Lawolf wrote:
#16 Lawolf Aug 13, 2014 17:40:34	Kalani wrote:
#17 surf13 Aug 13, 2014 19:30:28	Lawolf wrote:
#18 Rastapopoulos Aug 13, 2014 19:45:38	Lawolf wrote:
#19 Rastapopoulos Aug 13, 2014 19:47:09	Kalani wrote:
#20 Chimerasame Aug 13, 2014 19:47:33	Lawolf wrote:
(Reply to #16) Matthew_AC	Lawolf wrote:
#22 Lawolf Aug 13, 2014 20:24:19	Matthew_AC wrote:
#23 Xeviat-DM Aug 14, 2014 0:03:25	CR is apparently going to be descriptive rather than prescriptive in this edition. You make the monster and then compare it against the CR benchmarks to determine it's CR.
#24 AH_schulerta Aug 14, 2014 9:21:37	There was a significant jump in spell damage from the last playtest, and there needed to be a proportional jump in monster HP to counteract it. The medusa went from meh to yowza!
#25 kev777 Aug 14, 2014 10:29:04	I think it's great that there is not a hard coded relationship between hit dice and AC.    That way I can calculate XP and CR for my giant space slug with 500 hit points and AC 10.
#26 kev777 Aug 14, 2014 10:29:39	Xeviat-DM wrote:
#27 Lawolf Aug 14, 2014 11:40:46	kev777 wrote:
#28 spelley Aug 14, 2014 11:48:45	Lawolf wrote:
(Reply to #26) Xeviat-DM	kev777 wrote:
#30 surf13 Aug 14, 2014 17:28:40	Lawolf wrote:
#31 biopsiNC Aug 14, 2014 22:21:48	Chimerasame wrote:
#32 TiaNadiezja Aug 15, 2014 3:22:08	Chimerasame wrote:
#33 surf13 Aug 15, 2014 18:16:57	Lawolf wrote: