Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Taylosi Jul 22, 2015 21:28:06	I was wondering if there is a thread or someone that can explain how the mechanics of monster creation works?  I have read in the DMG how to create a monster, but the CRs seems so expanded.  I would like to make a few homebrew creatures and I find it difficult to understand how the CR system is working at low levels.  I see some creatures rated at 1/2 CR with 5 HD and others with 2 HD.  I noticed that orcs have 2 HD, but if I wanted to run one as a PC, that doesn't seem to work out so well.  Are monsters no longer tied to classes?   Any information would be helpful.   Thank you,   Tay.   PS: I have recently come from Pathfinder to 5e.  Comparisons between the two systems might also be helpful to me.
#2 transcendantviewer Jul 23, 2015 1:26:42	Monsters aren't tied to classes. They weren't really in 3.5 either. They had monster hit dice and monster abilities, and with some rules finesse, could be made into monster classes to gain their abilities slowly across levels, but that's as far as it went. As for the CR system, it's a system of balances. If a creature's Defensive CR is 2 (AC, HP, and Saving Throw bonuses) but it's offensive CR is a 1/2 (Damage Per Round, Attack Bonus, attack abilities), then the creature's overall CR averages out to be a 1 because it is tough, but doesn't dish out much punishment. Just take your time reading how the offensive and defensive CRs are calculated and you'll figure it out. It takes some practice. Toy with it a few times, create some monsters of your own, and then have a peer look over them and help you learn. After a few tries, you'll get it.
#3 Taylosi Jul 23, 2015 7:14:24	Now that you mention it, in the Monster Manual saving throws are not listed, neither are their proficiency bonuses.  Was it intended for me to calculate saving throws for every monster?   Also, I disagree with your assessment of 3.5, at least Pathfinder.  Classes are hugely tied to monsters.  In fact, base races such as humans and elves were 0 HD and needed a class to actually determine what they were.  I will take your thoughts on offense and defense when I try to create a monster.  I have not played the game yet, but it looked a little off when an orc has a potential of 22 hit points and can do 15 hit points a round and a PC's hit points, in most likelihood, will not be over 14.  One hit on the fighter of the party and the group is quickly down to 3 PCs.  Low level just seemed a bit more chancy than my tastes, but maybe that was intended in the design of the game.
#4 transcendantviewer Jul 23, 2015 9:45:15	I never played Pathfinder, but it does have some differences. That aside, proficiency bonus for monsters is listed in the table, based on their challenge rating. It's something like every 4-5 CRs, the monster's Proficiency Bonus goes up by 1. And saving throws are given to creatures based on what they do. Something built to batter the PCs down will have one mental save and one physical save (Most likely) so that it's defensive physically and mentally. Some monsters have saves to compensate for bad ability scores. Point is, don't give monsters proficiency in more than two saving throws.
#5 Danny_Montanny Jul 23, 2015 15:58:05	Most monsters don't have any saving throw proficiencies at all. Think about giving proficiency only in things that the monster would've trained very hard to do. The PCs get them because they've had specialized training. Take the normal Orc, he's not very well trained. Sure he's learned how to wear some medium armor effectively, hit you with his weapons, and try to scare you. But that's about it. The Orc War Chief on the other hand has spent years in battle and it shows through in many ways.   Just think of things in that way. If they're intelligent they might have some save proficiency if they're experienced. If not intelligent or inexperienced, probably no save bonus.