Questions tagged [cr-calculation]
For questions that deal with the calculation of a Challenge Rating, a method of evaluating the combat-difficulty of monsters and encounters in D&D and derived systems. Such questions should ideally demonstrate that the querent has first tried official methods of calculating CR and describe what problems they encountered in doing so.
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Does Spell Resistance scale when advancing a monster?
I just advanced a Canoloth (MM 3, p. 200) as I wanted to use it against a level 14 party. It is originally CR 5, and I wanted to raise it to CR 8. So I added 4 HD (CR+2) and the elite array (CR+1). ...
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What are the rules around challenge ratings for magic users and spell?
I know that different types of creature have their own challenge ratings, and that different versions of the same creature also have them. But what are the rules around determining NPC enemy magic ...
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Does the Archmage’s challenge rating factor in the buffs from its pre-combat spells?
The statblock for the Archmage contains an interesting footnote:
The archmage casts these spells on itself before combat.
The three spells are: mage armor, stoneskin, and mind blank. These spells ...
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How to interpret "round up or down" in monster CR calculation
In the "Creating Quick Monster Stats" section of the DMG (p.274) we are given the procedure for determining the CR of a new DM-designed monster. Step 4 of that procedure (pp.274-275) tells ...
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How would giving a creature a Vorpal Sword affect their CR?
The Vorpal Sword is a legendary magical item that allows heads to be struck from bodies, as well as doing a tonne more damage if it doesn't. A good summary has already been discussed on this site.
I'm ...
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What is the AC equivalent of mirror image?
It is suggested (by the DMG) to account for defensive options by assuming increased AC, e.g. +2 AC for magic resistance.
I would like to give some of my monsters the spell mirror image as part of a ...
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How should I convert this character's level and stats into a CR?
This QA's answers along with the DMG say that you calculate the CR for a monster based on its stats but the examples given seem to expect that all the stats line up with one another. For example, a ...
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How dangerous is exhaustion?
I'm interested in adding exhaustion effects to monsters. I might homebrew changes to the exhaustion mechanic, but for now, I'm interested in assessing how dangerous it is if monsters can cause RAW ...
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What is the proper CR for this homebrewed Souls-esque NPC?
Returning for another year of a gothic horror adventure, I wanted to try my hand at creating a truly difficult encounter. Following on past my original npcs I opted to turn a certain Dark Souls boss ...
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What is the impact of banishment on CR?
Disclaimer: I know that monster balance is never exact and I don't expect it to be, I'm looking for rough guidelines like they are given in the DMG for many traits.
I like to flavor up my monsters ...
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How can I make this homebrew Elder Aboleth the CR rating I want it to be?
A party I'm running for are going up against an aboleth as a late-game "boss" (but not the "final boss"). They are currently Tier 4, level 17 to be precise, so a basic CR 10 ...
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Why do red dragons and gold dragons have the same CR?
There are 4 variants of each type of dragon, each corresponding to a specific age. At each age, the red and gold dragons each have the same CR (4, 10, 17, and 24). The dragons are superficially ...
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How powerful is a high-level caster PC with barely any or no equipment?
Let's assume your caster PC has crossed a high-level spellcaster and his minions the wrong way, or was overwhelmed by an army of guards. You are stripped of all equipment save for some clothes on your ...
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How do the damage rules from blogofholding's "5e monster manual on a business card" work?
http://blogofholding.com/?p=7338
Damage: This is the damage budget for all the monster’s attacks. Limited-use (daily, recharge, or situational) attacks do 4x the damage budgeted. Multi-target ...
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How does my character's awakened mount and 2 awakened companions affect what CR the party can handle?
So some things happened and now I have 3 awaken scrolls. The rules say I don't have to use material components so I can just use them. I also switch with the dm occasionally and run it myself. How ...
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