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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Determining the CR of a monster with a 50% chance of absorbing damage
I hope this question respects the site standards. I think that my question is quite specific and not too vague or opinion based. If not, I apologize in advance. I am creating an homebrew monster and I ...
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What would the CR of a player character be?
I wanted to play as a fairy, and thought that a good way to introduce my character to the party would be with a scroll that casts conjure fey without the cast time or duration, but the spell brings CR ...
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Are a Beholder's Legendary Action Eye Rays Also Bound to the "Reroll Duplicates" Rule?
This is a balancing question as I am currently in the middle of homebrewing a Beholder-esque monster and I'm trying to use the Beholder's stat block as a template for how my new monster's challenge ...
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How does the poisoned condition affect the challenge rating?
I am planning an encounter against different Ogres (Half-Ogre, Ogre, Ogre Battering Ram...). During the fight, the Ogres are drunk and suffer the poisoned condition (disadvantage on attack rolls and ...
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How do I evaluate the CR for this homebrew Phoenix creature?
The determination of CR of simple and standard creature is quite simple, and it suffices to follow the DMG book. But now that I am trying to create a complex creature, with high CR, I don't know how ...
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How should I adjust CR if the monsters I introduce are fighting each other?
I'm planning a long one-shot, the setting of which is a large island with half of it sectioned off in an area where massive wild beasts roam and battle each other, through which the party must trek.
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Homebrew Parchment Golem monster v1.2
This is a continuation of my first attempt to get a review of a monster stat block. If I'm doing something wrong, let me know.
Homebrew Parchment Golem monster
My goal for this creature is to be a ...
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At what level for a 4/5-player party would a CR 2-3 monster be considered a "miniboss"?
I'm working on a dungeon and I want to have a solo encounter with a single basilisk in the hallway. It isn't the last monster in the dungeon; that I'm going with a surprise, however it shouldn't be a ...
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Homebrew Parchment Golem monster
This is my first attempt to get a review of a monster stat block. If I'm doing something wrong, let me know.
My goal for this creature is to be a trash mob, but with enough resistance/immunity to not ...
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What makes calculating an NPC's challenge rating difficult? [duplicate]
I've read multiple posts on this site about determining an NPC's challenge rating, most of which mention the difficulty in doing so. I had considered a few things. First, non-combat abilities don't ...
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Are pixies overpowered for CR 1/4?
There is this question about if Conjure Woodland Beings is broken -- due to the fact that you can possibly summon eight pixies with it and multiply our level four spell slot by a factor of eight for ...
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Converting Oonga from "Isle of the Ape" to 5e
My party of five level 15 PCs is adventuring in my homebrewed conversion of the 1e module Isle of the Ape. I would like the Boss Monster, Oonga, to be a Deadly encounter for the party, so I am aiming ...
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Trouble determining CR or difficulty for homebrew creatures
My dnd campaign is completely homebrew, to the setting, gods, storyline, and even creatures. I did this so I could have more creative freedom, and in creating this world I enjoyed doing so.
My problem ...
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How would resistance to non magical weapons change a creature's challenge rating?
Suppose we took a normal monster - say, perhaps, a lion (CR 1) - and gave it resistance to non-magical slashing, piercing, and blunt damage. How much would this affect the threat to a party?
I'm ...
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CR for half-green dragon assassin
The party is in Rise of Tiamat and their next encounter will be
I am trying to budget for a Deadly encounter, as suggested in the adventure. One of the possible foes to include is a half-green ...
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How can I avoid accidentally deadly encounters from monsters that are more deadly than their challenge rating suggests?
Monster Deadliness: In the DMG (p.82) there is guidance about the calculating encounter deadliness. This is entirely based on the XP of the monsters encountered, and each challenge rating (CR) has a ...
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How would permanent invisibility affect a monster's challenge rating?
I’m attempting to convert a phantom fungus to fifth edition. The creature is always invisible while alive, similar to an invisible stalker. When calculating challenge rating, how would this ...
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Why is an archmage only CR12?
The monster's manual archmage is overpowered, but has a CR12!?
It is a monster with Time Stop from 9th circle, mind blank and teleport.
If you put him with some other melee monsters (meat for the ...
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Is there any generalised formula for converting monster CR into XP in D&D 5e?
I am trying to make a spreadsheet to track encounters, and I was wondering if there is any generalised formula I can use to calculate the average XP for any given Challenge Rating, or is it like ...
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Are NPC Spellcasters with access to Mage Armor generally assumed to have precast it for an encounter in CR calculations?
In about a week I will be throwing a homebrewed CR4 illusionist NPC with an AC of 12 and 15 with Mage Armor at my party. (Essentially a slightly buffed version of the Illusionist on page 214 of Volo's ...
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What is the closest Pathfinder 1e equivalent to the graboids from the movie Tremors?
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What is the closest Pathfinder 1e equivalent to the graboids from the movie Tremors? I'm trying to design an underground dungeon dive for an APL 8 adventure.
Wikipedia
At nearly 30 ft. long, ...
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Is there a CR balancing system for PCs to be used as bosses against a party? [closed]
I want to make a PC and stick to the build but don't know what level would be appropriate.
The party are 5 players in level 3 (CR of almost 4 in the CR system).
As a level 15 PC will be way too much, ...
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Is this homebrew Crococow a CR of 3?
I'd like answers to detail why the CR proposed is the right one. Specifically are the HP and Attacks combination suitable for CR of 3?
With the body of a cow and the head of a crocodile, the Crococow ...
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Does reducing the Purple Worm's HP to 184 really reduce its challenge rating to 13?
On page 113 of Princes of the Apocalypse, the text reads in part:
As the tremor ends, a young purple worm with 184 hit points (challenge rating 13) burrows [...]
No other changes to the Purple Worm'...
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Calculate CR of creatures that share spells (like a hag conven)
I recently got inspired by this stat block, that shows that witches can get more powerful when together. https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/green-hag-coven-variant
I want to make a similar creature ...
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How can I make a CR 1/2 Imp?
I am new to playing 5e, and my DM is also new to DMing 5e (although they have extensive prior experience as a 3.5e DM). We are interested in using the Sidekick rules presented in Tasha's Cauldron of ...
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Can you Wild Shape into a beast with the half-dragon template?
In D&D 5e, Half-Dragon is a template (MM, 180) that can be applied to any beast, humanoid, or giant. When I applied the Red Dragon Wyrmling's dragon breath - which deals 7d6 fire damage in a cone -...
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Checking CR calculation for homebrew larger version of Giant Ape
I am considering allowing a larger version of a Giant Ape, in which some of the stats have been embiggened to achieve the low end of CR8.
I would appreciate a confirmation that I am calculating this ...
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How does the Evoker NPC statblock have a CR of 9?
The Evoker in Volo's Guide to Monsters (p. 214) is listed as CR 9. However, I just can't figure out how to calculate its CR to get that high a result.
AC: 15 (with Mage Armor) & HP: 66 with 2 ...
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What challenge rating ('CR') is a Medusa given the textbook NPC-Diviner-Wizard casting ability?
I wanted to give a recurring villain / anti-hero medusa some (15th level) wizard abilities, a.k.a. the N.P.C. Diviner as featured in Vole's or Xanathar's or Tasha's or somewhere. She can use this NPC ...