The CR of Skeletal Champions seem to be a bit out of whack. For instance, according to the template, the Skeletal Champion Tiefling Fighter 8 that I've (tentatively) placed in my Monster Hill dungeon is CR 6. I mean, it supposed to be one of the most powerful monsters on the first level, but... that CR seems to not be right. Furthermore, imagine that you have a wizard 11 (eligible to become a lich) that became a Skeletal Champion. It's CR would be only 7! So what's up with this?
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A normal human skeleton uses an npc class, as appropriate for 'races without HD', giving it it's CR 1/3. Champion gives it 2 HD, making it CR 1, as appropriate for a skeleton with 2 HD. Giving it a level in warrior makes it CR 2. Giving it a PC class bumps it up by one, IIRC, making your wizard 11 a CR 13.
That is, assuming I did that math right. It basically ends up being that you figure out the CR of the human/elf/tiefling/whatever skeleton is first (after its hd boost). Then follow the guidelines for 'Adding Class Levels to Monsters'.
A normal human skeleton uses an npc class, as appropriate for 'races without HD', giving it it's CR 1/3. Champion gives it 2 HD, making it CR 1, as appropriate for a skeleton with 2 HD. Giving it a level in warrior makes it CR 2. Giving it a PC class bumps it up by one, IIRC, making your wizard 11 a CR 13.
That is, assuming I did that math right.
That's not correct, since the Skeleton and Skeletal Champion templates have special rules for CR, based on they're HD. A normal Skeleton loses any HD from classes, while the Skeletal Champion does not.
Creative Director
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The skeletal champion's CR is a little weird, since it stacks strangely with the skeleton bit AND with the class levels and the like.
That said... there's ALWAYS going to be creatures who benefit particularly well from a template, and in cases where a monster looks like it does just that... you absolutely should bump up its CR a little more (or vice-versa, not as much if the template doesn't help at all). After you build a monster with a template or class levels or just increase its size and/or Hit Dice, you need to compare it to similar monsters and to Table 1–1 to make sure that the CR works. If it doesn't, changing it so that it does is the responsible reaction.
Like a dwarf barbarian skeleton...
Why not make something more redicoulous but glass cannony if you break its dr in burning tengu skeleton 3 attacks that deal 1d6 fire damage and aura of fire damage for Cr1/2.
The versmilitude can also get out of whack for example how does a skeletal champion alchemist use extracts would is start dripping down. When using templates there is a chance of creating something that unbalanced or just bad for the game.
The way I see it, the skeletal champion's base CR is "skeleton of its racial HD plus 2 bonus HD, plus 1". Then I add the CR for any class levels the creature may have to that base CR.
It's the only way that template makes any sense to me in terms of creatures with class levels.
Was this Errata'd? I thought the Skeletal Champion was +2 to CR?
So... Tiefling Skel. Champion Fighter 8 would be CR 9 no? (7 original CR, +2)