Meaning I'm challenged trying to figure them out. Zyrxog the mind flayer sorcerer in HoHR is a CR 11. The mind flayer sorcerer on p.187 of the PHB in only two levels higher and has a CR of 17. On p. 88 of Lords of Madness, the mind flayer sorcerer in only 4th level, but a CR 10. How are you all figuring the CRs? Also, by my calculations, Zyrxog's mind blast should only be a DC 20 with his +6 CHA modifier.
Meaning I'm challenged trying to figure them out. Zyrxog the mind flayer sorcerer in HoHR is a CR 11. The mind flayer sorcerer on p.187 of the PHB in only two levels higher and has a CR of 17. On p. 88 of Lords of Madness, the mind flayer sorcerer in only 4th level, but a CR 10. How are you all figuring the CRs? Also, by my calculations, Zyrxog's mind blast should only be a DC 20 with his +6 CHA modifier.
There's another thread where this has been discussed pretty thoroughly. Something like, "Zyrxog - Mind Flayer Sorcerer?" I don't think it's been very active for a while though. Basically, the CR listed for the MF Sor in the MM is wrong. Sorcerer isn't considered an "Associated" class for a mind flayer, so it only gets +1 CR for every 2 levels of sorcerer until it has more Sorcerer levels than mind-flayer HD. So, at a CR of 8, +4 sorcerer levels divided by 2, you get a CR 10. Zyrxog has 7 levels, half of which is 3 in D&D math. That gets you a CR 11. As for his mind blast, I'm not sure about that unless, for some reason, his 7 sorcerer HD were included in the calculation. I can't remember if it's a supernatural or a spell-like ability. If supernatural, then that would be why. If spell-like... I didn't think HD had any effect on those besides for caster level.
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The CR of the mind flayer in the Monster Manual is incorrect—I believe because the addition of non-associated class levels (Monster Manual page 294) may have been a late addition to the revised book, and the CR for the mind flayer sorcerer slipped through unnoticed.
Basically, a class level that doesn't play to a monster's strengths counts as half a level when calculating the monster's CR until the number of class levels equals the monster's HD.
Zyrxog's CR is thus correct at 11, as is the mind flayer's from Lords of Madness.
As for Zyrxog's mind blast: This is a spell-like ability that functions as a 4th level spell. Thus, his save DC is calculated should indeed be DC 20.
The CR of the mind flayer in the Monster Manual is incorrect—I believe because the addition of non-associated class levels (Monster Manual page 294) may have been a late addition to the revised book, and the CR for the mind flayer sorcerer slipped through unnoticed.
Basically, a class level that doesn't play to a monster's strengths counts as half a level when calculating the monster's CR until the number of class levels equals the monster's HD.
Zyrxog's CR is thus correct at 11, as is the mind flayer's from Lords of Madness.
As for Zyrxog's mind blast: This is a spell-like ability that functions as a 4th level spell. Thus, his save DC is calculated should indeed be DC 20.
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