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This has been bugging me for a while, and I don't want to start my adventure writing career without knowing.
Three things.
1. What is the difference between a normal and elite creature and a normal creature stat-wise?
2. How do you know a creature's bonuses after applying the elite type?
3. Is it wise to simply roll the dice for stats rather than using standard or elite types?
Any help from the experts on the boards or Paizo staff?
--SAS
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
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This has been bugging me for a while, and I don't want to start my adventure writing career without knowing.
Three things.
1. What is the difference between a normal and elite creature and a normal creature stat-wise?
2. How do you know a creature's bonuses after applying the elite type?
3. Is it wise to simply roll the dice for stats rather than using standard or elite types?
Any help from the experts on the boards or Paizo staff?
--SAS
1) A normal creature has the stats in the MM, an elite creature has stats like a PC (i.e. better than normal).
2) Subtract 10 from even stats and 11 from odd stats. That is your stat modifier. So a critter with 19 Str has a +8 Str mod.
3) I usually use point buy (25-32, depending), and add the bonus to each stat after I buy it. I never roll. Using elite array works too.
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1) A normal creature has the stats in the MM, an elite creature has stats like a PC (i.e. better than normal).
2) Subtract 10 from even stats and 11 from odd stats. That is your stat modifier. So a critter with 19 Str has a +8 Str mod.
3) I usually use point buy (25-32, depending), and add the bonus to each stat after I buy it. I never roll. Using elite array works too.
You are a giant among men, sir. Best of luck to you and all the other Superstars.
You have earned that title.
--SAS
Its also worth noting that there is a fast and dirty way of applying the elite array often used by adventure writers.
The elite array can easily be translated into stats modified as follows: +4, +4, +2, +2, +0, +0, -2. Thus you can simply add to the original stats to reflect having the elite array instead of working out what their racial bonuses are - then picking their stats and adding their racial bonus.
Even more interesting - for those of you with better then a 25 point buy, you can, with about a half hours work, make your own elite array thats the same as whatever your PCs point buy is.
One thing to realize as well, there are actually 2 standard arrays. There is the normal one for monsters and such with three 10's and three 11's. Then there is the one appropriate for humanoids with NPC classes: 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8. Generally in a product they will say that they used these before the racial modifiers were added on.
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RPG Superstar 2013
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There is a standard array and an elite array. The standard array is for barely-above-average creatures who have some advancement or have levels in the npc classes from the dmg (expert, warrior, etc).
The elite array is for npcs with normal classes, or for advanced monsters intended to be more challenging. They may or may not gain +1 cr for their elite array, it depends on their environment, terrain, design choices, make-up of their opponenets, etc. If your PCs have a Radiant Servant of Pelor, a morgh with the elite array and two levels of fighter is going to get Cloverfielded and you may as well not give away free Exp.
Cloverfielded is my favorite new verb.
After assigning the array to ability scores of your choosing, you modify racial ability score mods like normal. An otyugh might get a 15 str from the elite aray, modified by 0 because otyughs have a str of 11.
Is that more or less clear than before? Ask away.
3. It's eviller to just give them whatever stats you think they should have. Easier too!
:D
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RPG Superstar 2013
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That is something I have done on my own: think about your party, decide what DCs you want your monsters to have, and make sure they have the hit dice or class levels and abilities to make that happen.
But if you're talking about industry wrting, you pretty much ought to go by the book.
Good luck, dude.