Generating Monster Ability Scores

[DoveArrow]

I'm a little fuzzy on generating new ability scores for monsters from scratch. The DMG says that the highest ability scores for a monster should be 13 + one half the monster's level, or 16 + one half the monster's level if it governs the monster's primary attack. However, it doesn't tell you what the lowest scores should be.

Right now, I just find a monster in the D&D Monster Builder that looks about right for the role I want, strip out all of its powers, and then add in powers that I think are appropriate. However, I want to know how to do it from scratch. That way, I can better understand how to build my own without working off the backs of others.

[Tequila Sunrise]

The DMG guidelines are, at best, very crude. The 'X + 1/2 level' guideline is how we get high level monsters that always go first, for example.

I wrote a set of guidelines that I use to build all of my own monsters. My rule for ability scores is "a monster's highest stat shouldn't be more than 10 higher than a PC of the same level could have, at the very very most." There is no rule for the lowest stat, because it doesn't matter. If I don't want to think too hard about it, I go with 10 + minimum level boosts.

[Matthew Koelbl]

Tequila Sunrise wrote:

The DMG guidelines are, at best, very crude. The 'X + 1/2 level' guideline is how we get high level monsters that always go first, for example.

Wait, how-so? A monster with Dex primary, at level 26, comes out with Dex 29, thus an Initiative bonus of +22. Half my PCs, even earlier in Epic, are at +25 or higher. (Since they also have high dex, plus feats and items that give bonuses.) Now, what the default formula does mean is that even non-primary Dex monsters will tend to be several points higher than low-Dex PCs. But not by a lot, and plenty of PC options can easily make the difference.

That said, I do largely agree with the rest of your thoughts - the DMG guidelines are a pretty hazy starting point, and not much more. In some ways, the stats can largely be put aside, since pretty much everything that would normally tie into them (Defenses, Attacks, Damage) can be generated via other formulas. So there is room to put in whatever ability scores feel appropriate - starting with the 'X+1/2 level', but then adjusting up or down if anything doesn't seem to fit.

[Uchawi]

It would be interesting to see if a formula could be derived by looking at the various roles in the monster builder, in regards to controller, brute, lurker, etc. in reference to monster level. I am not sure if that is covered in the DMG.

Add in resistances, auras, and other special abilities, and it is more based on concept, and what would be interesting and challenging for the party.

This goes along the lines of creature templates.