Are there any rules for building PC monsters beyond what's in the back of the Bestiary? I know there's rules for that in the old 3.5 DMs guide. Buuuuuuuut...
RAW, am I doing this right?
Let's take a standard Lizardfolk with the core stats:
CR 1
Medium
2d8hd (humanoid)
Str 13, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 10
Natural Armor +5
Now, we figure he's barely past hatchling-hood, thus we place the Young template (CR -1) on him:
CR 0 (well, 1/2, probably)
Small
2d8hd (humanoid)
Str 9, Dex 14, Con 9, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 10
Natural Armor +3
Now, we can slap on an NPC template, OR, for grins, let's make him a PC. Thus, we now add +4, +4, +2, +2, 0, -2 to any stats. Say we're making a squeaky-voiced squire. Does a reptile go through that awkward phase humanoids do? Nevermind. So, a would be knight one day, if I'm interpreting the rules correct, would be something like:
CR 1 (2?)
Small (Speed still 30?)
2d8hd (humanoid) +1d10 Fighter
Str 13, Dex 18, Con 15, Int 9, Wis 12, Cha 8
Natural Armor +3
Now, this is likely a character that would never see the light of day. This is more an experiment to see if I'm doing the rules correctly.
Thanks for your help.
CR 1
Medium
2d8hd (humanoid)
Str 13, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 10
Natural Armor +5
Drop the racial HD. Racial ability modifiers could be something like +2 STR, +2 CON, -2 INT. Scale (no pun intended) back the natural armor to maybe +3. That's what I'd do anyway.
Actually, with a Swim speed of 30ft and the Hold Breath ability, I'd push the natural armor back to +2 and maybe add one or two weapon proficiencies.
PF also seems to have done away with the old "level adjustment" system, which I'm rather pleased with, since in most cases the extra powers granted by a potent race grew less significant as the PCs go up in level.
Now, monstrous races that are more powerful than the norm use the same experience track, but are supposed to start one or two levels lower than the rest of the party, depending on how powerful the race is. This includes having less xp overall, and they progress as a normal PC of their level is.
This way they begin play being more balanced, but they also need xp to gain a level than the higher level NPCs in the party, so they'll eventually catch up to them as their racial powers become less significant.
Thanks for the input Necromancer.
PF also seems to have done away with the old "level adjustment" system, which I'm rather pleased with, since in most cases the extra powers granted by a potent race grew less significant as the PCs go up in level.
Now, monstrous races that are more powerful than the norm use the same experience track, but are supposed to start one or two levels lower than the rest of the party, depending on how powerful the race is. This includes having less xp overall, and they progress as a normal PC of their level is.
This way they begin play being more balanced, but they also need xp to gain a level than the higher level NPCs in the party, so they'll eventually catch up to them as their racial powers become less significant.
So, the PC bonuses are to make a slightly more "organic" monster character, right? But does the "Young" template for humanoids with multiple hit-dice drag them down to a level on par with the PC classes?
I'm now really interested in having a "hatchling" for a squire. Interesting exercise.
I'm now really interested in having a "hatchling" for a squire. Interesting exercise.
Use a kobold (if the main character isn't lizardfolk); Deekin was, and will remain, the best sidekick I've seen in DnD related material.