I've got an NPC expert/adept whose primary purpose in the adventure is to 'explain' how a different NPC is able to have produced a number of magical items when she doesn't have enough feat slots to have them available. Adept 4/Expert 1 gives him enough feats to take skill focus(craft), craft wondrous item, and cooperative crafting, as well as a trait appropriate for the campaign that will give a bonus to crafting, and his skills will be put mostly into crafting, profession, spellcraft and so forth. For flavor reasons he won't be a human, so won't get that additional feat at first level. He will have mostly utility spells prepared, and gear below that expected for his level. it seems to me that a CR of 3 doesn't really fit him, as he'll at most be a bit of a buffer for the main NPC, who is "the Dragon" i.e. the baddie the PCs will face before the Big Bad. He might not fight much, even, as he may be not particularly invested in his boss's cause.
My question is, how would I calculate an actually appropriate CR for this relatively wimpy NPC?
He will have mostly utility spells prepared, and gear below that expected for his level.
sounds like a good reason to apply a -1 to his CR due to circumstances/situation.
Would the fact that he'll probably stick around to cast a spell or two but cut and run if he can or surrender if he can't after a few rounds bring it down further? I'm having trouble seeing this guy as anything more than a CR 1 perhaps. If I'm adjusting it in that way, I should make sure to give less XP for the encounter, right?
Give the BBEG Leadership, and include the crafter as his cohort. Then the final CR for the craftsman is irrelevant, because he's included under the umbrella of the main NPC's CR.
I've got an NPC expert/adept whose primary purpose in the adventure is to 'explain' how a different NPC is able to have produced a number of magical items when she doesn't have enough feat slots to have them available. Adept 4/Expert 1 gives him enough feats to take skill focus(craft), craft wondrous item, and cooperative crafting, as well as a trait appropriate for the campaign that will give a bonus to crafting, and his skills will be put mostly into crafting, profession, spellcraft and so forth. For flavor reasons he won't be a human, so won't get that additional feat at first level. He will have mostly utility spells prepared, and gear below that expected for his level. it seems to me that a CR of 3 doesn't really fit him, as he'll at most be a bit of a buffer for the main NPC, who is "the Dragon" i.e. the baddie the PCs will face before the Big Bad. He might not fight much, even, as he may be not particularly invested in his boss's cause.
My question is, how would I calculate an actually appropriate CR for this relatively wimpy NPC?
Sometimes you have to adhoc these things. A level 10 warrior, and a level 10 commoner, are not equal as an example.
The feats you choose are also a factor. CR 3 seems about right to me with hit points he will have. He will definitely have too many hp for a CR 2 IMHO.
I would select a CR, and then build him up to that CR using PC classes if needed. It is not like the PC's will know what the stats are anyway, and if they somehow figure it out I doubt they will care.
He'll be in the room with the witch NPC when the party arrives. It's got only two ways out -- an underground river, and the door the party enters. He can't swim. He'll either fight or surrender unless an opportunity presents itself to escape.
Kirth, that possibility is intriguing, but the NPC is too low level for leadership and the big bad is too crazy.