Let's start this with an example:
"Hi. my name is Baku and I'm from the Bestiary 3. I'm a chubby medium-sized furry elephant-emo thing and I am awesome. Why, you ask? Well, take a look at my ability scores!
I have a strength of 14. I'm flying all the time and my muscles are probably degenerated and I don't have any combat abilities worth noting but a 14 is just good enough for me.
I have a dexterity of 21. Did I mention I was kind of chubby on floating around all the time? No reason not to be quicker than the most gifted elf, therefor a 21 is just good enough for me.
I have a constitution of 18. Flying around all the time and sucking dreams up and stuff really makes you a tough son of a beach (hehe). And for CR8 I need loads of HP, so a 18 is just good enough for me.
I have an intelligence of 15. Okay, I might not me that smart compared to other monsters, but feasting on thoughts and ideas is really nourishing for my brain. Therefor a 15 is just good enough for me. Actually, I wonder why this is my second worst score, but, ah well.
I have a wisdom of 16. With my big nose I smell your dreams 10 miles away! And people who think of me, because I don't like that. You see, a 16 is just good enough for me.
I have a charisma of 25. Yes, 25! Thats just two points behind the succubus, but im seriously more good looking. Also, I'm kind of shy, which totally makes sense if you ask me. As you may have noticed by now, I'm quite the charmer, so a 25 is just good enough for me. Damn you, succubus!"
That's one example of many. Why do so much monsters have unexplainably awesome scores? I don't get it.
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That's one example of many. Why do so much monsters have unexplainably awesome scores? I don't get it.
Why not? no, really, why should something utterly alien (like the Baku) adhere to human standards of strength, speed, or intellect?
I mean, do you object to the Succubus having Con 20 and being tougher than most dwarves? I don't, because she's a demon, powered by supernatural malevolence. The Baku's powered by something every bit as odd.
And the Baku's mainly a Charisma based caster, much like the succubus, and a CR higher to boot, why wouldn't it's Charisma be at a similar level? I mean, Charisma doesn't necessarily have anything to do with attractiveness (+2 Chr for becoming a Lich, remember).
+1 to Deadmanwalking - I too don't see the need to question the stats. The Baku is a spirit creature (not even truly manifest in the sense of you-and-me) - it's stats are essentially derived from the spirit-realm.
Instead of looking at its dex and saying "whoa, bumbly elephant somehow is nimble" - you should use the stats to inform your opinion on what kind of creature it actually is.