Trying to figure out how they do things. I took a few PC types and subtracted the bonuses to achieve a stat block of 8,9,10,11,12,13 where they then added a couple of +2 and a -2. but some races are 8,10,12,13,14,15 quite a lot more. and the stats on monsters say all lvl 1 seem to have no rhyme or reason.
Is there a guide line on what the total stats add up to per level or some such? I'd think a lvl 1 monster with 18 down the row is not to happen, but where is any of this written? do you just add 1 pt per every 4 levels like a player when he levels up? something is not adding up here.
I'd like to make a few monsters to throw at the guys who know the books backward and forward and sure could use some rules to go by.
well, i guess my ignorance is +2, ^_^, i hit the flag button but didn't see anything happen. i'll just repost it in a bit. hate to cause issues,
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well, i guess my ignorance is +2, ^_^, i hit the flag button but didn't see anything happen. i'll just repost it in a bit. hate to cause issues,
One of the mods will come by and move it, but that might take a day or two depending on how busy they are. No issues caused, though, it's all good.
To get to your original question, the various Bestiary books have appendices about monster adjustment and creation that are quite good and may show you some of the logic and process behind the design.
I saw stuff there about hit die, good saves and such, but nothing on the core stats. and it'd be nice to see some kind of rating system on monster traits and feats being equivalent to a CR raise, or are the all the same and you add one per every two levels? but if it's a fighter type beast it's one every level like a fighter.
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ok, here's how I use the monster creation rules from Bestiary 1:
- Determine the CR you want the monster to have.
- Note suggested HP, attack bonus, average damage, save bonuses, ability DCs for the target CR.
- Look up the HD type of the monster type you want the monster to be and the suggested number of hit dice for a member of that creature type and CR.
- Determine the average HP the monster would gain from hit dice alone and determine the Con bonus needed to achieve the suggested HP. Write down the corresponding Con score.
- Look up the BAB for a creature of the appropriate creature type and HD. Calculate the Str bonus needed to achieve the suggested attack bonus, or if you want the monster to be Dex based, the bonus you calculate is the Dex bonus. Write down the corresponding Str (or Dex) score.
- Determine the number and base damage of attacks the creature needs to achieve the suggested average damage. If you haven't determined the monster's Str yet, now is a good time to choose a Str score that results in the target damage values.
- Determine base saves and check if the monster achieves the suggested save bonuses. Find the Wis bonus needed to achieve the suggested Will save. If you haven't determined the monster's Dex yet, also find the Dex bonus needed to achieve the suggested Ref save.
Also check the Fort save. If it's too high, you might want to lower the monster's Con by 2 and give him Toughness to still have the correct number of HP.
If a save is too low, just add Great Fortitude/Lightning Reflexes/Iron Will.
- Determine the monster's AC by just using its Dex bonus and size modifier. Achieve the suggested AC by adding natural armor and maybe Dodge.
- Set Int and Cha anyway you like. If you want the monster to have spell-like abilities, instead determine its Cha score so you achieve the suggested special ability DC.
- Choose a number of feats appropriate to the monster's HD. Instead of a feat, you can just make up an ability that's about as powerful as a feat. Remember you might have already chosen feats like Toughness, Weapon Focus, Weapon Finesse, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Lightning Refelxes, or Iron Will. But if you have taken a lot of feats just to meet the suggested values, you might want to add special abilities without using a "feat slot".
- Take a final look at the monster. Do the ability scores represent what you want the monster to be? If not, adjust them. Don't be afraid to be a little higher or lower than the suggested stats in some cases. Saves will almost never all hit the suggested values.
- Don't forget to give your players a cool description of your monster, and maybe a picture or even a mini. ;)
And most important: Make the monster a challenging but fun encounter. ;)
thank alot, a whole lot
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However, I suggest, if you want to make your life a little easier, instead of making whole new monsters from scratch. You can take already made monsters, and re-skin them (e.g. That lvl 1 orc warrior is now a lvl 1 blah warrior). It's your description of what the thing looks like that really matters. They may know the monsters in the bestiary inside and out, but if you describe "blah" as a blood-red humanoid with extra large eyes and strange protrusions covering its body, your players will never know that its just orc stats that you're using.
:D
This is a trick I use A LOT so don't underestimate its usefulness.
again, thanks guys.
Like Andreas elaborated, you build monsters backwards from the way you build characters. I personally use re-skinned monsters all the time. I very rarely build a monster from scratch.