Advanced Template on Humans (Question)

[The Genie]

Ok so if I were to add the Advanced Template onto the local city guards this gives then a +4 to all ability scores and a +2 Natural armor (So potentially a +4 to their AC due to Dex and NA.

Now is that too much? I am curious because often times it really comes down to the NPCs having fairly average rolls I mean if a guard has an 19 str as opposed to 15 he is going to be doing a bit more damage each round, as well as hitting more often.

Now say I put that on a player character, would this make the player far too powerful?
What if they rolled really poorly, nothing over 14? What if they rolled really well with 1 or 2 scores hitting 17-18 range?

[Bob Bob Bob]

The Advanced Simple Template is meant to ad-hoc a more dangerous challenge from a monster without too much work. The part everyone seems to forget is the Simple part. It's not balanced. It's meant to benefit every monster similarly by upping their save DCs, defenses, and attacks. Whatever they happen to be.

A less simple advanced template would involve determining the monster's role and primary method of attack and only raising those. A player trading one level for +4 all stats is almost always worth it. A player trading a level for +4 <primary stat> and +2 <primary defense> might be worth it, and wouldn't be too unbalancing. +4 Str +4 Con is already barbarian rage and would help any melee monster. +4 Cha +4 Dex isn't a bad trade for a Cha caster but losing spell levels hurt, on the other hand it's all bonus for an SLA-based monster.

What the player rolled doesn't matter. If you accept the premise of rolling stats then the whole point is to play the character you rolled. If you don't like the character you rolled, well, that's one of the potential downsides of rolling. You don't want that downside then you use another method of stat generation. Different rolling method, point buy, matrix, whatever.

[Paulicus]

I haven't rolled for stats in a long time. I've heard of some ideas to 'even the odds,' so to speak. Minimum PB values/total ability modifiers can work to keep players from being too weak. Some groups also have players roll but then all choose the layout they want to use, so your players aren't on different power levels.

On topci: The advanced template is a nice & easy way to make enemies tougher. It would be pretty powerful on a PC though.

[The Genie]

Please do note we commonly play with Drow Nobles and well they dont OP the game either. I was curious about how powerful it would make a character who did roll poorly or otherwise for the lose of a level, especiallt early in the game (level 3-5)

But I was curious about the guard and npc question. Because I was gonna throw it onto the Kingsguard in my next campaign and perhaps a few famous bandit groups (Think evil version of Robin Hoods Merry Men)

[Majuba]

For the guard, adding advanced template is very similar to adding a level of Barbarian (+2 str/Con, +2 will saves), with 6 better AC but lower hp. Will be a much tougher fight usually. Magic missile is the evener here actually (no AC, no save, lower hp proportionally more effect).

In general, the Advanced template is somewhere between +1 and +2 CR really, often closer to +2. Much like the Young template can often be closer to +1 than -1.

[Barathos]

Advanced Human = Dúnedain