First time DM with alot of questions.

[FirsttimeGM]

I've played in a couple pathfinder campaigns but never as a DM. Over the past couple months I have been putting together a fun short story for my friends to play. I have it mostly hashed out but there are alot of things I have questions about. Mostly since this is my own brain child there are some creatures I would like to make but i have no idea where to even start.

[Pizza Lord]

Monster Creation

Start with what kind of creature: Animal, Magical Beast, Humanoid, etc. Then go to the bestairy section or part of the website about designing monsters. Assuming you are starting at first, don't make anything above a CR 1/2 or 1 for the most part except for a lieutenant or boss monster.

If you have specific questions, or about adding certain powers or abilities you are envisioning and how best to implement them. Just ask.

[Matthew Downie]

Alternatively, start with a similar monster - this page is a good starting point - and give it a new appearance and a unique ability to make it your own.

[Asmodeus' Advocate]

I'd actually recommend Paizo's simple monster creation over Pizza Lord's link, it's a much simpler (. . .) way of creating your own unique critters to fight.

[SorrySleeping]

Don't make your own monsters. Grab stuff and re-fluff it to fit what you need. It is the easiest way to make sure you know what your team is going to be fighting and that it won't be too much extra work for you.

This changes at higher levels when you have to change abilities, but for low level encounters it is fine.

[Etob]

I'll second Sorry on this one. GMing takes more work than you'd think, and even experienced players usually aren't comfortable making new creatures. Go easy on yourself.

[Asmodeus' Advocate]

I somehow missed the title of this thread. Obligatory link to Hyperbole and a Half.

What's the CR on an Alot of Questions?

[cfalcon]

https://vineris.deviantart.com/art/Alot-of-Questions-167259856

Looks like CR 6 probably?

[Rukkh]

SorrySleeping wrote:

Don't make your own monsters. Grab stuff and re-fluff it to fit what you need. It is the easiest way to make sure you know what your team is going to be fighting and that it won't be too much extra work for you.

I agree this is much easier. For example, for an encounter with a medium monstrous lizard and young, the young used the stats of giant rats.

[Warped Savant]

Rukkh wrote:

I agree this is much easier. For example, for an encounter with a medium monstrous lizard and young, the young used the stats of giant rats.

There's also templates that can be applied. Eg: the "Young" template says:

Quick Rules: +2 to all Dex-based rolls, –2 to all other rolls, –2 hp/HD.
Rebuild Rules: Size decrease by one category; AC reduce natural armor by –2 (minimum +0); Attacks decrease damage dice by 1 step; Ability Scores –4 Strength, –4 Con, +4 size bonus to Dex.

[Wheldrake]

I suspect that whatever monster idea you want, there is already something similar in PF.

Just make a list of the critters you want, the character level of your group of players, and folks here can make several good suggestions.

Starting from an existing critter, just "refluff" (meaning change the description, but not the mechanics) and add in a few special abilities if you think they need them, or should have them to correspond to what you want.

Alternatively, browse through the d20pfsrd and pick something cool.