How do I upgrade / downgrade a monster?

[richienvh]

Hey all,

I was looking to downgrade a monster a couple of levels and was wondering what would be the correct or best way to do it.

My first idea was to somehow utilize the monster creation rules but I did not find any explicit guidelines on how to approach that. Should I just change the values via aproximation?

Another thought that occurred to me was using the elite/weak template. Would it be possible to apply multiple templates of that kind?

My goal is to homebrew a level 3 Lamia

[masda_gib]

You can apply the weak/elite template multiple times. But the rules say that if you do it more than a few times, the numbers get skewed too much. I wouldn't apply those templates more than twice.

If you want more level difference, the monster creation rules are better. Also remember to adjust non-number abilities. Low level monsters shouldn't have unlimited invisibility for example.

[Malk_Content]

Dont use weak/elite for more than one level. The +/- 2 is a quick approximation that falls down past one level. (A -1 goblin elites to level 10 would have 42 ac which is obviously wrong.)

Instead I would look at each of its attributes and compare them to the ratings for its level, then replace those attributes with the same ratings for the desired level. Finally remove any abilities above it's new level (I.e any spells etc)

[Ediwir]

masda_gib wrote:

You can apply the weak/elite template multiple times. But the rules say that if you do it more than a few times, the numbers get skewed too much. I wouldn't apply those templates more than twice.

If you want more level difference, the monster creation rules are better. Also remember to adjust non-number abilities. Low level monsters shouldn't have unlimited invisibility for example.

Specifically, if you apply it once, it's kind of one level. If you apply it twice, it's a bit more than two levels (but weaker than 3), and if you want to boost something by three levels, you just need to Elite twice and tweak hp and damage.

I did this kind of boosting/adjustment quite a few times. Dual-Elite is something I try to actively avoid, but this is an example of me boosting a bestiary monster by 3 levels with it:

Falak (lv11 dual-Elite Giant Anaconda, PB1 p.303 plus Gargantuan size, hp250, damage jaws 2d12+12, tail 2d10+12, constrict/swallow 1d12+12 (rupture 25), and can constrict Huge creatures)

You can check it if you like.