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HidesHisEyes
2017-02-07, 02:55 AM
Does anyone else have any shortcuts or simple ways to build custom monsters for 5E? Specifically getting the right challenge rating. The system in the DMG is a bit of a faff.

What I'm trying at the moment is: pick the challenge rating you want and make a note of the HP range, average damage per round, AC and attack bonus for that CR. Then adjust them to your liking based on what you how you want the monster to turn out. Give a "CR modifier" to each adjustment you make: +/-1 for each step up or down the CR table for HP or damage, +/-0.5 for each step up or down for AC or attack bonus. Since special traits apply an effective change to one of those four stats, they can also be valued in the same way. In theory, as long as you end up with a net modifier of -0.5 to +0.5, the monster should end up being the CR you originally chose. I think that should work out the same as if you follow the steps in the DMG. It's still a bit of a faff but at least you don't have to worry about offensive and defensive CR, and the modifier system makes it easier to keep track of what changes you're making, for me at least.

obstructor
2017-02-07, 03:21 PM
Alright, lets start from a better perspective.

An equal level CR encounter should consume 20% of the players resources: health, spells, etc. This is the starting point Wizard of the Coast use to build CR.

The easiest way to do this is to keep adding reinforcements or more encounters until roughly the proper amount of resources has been used up. The easiest way to make a similar CR monster is to throw the monster manual out the window and make the monster's attack bonus/AC/Saves roughly around the player's (taking into account where the monsters strengths lie).

Also keep in mind that Single monsters get destroyed by parties, just by having fewer actions, so encounters need to be more than one monster or it needs a huge hp boost.

Random things to keep in mind:

High damage monsters won't scare the party it will just kill them
Encounters shouldn't last much more than 3 rounds unless there are transitions
It is perfectly fine to make an encounter much more powerful than the party, just make sure it doesn't kill the party. (predators would rather fight prey than other predators, they need their health for hunting and the players are hurting them.)
The DM isn't trying to beat the players



Hopefully that helps.