Admiralbenbo: Created page with "''Note: This is mechanical homebrew, designed to provide some variety and verisimilitude to monster groups while not requiring tons of custom work or figuring out new niches...."

2024-06-25T15:41:18Z

Created page with "''Note: This is mechanical homebrew, designed to provide some variety and verisimilitude to monster groups while not requiring tons of custom work or figuring out new niches...."

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''Note: This is mechanical homebrew, designed to provide some variety and verisimilitude to monster groups while not requiring tons of custom work or figuring out new niches. An elite monster is a tougher, more resilient, meaner version of a regular monster, but without special traits or features that would define a new stat block.''

== Elite Template -- Basics ==
When creating an elite monster, make the following adjustments. Those noted with '''(CR)''' factor into possible changes in CR.

* Hit Points '''(CR)''': Use the maximum hit points for the normal monster's hit die.
* Ability Scores: Increase one of the monster's non-primary abilities by one, prioritizing Wisdom. Primary abilities are either Strength or Dexterity (for weapon or natural-attack using monsters) or a spell-casting ability for spell-attack/spell-casting monsters. Don't generally increase Dexterity unless the monster has natural armor instead of using a Dexterity-based armor calculation.
* Saving Throws: If the monster does not have proficiency in any saving throws, give them proficiency in any of Dexterity, Constitution, or Wisdom saving throws.
* Attacks ('''CR)''': Increase the monster's damage output by doing one of the following
** Add one more attack (giving them Multiattack if they didn't have it already). This is generally the easiest thing for most monsters, especially weapon-using ones, but less appropriate for monsters that do one big hit.
** Add some (possibly more) non-physical damage to their existing attacks. The damage type should match the theme of the monster--snakes get more poison, fire elementals get more fire. Or whatever.
** Increase the die size or number of dice. This is really most appropriate for spell-attack monsters.

== Elite Template -- CR Calculation ==
For monsters with starting CR < 19, do the following. Round down at the end. Units here are ''steps'', so 1/4 -> 1/2 is a change of +1.

* Determine how much extra health the monster got.
** If it is less than 15, CR increases by 0.
** If it is between 15 and 30, the CR increases by 0.5.
** If it is greater than 30, the CR increases by 1 + 0.5 for every 15 extra HP above 30.
* Determine the extra damage per round (assuming everything hits, averaged over 3 rounds):
** If it is less than 6, CR increases by 0.
** If it is between 6 and 12, the CR increases by 0.5.
** If it is greater than 12, the CR increases by 1 + 0.5 for every 6 extra damage above 12.
* Add the contributions from HP and damage and round down.

== Example 1: Elite Wolf ==
The basic wolf has 11 (2d8+2) HP, no saving throw proficiencies, and a primary ability score of DEX. It has a single bite attack, dealing 7 (2d4+2) damage and knocking prone on a failed save. Ability scores are 12/15/12/3/12/6.

Elite Wolf:

'''HP''': 18 (+7)

'''Ability Scores''': 12/15/12/3/14/6 (+4 CON save modifier)

'''Attacks''': Multiattack (2 bites). Extra damage: 7.

Changes to CR: 0 from HP ( 7 < 15). +0.5 from offense = +0.5 total. Rounded down means no change in CR.
[[Category:Homebrew]]
[[Category:Monsters]]

Elite (Monster) - Revision history

Admiralbenbo: Created page with "''Note: This is mechanical homebrew, designed to provide some variety and verisimilitude to monster groups while not requiring tons of custom work or figuring out new niches...."