Fine tuning monsters from RC and Creature Catalog

papercut · Post by **papercut** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:21 am

Hey there folks,

I have the RC and I was wondering how to fine tune the higher level monsters. As the monsters get become more powerful their hit dice and save levels diverge. For example they might have 9HD but save as 15F. From what I understand, in ODnD after level 12, every three levels become 1 level (when adapting to ADnD). So in this situation on an attack roll would I +9 or +13 to hit?

13 (12+1) seems more logical as the monsters get higher level they continue to become more powerful. Plus, how is their movement adjusted, in ADnD it is *2.5.

I printed out the RC and the 1e DMG, both those books are mad. The Gygaxian word stylings and the RC's proclivity to repeat things over and over to help the youngsters just blow my mind (even though there are some complex mechanics in there). I started playing with the white toast 2e books and the 3e books continued the slide to mediocrity.

Cheers,

Running my first campaign next week, openrpg plus skype ftw.

Papercut

papercut · Post by **papercut** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:57 am

Actually,

Upon further review, it is rather rare that the stats diverge. So it is not that big a deal. The 3 levels for +1 on checks after level 12 is a good guideline though. Its nice how in that book the saves as stat can be easily translated to CnC. For example saves as 5F means P prime +5.

Cheers

rabindranath72 · Post by **rabindranath72** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:05 pm

note that animals and nonintelligent creatures in RC usually save at half the fighter level. In c&c they would however get the full hit dice, but their primes would be only P.

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:24 pm

And, you can always give them special abilities / limitations that further affect how they function, which may, or may not, alter their XP award. For example, you can have a creature that is 1 HD but saves as a 10 HD creature for all Strength-related checks. Conversely, you can have a 10 HD creature that does the reverse. There is no rule saying you cannot modify the rules.

BLOOD AXE · Post by **BLOOD AXE** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:01 pm

Forgive my ignorance....hat the poop is "RC"??

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:03 pm

Rules Cyclopedia: a single hardback compilation / rewrite (barely) of the Mentzer D&D Basic - Masters (with a very light tint of Immortals thrown in) line.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:19 pm

BLOOD AXE wrote:
Forgive my ignorance....hat the poop is "RC"??

Only the best single D&D book ever produced!

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BLOOD AXE · Post by **BLOOD AXE** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:02 am

Ok, I know what that is. I just don't know him well enough to call him "RC", I have to use the full name. Rules Cyclopedia.