So I'm making an adult black dragon, but instead of it having innate dragon magic like dragonfear and Elemental breath, she has the same arcane capabilities of an archmage. I don't really know what to put for the challenge rating though, and I also added some other stuff to the homebrew monster, like luck points and a better STR score. Any tips for determining a cr for her?
The value of CR is greatly overrated, but in general it sounds like you have something that has on-turn attacks like an archmage but has the defenses of an adult black dragon and probably also has the legendary actions, which is to say:
+96 hit points (it takes an average of +18 hit points to get +1 defensive CR without any AC bonus, so this is 5.33 defensive CR or 2.67 CR)
+4 AC (worth +2 defensive CR, or +1 CR)
4 good saves instead of 2 (worth +1 AC, or +0.5 defensive CR, or +0.25 CR)
3x legendary resistance (counts as 30 hp each, so 5 defensive CR, or 2.5 CR)
3x legendary actions (using tail, this is 45 dpr, or about 7.5 offensive CR, or 3.75 CR)
Total 12 (base archmage) +10.17 (adjustments). Because this is more than 20, and the CR curve twists at 20, it's probably actually CR 21.
I swear i saw a video about this where it was in a campaign but it was super op, the way it was described had the dragon use his breath or whatever and then cast spells, this is probably only for high level players but sounds fun.
So I'm making an adult black dragon, but instead of it having innate dragon magic like dragonfear and Elemental breath, she has the same arcane capabilities of an archmage. I don't really know what to put for the challenge rating though, and I also added some other stuff to the homebrew monster, like luck points and a better STR score. Any tips for determining a cr for her?
The value of CR is greatly overrated, but in general it sounds like you have something that has on-turn attacks like an archmage but has the defenses of an adult black dragon and probably also has the legendary actions, which is to say:
Total 12 (base archmage) +10.17 (adjustments). Because this is more than 20, and the CR curve twists at 20, it's probably actually CR 21.
Wow thanks man.
I swear i saw a video about this where it was in a campaign but it was super op, the way it was described had the dragon use his breath or whatever and then cast spells, this is probably only for high level players but sounds fun.
Probably, but mine should be a bit easier since she doesn't have the breath weapon a dragon normally has.