How do you guys think the CR of a guard would change if they were given the AOO feature from the PAM feat (While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, quarterstaff, or spear, other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter your reach)? They already out damage/have better armor class than suggested for a CR 1/8 monster (DMG suggests 13 AC 2-3 DPR but the have 16 AC and 4-5 DPR) but their HPs are already on the low end for CR 1/8 (11 vs 7-35) and would be very very low for a CR 1/4 (36-49 suggested). Is the change small enough that you would still consider them CR 1/8 or is it enough to bump them up? Thanks.
4-5 Damage/Round > CR 1/4. Having attack of opportunity on approach boosts, probably not double though unless the players keep moving in and out, so offensively the guard is CR 1/2.
So according to the DMG way of ruling CR, your new Guard is a CR 1/4 or CR 1/2 creature. Given that they gave the original guard the lower of its two values, it's probably a CR 1/4 enemy. Its worth noting that CR means very little though, as long as you are happy that it will be balanced in your campaign there's no reason to worry about this stuff - estimate for XP!
How do you guys think the CR of a guard would change if they were given the AOO feature from the PAM feat (While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, quarterstaff, or spear, other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter your reach)? They already out damage/have better armor class than suggested for a CR 1/8 monster (DMG suggests 13 AC 2-3 DPR but the have 16 AC and 4-5 DPR) but their HPs are already on the low end for CR 1/8 (11 vs 7-35) and would be very very low for a CR 1/4 (36-49 suggested). Is the change small enough that you would still consider them CR 1/8 or is it enough to bump them up? Thanks.
Following the guidelines:
11 HP > CR 1/8. 16 AC bumps defensive CR to 1/4.
4-5 Damage/Round > CR 1/4. Having attack of opportunity on approach boosts, probably not double though unless the players keep moving in and out, so offensively the guard is CR 1/2.
So according to the DMG way of ruling CR, your new Guard is a CR 1/4 or CR 1/2 creature. Given that they gave the original guard the lower of its two values, it's probably a CR 1/4 enemy. Its worth noting that CR means very little though, as long as you are happy that it will be balanced in your campaign there's no reason to worry about this stuff - estimate for XP!
cool, thanks for your answer.