Lets say you have a creature that has a Offensive CR: 5 and a Defensive CR: 5 (overall CR 5) whilst above half health. When reduced to half health, their CR changes until a certain condition is met, such as a short rest, or being brought back up to above half health. It could be an enraged state, where their attacks are at advantage, or their carapice breaks, giving -2 to AC and physical saves. This means an Offensive CR: 7 and Defensive CR: 5, or Offensive CR: 5 and a Defensive CR: 3, for overall CR: 6 and CR: 4 respectively. Would i use the average of the full hp CR and low hp CR?
CR is more art than science. Average sounds reasonable as a first pass. The math ultimately still comes down to how many attacks this guy going to make at each to hit bonus and damage level, and how many rounds you expect it to have a certain AC.
There are older rules for weakened monsters in Tales from the Yawning Portal that might be useful.
Pg 113 goes over “Reduced-Threat Monsters”
It uses half the hitpoint maximum, takes a -2 penalty on all rolls except damage. Also, if the creature is normally huge or gargantuan, its size is large for reduced threat. If tracking experience, it grants half normal experience.
the inverse isn’t mentioned but I would imagine it could be useful too. Increased max hp, +2 to all rolls except damage, and possibly increased size/Xp.
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Lets say you have a creature that has a Offensive CR: 5 and a Defensive CR: 5 (overall CR 5) whilst above half health. When reduced to half health, their CR changes until a certain condition is met, such as a short rest, or being brought back up to above half health. It could be an enraged state, where their attacks are at advantage, or their carapice breaks, giving -2 to AC and physical saves. This means an Offensive CR: 7 and Defensive CR: 5, or Offensive CR: 5 and a Defensive CR: 3, for overall CR: 6 and CR: 4 respectively. Would i use the average of the full hp CR and low hp CR?
CR is more art than science. Average sounds reasonable as a first pass. The math ultimately still comes down to how many attacks this guy going to make at each to hit bonus and damage level, and how many rounds you expect it to have a certain AC.
There are older rules for weakened monsters in Tales from the Yawning Portal that might be useful.
Pg 113 goes over “Reduced-Threat Monsters”
It uses half the hitpoint maximum, takes a -2 penalty on all rolls except damage. Also, if the creature is normally huge or gargantuan, its size is large for reduced threat. If tracking experience, it grants half normal experience.
the inverse isn’t mentioned but I would imagine it could be useful too. Increased max hp, +2 to all rolls except damage, and possibly increased size/Xp.