3.5 Monster Advancement

Raist2981 · Post by **Raist2981** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 6:17 pm

While looking at the information on monster enhancement in the 3.5 Monster Manual, it is no surprise that I ran across a few questions...They are as follows:
1) Would the save DC for a 24 HD gargantuan aboleth's slime & mucus cloud abilities be 29 (base 10+half of HD 12+constitution modifier 7 for a score of 24 in constitution)?

2) Would the following damages be correct for an aboleth's size based on table 4-3 on page 291: gargantuan=1d8 huge=1d6 large=1d4 medium=1d3 small=1d2? (& yes I am aware that the manual says that aboleth's don't hatch from their eggs until they are full grown adults, but just humor me.

)

3) Would the following ability scores for strength, dexterity, and constitution be correct based on table 4-2 on page 291: gargantuan=str 34 dex 12 con 24 huge=str 26 dex 12 con 20 large=str 18 dex 14 con 16 medium=str 14 dex 16 con 14 small=str 10 dex 18 con 14? What about fluctuations in the abilities: intelligence, wisdom, and charisma?

4) How would one go about determining the HD of a creature smaller than described in the monster manual? An example being a medium-sized aboleth or a baby-youth of a certain creature?

Raist2981 · Post by **Raist2981** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:40 pm

I suppose I am alone on this one...?

Ahmiran · Post by **Ahmiran** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:53 am

1) Correct, but by increasing the HD of the creature it also gains addition feats and ability scores, which could change the DC.

2)Again correct

3)As far as I can see the Strength, dex, con should be for medium 10/16/12 and 6/18/10 for small. Wisdom, intelligence and charisma remain the same.

4)Hard to say, the creature isn't designed to be weakened. Best thing to do would be keep the HD and the CR of the creature the same.

Raist2981 · Post by **Raist2981** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 3:30 am

3) How did you come up with those numbers for medium and small? I can't imagine that a smaller and typically younger member of a species would be as intelligent as an adult, but I suppose I could see how wisdom and charisma would stay the same...I guess I could tweak intelligence down a notch or two for a creature depending on how much younger it is than its adult version.

4) Hmm...Seems like there should be a set way to create a smaller version of a creature...I guess that is something I can work on myself.

Ahmiran · Post by **Ahmiran** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 11:09 am

3) Table 4-2 on 291. If you were to take a medium creature and turn him to a huge creature it would gain +16 str, -4 dex, +8 con. Small to huge would be +20 str, -6 dex, +10 Con. All I did was invert those bonuses. As for the mental abilities you should use whatever you think is appropriate maybe reduce them by 4 for a hatchling and 2 for a juvenile.

4) I have a feeling they didn't think people would want to weaken the critters, but that just means you can do whatever you want to them.