Quote:
Originally Posted by TippetsTX
I'm on the fence about it. CR can be a useful tool for new GMs, but it can also become a 'crutch' and eventually lead to meta-player abuse as you've outlined. That said, however, the same rules that help define 'challenge rating' can also be used to help GMs create brand new creatures and encounters for their campaign. Stat totals alone are insufficient to do this in a consistent manner IMO.
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Fortunately, TFT is so simple that it's usually very easy to design a new monster. If all other inspiration fails, just find an old one that is reasonably close, tweak it a bit (or even just re-skin it), add in whatever special effect you want to showcase, and
voila, you are done. It's not nearly as hard as it is with D&D or some of the other systems that have accreted enormous complexity simply because they started out with a goofy combat system in the very beginning and haven't ever redesigned it for greater simplicity and elegance. No special rules required. And the stat block will still get you in the ball-park generally, in terms of "challenge" to your players.