The Monster Builder changes a creature's challenge rating and shows the result beside the original. Pick a creature from the 2024 or the 2014 D&D 5e rules, choose a new CR, and the rescaled stat block appears with its armor class, hit points, ability scores, attack bonuses, save DCs and damage moved to suit the new challenge. The numbers that changed are highlighted.
It is for the moments when the monster you have is not quite right: a tougher bandit captain for a party that has levelled up, or a gentler ogre for a table of new players. Each creature is compared with the average creature of its CR and keeps its own gap from that average as it moves, such as a high Strength or an armor class a point above normal, so a rescaled monster still feels like itself. Armor class, saves, ability scores, attack bonuses and save DCs never drop when you raise the CR, or rise when you lower it.
Treat the result as a starting point, not a balance guarantee. Damage dice come in whole numbers, so small steps round off, spell lists in a stat block are not rescaled, and a CR far outside what the book has for that kind of creature is extrapolated and flagged. Use the Encounter Builder next to see how the rescaled creature changes the difficulty of a fight.
Every job the NPC generator uses has a basic stat block: tavern keeper, blacksmith, baker, town guard, thief, hedge wizard and more. They are homebrew, made for Roleplay Journal. They are not official monsters, and each one carries a Homebrew tag so nobody mistakes it for one.Find one: in the Monster builder, the Encounter builder or a scene's Encounter, click the creature box and type the job (for example "tavern keeper") or the word homebrew to list them all.Make it fit your party1. Pick the creature. Most start at a low CR, from 0 to about 2.2. Change its CR. A tavern keeper at CR 5 hits harder, has far more hit points and gains extra attacks. Its cudgel and thrown tankard stay.3. Some have a special trick that scales too, such as the cook's boiling stew or the hedge wizard's sleep dust.Good to know- Noble, Priest, Acolyte and Bard share a name with an official creature, so theirs read "Noble (NPC)" and so on.- Copy stat block adds a "Source: Homebrew (Roleplay Journal)" line, so it is still marked when you paste it into Roll20.- Do not want homebrew in the list? In the Encounter builder, untick Allow Homebrew under Creature filters. It is on by default.- They follow the same CR rules as every other creature, but they are a starting point. Change what you like.
Pick the creature, then choose a higher target CR to make it harder or a lower one to make it easier. The + and - buttons step the CR up or down one rung at a time, and the rescaled stat block appears next to the original.
Yes. Use the Rules switch to choose D&D 5e 2024 or 2014. The creature list and the numbers come from the rules you pick, and it opens on 2024. A few 2014 creatures, such as summons with no fixed CR, can be viewed but not rescaled.
It is a starting point. The builder keeps each creature's strengths and weaknesses relative to the average for its CR, but it cannot judge how a monster plays at your table, so check the result before you use it.
Yes. Every job the NPC generator uses has a basic homebrew NPC creature, tagged Homebrew so it is never mistaken for an official monster. Search for homebrew or the job, such as tavern keeper, and raise its CR to fit your party.
Yes, and you do not need an account. In a campaign, creatures can be added to a scene's encounter, where you can track hit points and export the encounter for Roll20.