Caster Level for Demons and Devils Summoning

[MythosaAkira]

My apologies if this has been asked before (feel free to direct me to the thread if so!).

Most of the time, spell-like abilities for monsters are listed with a designated caster level. If this isn't listed, the description of "spell-like abilities" in the MM glossary states that the create's HD should be used. However...

Many demons and devils have a summon ability (summon baatezu or summon tanar'ri), which is a spell-like ability, but no level is listed. This implies that the caster level of the ability should be taken as the fiend's HD. But they also have a separate feature labelled "Spell-Like Abilities", and in this feature a caster level is listed. My question is: since a level is listed in this area, should that be the caster level used for any spell-like ability possessed by the demon/devil? Or should the interpretation be literal, and since no level is listed for the summoning ability, HD is the way to go?

I have my own preference, but I'm curious as to how this is "supposed" to work (i.e.; what the original intent was).

Thanks!

 

[Byrons_Ghost]

First off, I assume this is for dispelling purposes, yes? I can think of two ways to go...

1. Use the minimum caster level for the ability listed. For instance, I think a Herezou's ability is listed at 4th spell level, so that would be caster level 7. This will probably make the abilities slightly easier to dispel.

2. Use HD- since the calculation for DC is 10 + 1/2 HD + CHA bonus for most abilities, using HD seems logical to me (for PC caster, for instance, this DC would be 10 + spell level + bonus, but we can assume that spell level is roughly 1/2 caster level since that's generally how it advances). Using HD, I think the dispels would be slightly more difficult.

Those are my thoughts. I couldn't really find an "official" ruling.

 

[ciaran00]

The default is the creature's HD. Anything else is stated specifically, like the spell-like abilities.

ciaran

 

[MythosaAkira]

Yeah, sounds like HD should be the default. I wasn't sure if someone at some point said "We listed the caster level under 'spell-like abilities', so that's what you should use."

Thanks!

 

[ciaran00]

Yeah, sounds like HD should be the default. I wasn't sure if someone at some point said "We listed the caster level under 'spell-like abilities', so that's what you should use."

Thanks!

Also, don't forget that summon itself has a spell level if you ever need it (for things like Concentrate).

ciaran