Adding levels to a > than 1 HD humanoid

[Snowy]

This is a two part question. First is to check I am doing it right.

making a human barbarian

normal human has 1 racial HD when given a level of barbarian replaces that with the barbarian HD

so 1d8 + con mod -----> 1d12 + con mod

making a gnoll barbarian

starts with 2 racial HD when given a level of barbarian gains the barbarian HD

so 2d8 + 2x con mod --------> 2d8 + 1d12 + 3x con mod

(I know theres a level adjustment as well so I've got a 1 ECL and a 4 ECL comparison here)

If thats right, the next bit is a why?

It would make more sense to me for the gnolls HD to do this instead

2d8 + 2x con mod -----------> 1d8 + 1d12 + 2x con mod

replacing their second racial HD with that from the clas instead.

 

[RigaMortus2]

It is because monsters technically have class levels in their "monster" class.

 

[Snowy]

should probably go to house rules now I guess, or should I just repost there?

thanks, I guessed there was some distinction between the HD types.

So its humans and all with a racial HD

and the more HD beasties with "level" of whatever they are and effectively multiclass into the class they take. hmmmmmmm, interesting.

I'm fancying running a game using a lot of monster races how much do you (or anyone) think it woud hurt to let players swap a "racial level" for a class level similar to the 1HD races.

or in fact how many racial for class levels could I swap.

 

[Kobold Stew]

It is because monsters technically have class levels in their "monster" class.

This is true, and you have calculated the hit points correctly, but you are right to think that there is some ongoing wierdness.

"It would make more sense" if it was possible to have some kind of monster which had only one level in their monster class, which it isn't.

Similar things were discussed last week: both specifically about gnolls

http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=133796

and having hit dice with no level adjustment:

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=133283