Celestials vs. Half-Celestials: Why are halvsies twice as powerful?

[Xath]

I was looking at the LA for the celestial and half-celestial, and it struck me as odd that creating a full-fledged celestial is a +2 LA, while creating a halvsie is a +4. Halvsies get all sorts of abilities that their "more potent" brethren don't, and I can't figure out why.

Also, as an example in the half celestial section, they have a 9th level Human Paladin. The advancement portion of this stat-block says "by character class" and as we know, the half-celestial level adjustment is +4. So why is the CR of the half-celestial 9th level Paladin only 11?

 

[Infiniti2000]

Well, at least the Celestial template confirms it by saying, "They can be mistaken for half-celestials, more powerful creatures that are created when a celestial mates with a non-celestial creature."

And as for why, why not? I see no problem viewing the half-celestial template as using the more powerful aspects of celestials and the other base creature. Synergy.

The advancement portion of this stat-block says "by character class" and as we know, the half-celestial level adjustment is +4. So why is the CR of the half-celestial 9th level Paladin only 11?

A 9th-level half-celestial/half-human paladin is ECL 13, but CR 11. don't confuse ECL with CR.

 

[Victim]

"Celestial" creatures are ordinary critters who have absorbed some minor characteristics from living in heavenly planes - they've soaked up some holy background radiation. Half Celestial creatures are childern of powerful outsiders.

CR doesn't equal LA.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I noticed this paradox myself, but as I recall, the "Half-Celestials" are supposedly from powerful otherplanar lineages...presumably more powerful than those of merely "Celestial" origins.

 

[Xath]

Ok, that makes more sense. Thanks.

 

[Xath]

As a clarification question, I've noticed that some creature types with LAs get skill points, hit points, and BAB as part of their starting package. I'm not quite clear on the skill point section for half-celestials. Do they get 4 HD's worth of skill points, or do they just start to gain HD and skill points when they get character levels?

 

[FireLance]

As a clarification question, I've noticed that some creature types with LAs get skill points, hit points, and BAB as part of their starting package. I'm not quite clear on the skill point section for half-celestials. Do they get 4 HD's worth of skill points, or do they just start to gain HD and skill points when they get character levels?

Depends on the base creature. The half-celestial's skill points only replace skill points from racial hit dice. A half-celestial unicorn would thus have 4HD's worth of 8+Int skill points. Skill points from class levels are unaffected, so a half-celestial human or elf would not benefit from this.

 

[Beckett]

As a clarification question, I've noticed that some creature types with LAs get skill points, hit points, and BAB as part of their starting package. I'm not quite clear on the skill point section for half-celestials. Do they get 4 HD's worth of skill points, or do they just start to gain HD and skill points when they get character levels?

Those are typically creatures with racial hit dice and a level adjustment. Take the bugbear- it has 3HD, and a LA +1. So, a Bugbear Fighter 1 is an ECL 5- 3 racial HD, 1 LA, and 1 class level. For those 3 racial HD, he'd have the skill points and BAB of a third level humanoid.

The skill points a half-celestial gets take the place of any gained from racial HD, but not class levels. So, a half-celestial bugbear fighter 1 (ECL 9) gets the 3HD worth of skills as per the half-celestial, plus the skill points of a fighter 1. A half-celestial human fighter 1 (ECL 5) has no racial HD, so only gets the skill points for being a fighter.

 

[pawsplay]

Half-celetials are not the offspring of a creatue with the celestial template, but of a celestial.... that is, a good outsider.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Mutts are generally healthier and less prone to genetic defects than full-breeds.