D&D 3.x Creature Catalog 3.5 overhaul project - part 1

Conaill · Aug 1, 2003

Well, I didn't ask you to type in the whole list verbatim.

But could you at least check if my list above is correct? Plus perhaps an overview of how else SS differs from Soldarin's calculator in terms of things that are or are not included in the LA calculation.

Knight Otu · Aug 2, 2003

Your list is more or less correct, but I do think that there is a small list of weaknesses. The one for one HD issue is somewhat reduced by the acid test.

Also, Small and Smaller sizes do affect the LA in SavSpe, by -1(Though many people miss the fact that smaller sizes are part of this).

Krishnath · Aug 2, 2003

Also, a sufficiently high Fast Healing, say fast healing 10, has a higher LA cost than Regeneration 10.

Non-abilities are calculated as if they where +0, so if a creature lacks con for example, it is considered to have a con modifier of +0.

Alternate modes of movement (such as flight and burrow speeds) give a LA adjustment of +1, but strangely swim speeds do not give an increase to LA.

Some creaturetypes (such as plants and elementals for example) increase LA by +1. This has to do with the immunities the creature type gives.

Conaill · Aug 2, 2003

Krishnath said:
Non-abilities are calculated as if they where +0, so if a creature lacks con for example, it is considered to have a con modifier of +0.

Weird. In the case of Constructs for example, CON -- seems nothing but a benefit. Constructs get bonus HP to make up for the lack of CON modifier to HP anyway, and the missing CON makes them immune to a bunch of effects...

Krishnath · Aug 3, 2003

It is not weird, Constructs and undead lack a metabolism, and thus cannot have a con score. Vermin and most oozes are mindless and thus cannot have an int score, and incorporeal creatures usually lack a str score as they cannot affect physical objects. That makes sense to me.

Conaill · Aug 4, 2003

Krishnath said:
It is not weird, Constructs and undead lack a metabolism, and thus cannot have a con score.

Oh, that part I totally agree with.

I just think it's weird that a construct's lack of CON score would be counted as a +0 ability mod for purposes of calculating LA. Considering that constructs only seem to benefit from their missing CON score (at least with their new bonus HPs to make up for the missing CON HPs).

Anyway, that's probably irrelevant, since the missing CON is part of the Construct type "package". Can't really think of any other examples where a missing ability is only a benefit to a creature.

Krishnath · Aug 4, 2003

Well, lacking int means you don't have a mind (vermin and most oozes and some constructs and some undead) and thus is immune to mind-influencing effects.

But lacking an ability score is also considered to have a +0 ability score when calculating ability modifiers, so that *still* makes sense to me.