Creatures with less than one HD..

[Lurker]

Is there any quick summary/guideline under which circumstances creatures receive less than one HD and what happens if such a creature advances?

Take the kobold for example: A kobold is a Small humanoid and receives only 1/2 HD. Why? A Halfling OTOH is a small humanoid as well, but a halfing receives a full HD.

If the Kobold gets a second Class level(all 1 Hd humanoids are supposed to be first level warriors): Will the second HD be halved as well?

What does this mean to Kobold-PC's (If the DM happens to give you access to this overpowered race )

 

[Knight Otu]

Kobolds do not have a Warrior level. If they did, it would say so in their stat block.

If they do gain a level, they replace the half hit die with the normal hit die for the class.

As for the WHY: I suppose it is because Kobolds have always been considered inconsequential nuisances in earlier editions, and they wanted to reflect that.

 

[Lurker]

Thanks for the Fast answer!
I'm 100% sure that the MM says that Humoids with 1 or less hitdice are supposed to be 1st level warriors (The NPC-Class).

That beside: What's up with other creatures with less than 1 Hd that advance? Take for example a Bat: Will it go directly from 1/4 HD to 1 full HD, etc?

Are their any guidelines when not to give Creatures a full HD? If I wanted to make a creature fragile I'd lower it's Con istead of HD

 

[MissHappen]

As for some sort of official summary, etc... I don't recall coming across one. I can give you a rationale for the .5HD factor, though...
It's a sort of given that the listed HD for a monster is a kind of average. Kobolds are, as already pointed out, considered a 'nuisance monster'... I suppose that their normally evil habits in society and low standard of living wouldn't breed sturdy... they'd just breed.
Unlike Halflings, say, because they have a kinder way of life, and are likely much better fed as young uns.

Official game number crunchy reasons? You have to have something weaker than a 1HD monster, I suppose.

The Kobolds I run in my campaigns are much more civilized (ie 1HD, not half...), but were I to run the standard Kobold, I'd have them advance to a full HD, and then advance them normally from then on, particularly if they take up a class of some sort. It seems fairly logical to me.

-MsM

 

[Nellisir]

Thanks for the Fast answer!
I'm 100% sure that the MM says that Humoids with 1 or less hitdice are supposed to be 1st level warriors (The NPC-Class).

My Monster Manual sayeth...(on page 14)
"Creatures with 1 or fewer HD use only their character levels..." (when calculating total character levels).

Nothing under creature type, hit dice, challenge rating, or advancement that I can find mentions 1 HD or less humanoids are automaticly first level warriors.

Furthermore, a kobolds' base attack is +0, not +1 as a 1st level warrior's would be. (+0 BAB +1 size -2 Str (6) = -1 melee, which is what's listed under kobold. Or, +0 BAB +1 size +1 Dex (13) = +2 ranged, which is also what's listed.)

If a kobold took a level of warrior, it would have +0 melee, +3 ranged. And a full hit die.

Cheers,
Nell.

 

[Nellisir]

That beside: What's up with other creatures with less than 1 Hd that advance? Take for example a Bat: Will it go directly from 1/4 HD to 1 full HD, etc?

Are their any guidelines when not to give Creatures a full HD? If I wanted to make a creature fragile I'd lower it's Con istead of HD

Hit dice only affect hit points. Constitution affects Fortitude saves, skills, and hit points. Kobolds are wimps, but they aren't physically frail or sickly.

You could either advance it by doubling it's HD (a 1/4 HD creature becomes a 1/2 HD creature becomes a 1 HD creature), or by simply jumping up to the next HD level that actually changes stats. A 1/4 HD creature and a 1 HD creature have the same saves, BAB, feats, skills, etc, etc. Only hit points vary. You'd have to go to 2 HD to change anything beyond hit points.

Technically every doubling of HD increases the CR by 2, but I'm not sure how really reliable that is at fractional CRs and HD.

Cheers,
Nell.

 

[the Jester]

On a related topic, if a 1/2 HD monster has an 18 con, does it get 1/2 d8 (assuming a humanoid) +4 or 1/2 d8 +2 (half con bonus for half a hit die)?

 

[Wolf72]

MM kobolds always reminded me of commoners ... I haven't checked the stats and stuff, but that's how I justified to myself

...

poor lil guys!

 

[Nellisir]

On a related topic, if a 1/2 HD monster has an 18 con, does it get 1/2 d8 (assuming a humanoid) +4 or 1/2 d8 +2 (half con bonus for half a hit die)?

+4. +2 would be double jeopardy.

Cheers
Nell.

 

[Knight Otu]

A 1 hit die creature only has a warrior level (or different class level) if it says so at the end of the MM description.

It is mentioned in all 1 HD Humanoid creature writeups, but not in the Kobold writeup (1/2 hit die), the Bugbear writeup (only humanoid hit dice), or the planetouched writeups (1 HD creatures, but these are outsider hit dice).

All creatures with one 1 Hit Die or less advancing by class level drop that hit die in favor of the first class hit die, benefiting from the first character level benefits, such a *4 skills. This is also true for planetouched or for animals that somehow gained intelligence.

Most creatures do not have below average Constitution, with the notable expection being the elf.

I do not know why it is so, but I assume that a less though, small creature should have a fractional hit die rather than a Con penalty.