Dragon SRD question

[ejja_1]

According to the 3.5 SRD dragons get skill points using the following equation. All dragons have skill points equal to (6 + Int modifier, minimum 1) x (Hit Dice + 3).

To me if you had an 4 HD wrymling dragon with an 8 INT That would mean it would have 28 skill points, or (6 + -2=)4 x (4 +3=) 7 for a total of 28.

My friend thinks that it may be as follows.
Same model as above but with the formula applied thusly.
(6+1=) 7 x (4+3=) 7 for atotal of 49 skill points.

Am I correct in my calculations, or is my friend right?

 

[Ahrimon]

Hmm. Actually your both wrong. But, before I sound like a jerk, your math is correct. You just have a typo. An 8 int is a -1 modifier. Which meanst that the dragons skill points are:

(6 + -1) * (4 +3) which translates to: 35

The part about "minimum 1" is there in case the dragons Int modifier was -6 or higher (actually lower). Which would bring his number to zero or even into the negatives if the modifier was -7. This is included with everything to keep skill points above zero.

Ahrimon

 

[Grazzt]

Hmm. Actually your both wrong. But, before I sound like a jerk, your math is correct. You just have a typo. An 8 int is a -1 modifier. Which meanst that the dragons skill points are:

(6 + -1) * (4 +3) which translates to: 35

The part about "minimum 1" is there in case the dragons Int modifier was -6 or higher (actually lower). Which would bring his number to zero or even into the negatives if the modifier was -7. This is included with everything to keep skill points above zero.

Ahrimon

Yep- Ahrimon is right. (6 - 1) x (4 + 3) = 35

 

[ejja_1]

Yep- Ahrimon is right. (6 - 1) x (4 + 3) = 35

Thank you guys, sorry about the math flub. I shouldnt think that early in the morning, I should wait until the caffiene kicks in.....

 

[ejja_1]

Hmm. Actually your both wrong. But, before I sound like a jerk, your math is correct. You just have a typo. An 8 int is a -1 modifier. Which meanst that the dragons skill points are:

(6 + -1) * (4 +3) which translates to: 35

The part about "minimum 1" is there in case the dragons Int modifier was -6 or higher (actually lower). Which would bring his number to zero or even into the negatives if the modifier was -7. This is included with everything to keep skill points above zero.

Ahrimon

Just out of curiosity, how is a -6 or lower adjustment possible when having a 1 int gives you a -5? Is there something that brings int score belowe 1? I have never heard of anything, but am curious if it's possible and where it's printed so I can refrence it.
Thanks for the help again guys.
Ejja_1

 

[ejja_1]

Another question in the same vien

How many points would a black dragon get through 9 HD since the Int
score
doesn't show as going up until 10 HD? And does this extrapolate
further
through the other age categories when the Int score is high enough to
receive a "plus bonus"?

For instance, does a Black Dragon's skill point progression follow-

5 x 4 = 20 (for 1 HD)
and +5 (at 2 HD)
and +5 (at 3 HD)
and +5 (at 4 HD, which brings the total to 35 for a wyrmling)
and +5 (at 5 HD)
and +5 (at 6 HD)
and +5 (at 7 HD, bringing the total to 50 for a very young black
dragon)
and +5 (at 8 HD)
and +5 (at 9 HD)
but +6 (at 10 HD, since its Int score rises to 10, bringing the total
to 66
for a young black dragon)
and +6 (at 11 HD)
and +6 (at 12 HD)
and +6 (at 13 HD, bringing the total to 84 for a juvenile black dragon)
and +6 (at 14 HD)
and +6 (at 15 HD)
but +7 (at 16 HD, since its Int score rises to 12, bringing the total
to 103
for a young adult black dragon)
and +7 (at 17 HD)
and +7 (at 18 HD)
and +7 (at 19 HD bringing the total to 124 for an adult black dragon)
and +7 (at 20 HD)
and +7 (at 21 HD)
but +8 (at 22 HD, since the Int score rises to 14, bringing the total
to 146
for a mature black dragon)
and +8 (at 23 HD)
and +8 (at 24 HD)
and +8 (at 25 HD, bringing the total to 170 for an old black dragon)
and +8 (at 26 HD)
and +8 (at 27 HD)
but +9 (at 28 HD, since the Int score rises to 16, bringing the total
to 195
for a very old black dragon)
and +9 (at 29 HD)
and +9 (at 30 HD)
and +9 (at 31 HD, bringing the total to 222 for an ancient black
dragon)
and +9 (at 32 HD)
and +9 (at 33 HD)
but +10 (at 34 HD, since the Int score rises to 18, bringing the total
to
250 for a wyrm black dragon)
and +10 (at 35 HD)
and +10 (at 36 HD)
but +11 (at 37 HD, since the Int score rises to 20, bringing the total
to
281 for a great wyrm black dragon)

Does this seem logical?
Ejja_1

 

[CRGreathouse]

How many points would a black dragon get through 9 HD since the Int score doesn't show as going up until 10 HD? And does this extrapolate further through the other age categories when the Int score is high enough to receive a "plus bonus"?

That's logical, but not the way WotC has it work. If a 17-HD dragon has Int 16, it has 180 skill points, even if its Int was lower before.

 

[Philip]

That's logical, but not the way WotC has it work. If a 17-HD dragon has Int 16, it has 180 skill points, even if its Int was lower before.

It should work that way with PCs to, IMO. I can take the minor suspension of disbelief it brings.

 

[Grazzt]

It should work that way with PCs to, IMO. I can take the minor suspension of disbelief it brings.

Nah, not for PCs. For NPCs maybe. When doing high HD monsters (or NPCs), its much easier just to use the set formula for their type (or class) than to start at the beginning and keep advancing it, making sure its skill points work out right if/when its Int score increases.

Like the example above with the dragon....too much work. Just set its HD (17 for example, like CG said) and use the formula.

WotC uses this method for a reason...easier, quicker, and so on.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

It is likewise easier and quicker to use the same rule for PCs, especially if you're using an ability score improvement system that is more rapid than +1/4 levels.