Extra Hit Dice (EHD) and int penalty

[the Jester]

When creating a magical beast, according to the How to Create a Monster article, it should have 1 + int modifier feats, plus 1/4 EHD. My magical beast is huge with 16 HD (12 EHD). Its intelligence is a mere 4 (ability mod -3). Does this mean that it has only one feat (1 -3 [int penalty] +3 (12 EHD/4 =3), or should it have four (ignoring any penalty on int?) It seems that it would be easy to create dumb monsters with no feats, and I don't really recall any. A remorhaz (huge magical beast, Int 5, HD 7) has one feat; by the numbers shouldn't it have no feats at all? (1 -3 [int penalty], no EHD). Is there an unwritten rule somewhere I'm missing about this?

I'm confused!

 

[Grazzt]

When creating a magical beast, according to the How to Create a Monster article, it should have 1 + int modifier feats, plus 1/4 EHD. My magical beast is huge with 16 HD (12 EHD). Its intelligence is a mere 4 (ability mod -3). Does this mean that it has only one feat (1 -3 [int penalty] +3 (12 EHD/4 =3), or should it have four (ignoring any penalty on int?) It seems that it would be easy to create dumb monsters with no feats, and I don't really recall any. A remorhaz (huge magical beast, Int 5, HD 7) has one feat; by the numbers shouldn't it have no feats at all? (1 -3 [int penalty], no EHD). Is there an unwritten rule somewhere I'm missing about this?

I'm confused!

Ignore the references to "Int modifier" for feats. It should be "Int bonus." Monsters with no Int bonus do not gain bonus feats. Those with an Int penalty do not lose feats.

Skip Williams made that official somewhere (Sage advice a few issues ago IIRC).

 

[BOZ]

so, let's say if a 1HD monster has an Int of 8, and it gets feats by "1 plus Int bonus + 1/4 levels" it would still have that one feat, and then get another one at 4th level?

 

[Grazzt]

so, let's say if a 1HD monster has an Int of 8, and it gets feats by "1 plus Int bonus + 1/4 levels" it would still have that one feat, and then get another one at 4th level?

Yes.

 

[the Jester]

Thanks!

I'll post the baddie when it's done...