Further Monster Advancement (Savage Species based)

[Ignus Infernus]

Okay... a simple question that I'm trying to figure out.

Using the monster level system in SS, when you max it out, you have hit the power of the average version shown in the MM (or whatever), right? In theory, would it work if you were allowed to pass that "max" level in the monster class, and add further levels in the monster (advancing as they do in the MM with increasing size and the such) instead of class levels?

If that's a yes, now to take the question one step further (to my true intent ^_^)...

Say you play a juvenile black dragon (12 hd I believe)... if you advanced your black dragon class until you had 15 hd, would you now be the equivalent of a young adult (when it comes to size, bonuses, breath weapon, etc.), or would you still need to wait for the time factor?

 

[hammymchamham]

I was going to ask this question a couple days ago and didn't know how to word it. So, thanks for asking.

I don't see why you couldn't advance in monster hit die. I would think that leveling in a class would be more benificial though, unless you were going for the size increase of course.

 

[Ignus Infernus]

Well, yeah, class levels would be more beneficial, but I was curious mainly because of the dragon thing... I mean, I didn't want my character morphing into a medium sized dragon. ^_^

 

[hammymchamham]

and I would think a Dragon could advance by its monster class hit dice, but it would need to age.....

 

[Ignus Infernus]

So, you'd think that even if the dragon has the requisite hit dice, it wouldn't grow? So in theory, you could have say a... 23 hit dice young adult or so? ^_^

 

[hammymchamham]

I think for a dragon to get extra monster hit dice, it would need to age, thats all. I wouldnt let a PC playing a Dragon to get Dragon hit dice, but I would allow class hit dice. Now if the campaign lasted in game time as long as needed for a new age catagory, I would let her get the extra hit dice.

 

[Ignus Infernus]

Yeah, I was figuring I'd have to do that (just not allow advancing of the dragon class until the age has become what's needed), but with the buggering of a player, I had to ask... though I suppose there's always still the chance for him to use something as simple as one of the rituals from SS to take the form of an older dragon. ^_^