Half-Dragon Fun With Expansion

[moritheil]

Speed

A half-dragon that is Large or larger has wings and can fly at twice its base land speed (maximum 120 ft.) with average maneuverability. A half-dragon that is Medium or smaller does not have wings.

So does a half-dragon that uses expansion to become Large gain wings? Strictly in terms of rules text, why or why not?

 

[Corsair]

I'd argue that the effects of applying the template are static once it is applied to the base creature. This is also a way of dealing with the argument over whether a half-celestial/half-fiend who advances by class gains additional spell like abilities.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

This is also a way of dealing with the argument over whether a half-celestial/half-fiend who advances by class gains additional spell like abilities.

Wait, what? Since when was this a debate? You gain spell-likes with HD, and class levels give you HD.

I thought the debate over these templates was for NPC monsters, with the horrible abuses that can be pulled with creatures that get massive HD relative to their CR.

 

[moritheil]

I'd argue that the effects of applying the template are static once it is applied to the base creature. This is also a way of dealing with the argument over whether a half-celestial/half-fiend who advances by class gains additional spell like abilities.

That is radically different from how I've seen it adjudicated. If you only gain SLAs at application (i.e. at birth) and no class HD count, then PCs would never be able to use any of the neat SLAs that came with those templates . . . and the SLAs are as often as not the entire reason for taking the template.

Now, if you're going to say something like a full fiend doesn't advance SLAs with class levels, then that makes sense to me: their innate abilities might be static and I can see an argument that taking class levels rather than HD means they are not improving their innate qualities. But a template?

 

[Shin Okada]

Well, in a 3.0e official module, a medium-sized half-dragon NPC casts Righteous Might and gets wings while under the effect of the spell.

But personally, I see it ridiculous. What will happen to his full-plate?

 

[Darklone]

I ruled that he HAS wings already but they are too weak to be used till he's enlarged.