HD for undead advancing by class level

[shilsen]

What HD does one use if advancing undead by class level? The appropriate HD for the class chosen or d12 (as the satndard undead HD)? For example, suppose I take a ghoul and give it a couple of fighter levels*. Does it then have 2d12+2d10 or 4d12 as far as HD are concerned?

* I know that according to the MM they advance by HD, but I want a little variation.

 

[Crothian]

I use d12 no matter what class they take

 

[shilsen]

I use d12 no matter what class they take

That's what I was intending to use as well. Are you using it just because it feels right, or because of any rule that you had in mind?

P.S. Response in under 1 minute! Now I know where the 17,000+ posts come from Thanks.

 

[Piratecat]

Not only do you always use a d12, the BAB is always poor (as wizard: 1/2 hit die, even if you advance them as a fighter.)

Better make them strong to compensate!

 

[Epametheus]

Not only do you always use a d12, the BAB is always poor (as wizard: 1/2 hit die, even if you advance them as a fighter.)

Better make them strong to compensate!

Um, are you serious?

Why would any evil warrior ever want to become a death knight, if that's the case?

 

[pawsplay]

If you're talking about a lich or vampire advancing as a class, they do use d12's, because the template says so. Their BAB is normal for their class.

If you're talking about adding Sorcerer levels to a ghast, then their hit dice would be normal for the class, along with everything else.

 

[Caliban]

Not only do you always use a d12, the BAB is always poor (as wizard: 1/2 hit die, even if you advance them as a fighter.)

Better make them strong to compensate!

That's not always so, at least according to the MM 3.5. Some of the undead templates convert all their currennt and future HD to D12's (Lich template), while non-template undead gain BAB and HD as per the class they advance in.

For example, take a look at the 10th level mummy cleric on page 190 of the MM. It has both undead and cleric HD, and it's BAB is +4 for a 8 HD mummy, +7 for a 10th level cleric, which gives a +11 BAB.

 

[shilsen]

That's not always so, at least according to the MM 3.5. Some of the undead templates convert all their currennt and future HD to D12's (Lich template), while non-template undead gain BAB and HD as per the class they advance in.

For example, take a look at the 10th level mummy cleric on page 190 of the MM. It has both undead and cleric HD, and it's BAB is +4 for a 8 HD mummy, +7 for a 10th level cleric, which gives a +11 BAB.

Thanks for the reference. I can't believe I forgot about that example. I grow old, I grow old, I shall wear my chainmail rolled...

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Yea verily, an the undead use the class hit die they shall suck with a mighty suckage, the noise whereof shall resound throughout the land.

 

[pawsplay]

I don't know, full BAB progression could be nasty for a Wraith... and the Sorcerer Ghast idea is a nasty one I've had for a while. They have a pretty good Cha, actually.