If a Nymph gains a druid level?

[DM-Rocco]

A nymph gets and cast spells as a 7th level druid. If a nymph gains a driud level, is she then a 1st level druid who also can cast spells as a 7th level druid?

Or is she a 1st level druid with the abilities of the 1st level druid but gains and cast spells as a 8th level druid?

 

[Question]

I would rule it as the second. Best option to me.

 

[Rystil Arden]

It's the latter. There's precedent with dragons gaining sorcerer levels, etc. This is because the Nymph actually casts as a 7th-level Druid, so it's much like having a PrC that raises Druid casting by 7.

 

[DM-Rocco]

It's the latter. There's precedent with dragons gaining sorcerer levels, etc. This is because the Nymph actually casts as a 7th-level Druid, so it's much like having a PrC that raises Druid casting by 7.

That is what I thought as well. I think the Rakashas, (I think I just butchered that name) also do the same with thier sorcerer levels too.

What are your thoughts on monster levels versus class levels. Using then Nymph as the example, since we are already talking about them, instead of 6 hit dice of monsterous humoniod levels, can you switch them out for class levels.

I know for a fact that a pixie has a +4 level adjustment and 1 hit die so an ECL of 5, but you can replace the hit die with a level, still an ECL of 5, but you have a +4 level adjustment with one level in a class.

I don't see a problem with it, but I was wondering if the rules state they have to have a certain amount of monster hit dice ass well.

 

[Staffan]

Everything that has more than 1 racial HD has to keep all those HD before adding any class levels on top.

 

[Sejs]

I don't see a problem with it, but I was wondering if the rules state they have to have a certain amount of monster hit dice ass well.

You do. All of them. You have to take the full allotment of your racial hit dice. It's not an option, it's required.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Indeed. This is essential or else you could have an extraordinarily powerful race. The racial HD are basically a sort of LA, since racial HD suck, except for Outsiders or Dragons, who maybe, just maybe, might get away with swapping racial hit dice for a class (but even then I would give a bit more LA). For fey especially, the fey levels are absolutely horrible beyond parallel (comparable with Commoner), so you would increase the power dramatically by swapping in normal class levels.

 

[DM-Rocco]

Everything that has more than 1 racial HD has to keep all those HD before adding any class levels on top.

does it say that somewhere?

 

[Staffan]

I don't have the MM available right now, but you can find it in the SRD here.

Interestingly, the subheading is "Humanoids and class levels", implying that even 1 HD non-humanoids might have to keep their single racial HD.

 

[DM-Rocco]

Did I miss something?

I didn't see where it said you had to take racial hit dice, only how to figure ECL.