Large creatures in dungeons / monster PCs

[Thanee]

Since yesterday we have a large PC in our party, a centaur ranger (1st level Rest of party is 6th to 7th level), after the previous PC of the player fell through a trapdoor and into a magmastream (no way to raise him).

As we explored an old mage tower, it slowly became obvious just how annoying a large size can be in a dungeon (standard 10' width). All this squeezing and stuff.

While being large has a fair amount of advantages, the revised facing (10'x10') and squeezing rules really cause some trouble eventually. He also cannot decently fight alongside others (and since centaurs have no reach and he has no reach weapon, he also cannot fight from second rank) in corridors (that's also a nice benefit when fighting multiple large creatures, as they block each other, so usually only one of them can fight).

Have you had experience with large sized PCs in dungeons?

And finally, a question about monster PCs... is it correct, that the "monster class" is used like a regular class to determine multiclass penalties (kinda harsh, isn't it)?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Pax]

On your final question - no. PEr Savage Species, one's racial Hit Dice are always considered an additional "preferred class".

So, since Centaurs IIRC have Ranger as a preferred class, neither their ranger levels, nor their racial HD, count towards XP penalties from multiclassing. A 5HD Centaur with 6 levels of ranger and 1 level of Rogue takes no XZP penalty. Change those Ranger levels in for a like number of Gither levels, though, and the penalty comes into play - the Rogue and Fighter levels will be more than 1 apart from each other, and the racial HD still don't factor into the equation. ^_^

 

[Darklone]

We don't really have a large PC in the group, but the group used Enlarge Person quite extensively... and yes, it caused some problems now and then. OTOH, it was very convenient for the enlarged cleric with AC to infinity to simply pick up unconscious friends and carry them to safety...

Yet two dwarven warriors behind a door proved to be too much of an obstacle to overcome.

 

[Li Shenron]

Have you had experience with large sized PCs in dungeons?

And finally, a question about monster PCs... is it correct, that the "monster class" is used like a regular class to determine multiclass penalties (kinda harsh, isn't it)?

Just as Darklone, we had Enlarged characters rather than Large ones, but yes it has been kind of... clumsy! My first adventure's dungeon 3 years ago had lots of 5ft narrow passages and even the medium characters had problems in combats.

I know it's not much of a suggestion but... use larger dungeons! At least the combat areas, they also make for more epic battles IMHO.

Don't worry about the monster class, it's always counted as favored class and therefore never gives Xp penalties for multiclassing (strange that you havent' heard...).

 

[Thanee]

Don't worry about the monster class, it's always counted as favored class and therefore never gives Xp penalties for multiclassing (strange that you havent' heard...).

That's more like, I havn't bothered, until now.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

Oh, and another question which came up... are those monster skills always class skills, that is can also be learned as class skills with skill points from a class (like the centaur's spot as a fighter), or only with the monster hit die skill points?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Will]

Only monster hit die skill points.

The character essentially has a monster 'class,' granting the normal benefits and effects. (BAB, saves, skill points, class skills, etc.)

 

[silentspace]

First level centaur (+2 level adjustment) = 3rd level character, mixed in with a 6-7th level party? That would be a hassle no matter what size the character was! And if he's causing problems just because of his size, well...

Why can't the centaur pick up a lance? Or if he doesn't have the proficiency, a long spear? Actually, with his level, he's probably useless in a fight anyway (compared to the 6-7th level characters).

So really, why would a party of 6-7th level characters want to bring him along? He's not much use, except as a meat shield perhaps. With his size, he can provide cover for the whole party!

Can't the DM at least boost his level? So that he'll at least be able to contribute, instead of merely being a burden for the rest of the party to carry around?

 

[Thanee]

A 1st lvl fighter centaur is actually a 7th level character (4 racial hit dice).

And he's everything but bad as a fighter (25 STR!!! altho "only" 5 BAB, hit points and AC are pretty good too, saves are among the best of the whole party).

You just read a bit much into that, I guess!

Bye
Thanee

 

[silentspace]

Duh! Brain freeze. But seriously, why can't he pick up a lance?