Monster PC Ability Scores

[Uruush]

Wasn't sure if this belongs in Rules, or House Rules. I do not own Savage Species, (cannot put money down for it any time soon), and I could not find the answer to my question in the DMG. If I start a campaign with eighth level characters, with a point buy system, they'll get an additional 2 ability points per the PHB, p10. If I'm allowing Minotaur characters, who have an ECL of 8, should they also get 2 extra ability points, or is that already built into their ECL? Don't know if there's a clear cut answer, but I'd appreciate opinions.
Thanks.

 

[Crothian]

Ya, they would.

 

[Emongnome]

I'm assuming you're referring to the ability score increases every 4 character levels. Monsters get feats, skills, ect. based on hit dice, not ECL, and ability score bonuses are no exception. So, 8th ECL minotaur character only has 6 hit dice, so they would only get +1. But when that mintaur character gets 2 class levels, they get another +1 to their ability scores.

 

[thundershot]

Um... Wait...

I don't have Savage Species in front of me, but if you take a Minotaur as-is...

He's an ECL of 8
He's got 6 Hit dice. That means he gets one feat at 1 HD, 1 at 3 HD, and a third at 6 HD.
No prob.
Now, if he took 2 levels of Fighter, he'd have a total of 8 HD, and would get an ability increase. The increase from the 4th HD should already be figured into the Minotaur's starting ability adjustments.

If this is wrong, please point me to the page where it says otherwise..


Thanks
Chris

 

[Spatula]

Wasn't sure if this belongs in Rules, or House Rules. I do not own Savage Species, (cannot put money down for it any time soon), and I could not find the answer to my question in the DMG. If I start a campaign with eighth level characters, with a point buy system, they'll get an additional 2 ability points per the PHB, p10. If I'm allowing Minotaur characters, who have an ECL of 8, should they also get 2 extra ability points, or is that already built into their ECL? Don't know if there's a clear cut answer, but I'd appreciate opinions.

A) Monsters gain feats, ability score increases, skill points, etc. from HD and not from ECL. The total ECL is equal to HD + level adjustment. In the case of the minotaur, it has 6 HD and a +2 level adjustment, for a starting ECL of 8. That gives an unclassed minotaur 6 HD and 3 feats.

B) According to Savage Species, monsters do not gain ability score increases from their monster HD. They do get ability score increases according to their total HD if you add on class levels. So a minotaur with no class levels: no ability score increases, aside from the minotaur's racial bonuses. A minotaur with class levels gains ability score bumps at 2nd level (8 total HD), 6th level (12 total HD), 10th level (16 total HD) etc.