Retreiver HP?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Should the Retriever (Monster Manual 3.5) have +80 hp? It's a huge construct, which should get +40 (not +80) as per the Construct traits. I don't see anything in the errata.

It could be that Retrievers receive 2x the listed bonus, but that's not stated anywhere...

 

[Vuron]

While Huge constructs should only have 40 bonus HP I assume the general rule of (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry-statblock being part of the entry) allows the retriever to break the normal template.

I suspect it's largely done to make the retriever tougher without having to load up a buttload of additional construct HitDice (thus sending the CR through the roof).

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

While Huge constructs should only have 40 bonus HP I assume the general rule of (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry-statblock being part of the entry) allows the retriever to break the normal template.

The problem is that there's nothing to indicate that it's anything more than a typo...

 

[RigaMortus2]

But wouldn't increased HP up the CR anyway?

 

[Vuron]

But wouldn't increased HP up the CR anyway?

I guess it's quite possible that the additional bonus HPs are factored into it's CR.

 

[frankthedm]

But wouldn't increased HP up the CR anyway?

Adding pure HP does not make the fight as dangerous as adding on real hit dice. More HP make the monster last longer, usually this is done through Con, an option not possible to do with a construct. If the Retriever had a HD boost to get 40 HP, that would take about 8 Hit dice, adding in not only HP, but +4 to all attacks and +4 to the DCs against the eye rays. That is signifigantly more challenging than just 40 more HP. 40 HP is not even that major since that is less than a round's worth of HP against 11th level PCs AND a retriever only fires one ray per tound.