Stat Increase(s) for Classed Monsters?

[godfear]

I went to D&D Fight Club on the WotC website to look for some examples of this, and in the couple of creatures I saw it was either overlooked, or it doesn't work the same as 'regular' characters with levels.

Do monsters who gain class levels benefit from the stat increases every 4th character level?

By this logic, a bugbear [3HD] Ftr 1 would gain a stat increase for his level of fighter (or any class), because his character level becomes 4. Add Four more levels of any class, and he would get another stat increase...

...or does it not work like that?

 

[Dr. Zoom]

It should work that way for PC monsters with a character class. This is how the DMG has them figure out character level (monster HD + class levels).

 

[godfear]

OK, What about Skills/Feats?

Should they get x4 starting skills for their first class level, and a 'starting' feat as well, or are these benefits precluded by having 'monster' levels?

 

[Grazzt]

Re: OK, What about Skills/Feats?

Should they get x4 starting skills for their first class level, and a 'starting' feat as well, or are these benefits precluded by having 'monster' levels?

No x4 skill points. Their monster HD are considered "class levels". You have it right. It works just like a PC/NPC multiclassing.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

For monsters with more than one HD, they are precluded by the monster "levels." This is also the case for hp. They do not get max hp for their first class HD, because they already get max hp on the first monster HD. For example, your bugbear fighter 1 has 3d8 + 1d10 HD (plus con). His first bugbear d8 is maxed and the others, including his first level fighter d10, are rolled.

Check out DMG, pages 22-24, for more info. You may have to read it more than once to glean all the rules here. I know I did.

 

[godfear]

Cool cool. Thanks for the input.