Post/Author/DateTime	Post
heirodule 10-14-03, 12:14 PM	So I'm adding character levels to mindflayers. When they get 1 level in, say, fighter, do they get (2+ int) x 4 skill points, or only 2+int skill points, because they already got x4 with their aberation level? Is it ok/"by the book" to "re-level" them through their aberation levels and give them different feats/skills, or is that cheesy?
sandskimmer 10-14-03, 12:22 PM	They only get the X4 at 1st level. They were 1st level as a 1HD mind flayer. Gaining 1st level in a class is entirely different, so they only get the 2+int mod. Otherwise, a character could take a new class each time he/she leveled and constantly gain the X4 to skill points, which would just be plain ridiculous. Yes, you can give them different skills and feats than what is listed in the book. Those represent the typical monster. Not every encounter with a monster is going to be of the typcial variety. You can rearrange their skills and feats as much as you like to fit the atypical concept of the creature that you need for any given encounter.
Selebius 10-14-03, 12:31 PM	A creature only gets quadruple(?is this a word?) skill points for its first HD. So if you add a fighter level to a mind flayer, it only gets 2+int skill points. Giving a creature different feats is not a problem, but racial bonus feats (like a wolf's track) should not be changed. Different skills should be no problem, too. However, the skills listed are a creatures 'class' skills. If you want to give a creature other skills, you have to buy them as cross class skills. Racial modifiers/boni do not change. Remember, that a creature only can have HD+3 ranks in a class skill and half as much in a cross class skill. Hope this helps, Sel
heirodule 10-14-03, 12:43 PM	Thanks But ability increases and bonus feats are dependent on character class level, not monster level, right? Paul
Selebius 10-14-03, 12:51 PM	Well, a monster's total HDs are important for ability increases and feat acquisition (MM3.5 page 291). So if you add a class level to a 8HD mind flayer it gets a feat for having 9 HD. When the creature reaches 12HDs (= 4th level fighter) it gets the next feat and an ability increase. Sel
heirodule 10-14-03, 09:49 PM	Last Question: If a Mindflayer has an "Effective Caster Level" of 8th (for the use of its psionic abilities), does that mean that the mindflayer has a "Caster level" high enough to qualify for, say, the Craft Wondrous Items feat even if his wizard level is only 1 or 2? Paul
wdarkk 10-14-03, 10:21 PM	If it was taking the psionic item creation feats, yes. I'm pretty sure, however, that regular item creation feats want magic. At least, most of the item creation prerequisites are spells and not powers.
Selebius 10-15-03, 04:53 AM	Originally posted by heirodule Last Question: If a Mindflayer has an "Effective Caster Level" of 8th (for the use of its psionic abilities), does that mean that the mindflayer has a "Caster level" high enough to qualify for, say, the Craft Wondrous Items feat even if his wizard level is only 1 or 2? Paul Well, a creature can use its spell-like abilities to produce magic items (DMG 215), so I would allow the Mind Flayer to take the item creation feat. However, as wdarkk said, it also depends on how psionics are used in your game. If psionics are just a third kind of magic added to the standard arcane and divine magic, there should be no problem using the feats in the PHB. The creation of psionic items is described in the PsiHB. Sel