Advanced HD Creatures [Archive] - Wizards Community

Advanced HD Creatures [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SoulLord
03-13-06, 11:26 AM I was checking the SRd and came upon a little debate.

Can Giants be advanced by adding HD to them
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/improvingMonsters.htm#addingHitDice

or can Giants only be advanced by adding class levels?

I can't find a reference that suppports or denies this.
orionm42
03-13-06, 11:40 AM Not sure if there is a definitive answer. However, every giant in MM1 advances by adding class levels. That's probably not strong enough to settle the debate though! :)
concerro
03-13-06, 04:54 PM I was checking the SRd and came upon a little debate.

Can Giants be advanced by adding HD to them
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/improvingMonsters.htm#addingHitDice

or can Giants only be advanced by adding class levels?

I can't find a reference that suppports or denies this.
I think most advance by class levels but the death giant in MM3 advances by HD
SoulLord
03-13-06, 06:00 PM Thanks for the reference I shall start looking for this Giant.
runestar
03-13-06, 09:17 PM It would depend on the advancement list for the individual giant in their stat block, whether it states by class or lists additional HD available.
The Abominable Darkling
03-14-06, 03:38 AM As DM, you are always free to advance a monster in whatever way you please. Just make sure that when you do, you also adjust its CR appropriately. According to the Monster Manual, creatures only rarely advance beyond the listed limits (page 7, under "Advancement"). Since most giants list no advancement range at all, this seems to imply that giants with extra racial hit dice are rare beasts indeed.

In any case, I personally recommend that you ignore the advancement line entirely for all creatures. Its original purpose was to tell you by how much you could advance a creature while keeping things fair and balanced (it failed utterly at this). With the new guidelines for estimating advanced monster CRs, it serves no purpose at all.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SoulLord 03-13-06, 11:26 AM	I was checking the SRd and came upon a little debate. Can Giants be advanced by adding HD to them http://www.d20srd.org/srd/improvingMonsters.htm#addingHitDice or can Giants only be advanced by adding class levels? I can't find a reference that suppports or denies this.
orionm42 03-13-06, 11:40 AM	Not sure if there is a definitive answer. However, every giant in MM1 advances by adding class levels. That's probably not strong enough to settle the debate though! :)
concerro 03-13-06, 04:54 PM	I was checking the SRd and came upon a little debate. Can Giants be advanced by adding HD to them http://www.d20srd.org/srd/improvingMonsters.htm#addingHitDice or can Giants only be advanced by adding class levels? I can't find a reference that suppports or denies this. I think most advance by class levels but the death giant in MM3 advances by HD
SoulLord 03-13-06, 06:00 PM	Thanks for the reference I shall start looking for this Giant.
runestar 03-13-06, 09:17 PM	It would depend on the advancement list for the individual giant in their stat block, whether it states by class or lists additional HD available.
The Abominable Darkling 03-14-06, 03:38 AM	As DM, you are always free to advance a monster in whatever way you please. Just make sure that when you do, you also adjust its CR appropriately. According to the Monster Manual, creatures only rarely advance beyond the listed limits (page 7, under "Advancement"). Since most giants list no advancement range at all, this seems to imply that giants with extra racial hit dice are rare beasts indeed. In any case, I personally recommend that you ignore the advancement line entirely for all creatures. Its original purpose was to tell you by how much you could advance a creature while keeping things fair and balanced (it failed utterly at this). With the new guidelines for estimating advanced monster CRs, it serves no purpose at all.