ECL, Fractional HD, & Lycanthropy [Archive] - Wizards Community

ECL, Fractional HD, & Lycanthropy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Raven Dark
07-28-04, 10:59 PM Fractional Hit Dice in various monster entries is pretty easy to understand: you treat it as a single Hit Die except for where hit points and spell effects are concerned (like sleep). Simple right? Now, let's make it complicated.

I am trying to make a Halfling WearRaven (natural lycanthrope) with 10 levels of rogue. The problem is this: the raven has 1/4 of a Hit Die, so does my resulting character have a final ECL of 13, 13.25, or 14? I need to know this for his starting funds and experience point total.

Should I round the Hit Die up or down? If it goes up then the character gets more hit points, but if it goes down than I can attach another class level and keep a final ECL of 14 (which may give it more hit poitns anyway). If it remains a fraction then it just gets weird and questions begin to arise.

Why does D&D even have fractional Hit Dice? Shouldn't every creature have the decency to have at least one character level?

Also, does my character take a strength penalty because of the raven's low strength or does lycanthropy only add beneficial ability score adjsutments?
Kiirnodel
07-29-04, 02:32 AM Make a Dire Raven, to up the HD and make the lycanthrope off that, thats how i made the Weresquirrel
Sildatorak
07-29-04, 03:46 AM Dire raven is probably the best option, you could use the stats for dire rat as a base and just tweak them a little bit to make it just right.

As for the strength penalty (if you go for a non-dire raven), you'll only take that in hybrid and animal form.
Raven Dark
07-29-04, 02:08 PM Thanks for not answering my questions.

Anywho, I didn't know there was a Dire Raven. What book is it in?
ieattrollsforbreakfast
07-29-04, 02:57 PM There isnt a dire raven in any published book as far as I know.
You'll have to make one yourself, which shouldnt be too hard.
You could base it off the dire hawk in the MM2.
As for the other issue, if you want to use a raven then I think you should advance it to 1 HD, just to balance off to ECL.
Also, you will take a penalty to strength.
Sildatorak
07-29-04, 03:24 PM Originally posted by Raven Dark
Thanks for not answering my questions.

Anywho, I didn't know there was a Dire Raven. What book is it in?

Hmm…I guess everything I posted was completely ignored.

Ability score wise, rat is about equal to raven. If you use the ability scores for a dire rat, possibly giving them a little bit of change, you should be pretty close to a dire raven.
Kiirnodel
07-30-04, 01:37 AM It doesn't exist
Hers wha t I ahve in mind

Dire Raven-
Small Animal
Hit Dice: d8 (4)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 15 ft/ Fly 50 ft.
AC: 16 (+1 size, +4 Dex, +1 Natural)
Note lycanthropes get a minimum of +2 natural armor.
Base Attack +0
grapple -4
Attack: Talon + 5 melee
dmg: d3
Full attack: 2 Talons +5/+5 melee
dmg: d3/d3
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Qualities: low-light vision
Saves: Fort +2 Ref +6 Will +2
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 18, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +5 Spot +7
Feats: Alertness, Weapon finesse (bonus)
CR: 1/3

Sound good?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Raven Dark 07-28-04, 10:59 PM	Fractional Hit Dice in various monster entries is pretty easy to understand: you treat it as a single Hit Die except for where hit points and spell effects are concerned (like sleep). Simple right? Now, let's make it complicated. I am trying to make a Halfling WearRaven (natural lycanthrope) with 10 levels of rogue. The problem is this: the raven has 1/4 of a Hit Die, so does my resulting character have a final ECL of 13, 13.25, or 14? I need to know this for his starting funds and experience point total. Should I round the Hit Die up or down? If it goes up then the character gets more hit points, but if it goes down than I can attach another class level and keep a final ECL of 14 (which may give it more hit poitns anyway). If it remains a fraction then it just gets weird and questions begin to arise. Why does D&D even have fractional Hit Dice? Shouldn't every creature have the decency to have at least one character level? Also, does my character take a strength penalty because of the raven's low strength or does lycanthropy only add beneficial ability score adjsutments?
Kiirnodel 07-29-04, 02:32 AM	Make a Dire Raven, to up the HD and make the lycanthrope off that, thats how i made the Weresquirrel
Sildatorak 07-29-04, 03:46 AM	Dire raven is probably the best option, you could use the stats for dire rat as a base and just tweak them a little bit to make it just right. As for the strength penalty (if you go for a non-dire raven), you'll only take that in hybrid and animal form.
Raven Dark 07-29-04, 02:08 PM	Thanks for not answering my questions. Anywho, I didn't know there was a Dire Raven. What book is it in?
ieattrollsforbreakfast 07-29-04, 02:57 PM	There isnt a dire raven in any published book as far as I know. You'll have to make one yourself, which shouldnt be too hard. You could base it off the dire hawk in the MM2. As for the other issue, if you want to use a raven then I think you should advance it to 1 HD, just to balance off to ECL. Also, you will take a penalty to strength.
Sildatorak 07-29-04, 03:24 PM	Originally posted by Raven Dark Thanks for not answering my questions. Anywho, I didn't know there was a Dire Raven. What book is it in? Hmm…I guess everything I posted was completely ignored. Ability score wise, rat is about equal to raven. If you use the ability scores for a dire rat, possibly giving them a little bit of change, you should be pretty close to a dire raven.
Kiirnodel 07-30-04, 01:37 AM	It doesn't exist Hers wha t I ahve in mind Dire Raven- Small Animal Hit Dice: d8 (4) Initiative: +4 Speed: 15 ft/ Fly 50 ft. AC: 16 (+1 size, +4 Dex, +1 Natural) Note lycanthropes get a minimum of +2 natural armor. Base Attack +0 grapple -4 Attack: Talon + 5 melee dmg: d3 Full attack: 2 Talons +5/+5 melee dmg: d3/d3 Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Special Qualities: low-light vision Saves: Fort +2 Ref +6 Will +2 Abilities: Str 10, Dex 18, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6 Skills: Listen +5 Spot +7 Feats: Alertness, Weapon finesse (bonus) CR: 1/3 Sound good?