Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Skorpy 02-05-08, 01:58 PM	Hi, I'm looking at some of the animals in the MM to use as animal companions and so on, and I have a question that it doesn't appear to cover. Some of the animals start with 4+ hit dice - does this mean that they immediately get an attribute bonus? Or do they have to wait until they have 8 HD for their first bonus? Or something else? Also, some animals seem to have "illegal" numbers of feats and so on - for example, the Constrictor Snake has 3HD, and 3 feats - shouldn't it only have 2? Thanks!
seventh_scroll 02-05-08, 03:11 PM	From Monster Manual V 3.5, page 290: Ability Score Improvement Whenever a monster reaches a number of Hit Dice divisible by 4, it improves one ability score by 1 point. For example, a lammasu of 7 Hit Dice increased to to 14 Hit Dice gains an ability score improvement at 8 HD and another one at 12 HD. Monsters do not gain ability score increases for levels they "already reached" with their racial Hit Dice, since these adjustments are included in their basic ability scores. From Monster Manual V 3.5, page 301: FEATS All monsters have a number of feats equal to 1 + (1 per 3 HD). Monsters must meet the prerequisites for feats, just as characters must. If your creature concept begs for a feat for which the creature does not qualify, consider altering the creature so that it qualifies for the feat, or assign the feat as a bonus feat. (It is acceptable for a creature to have a bonus feat for which it does not meet the prerequisites.) Assign feats with your creature concept in mind, just as you did for skills. For example, spellcasting creatures can benefit from Combat Casting. Creatures that depend on their senses to locate prey or alert them to danger can benefit from Alertness. Creatures that attack from ambush can use Improved Initiative. Any creature can benefit from the feats that improve saving throws(Great Fortitude, Lightning Reflexes, and Iron Will). Weak creatures can benefit from Weapon Finesse, which allows a creature to use its Dexterity bonus on melee attacks (very useful for Small, Tiny, and Diminutive creatures). Likewise, very big or strong benefit from Power Attack, which allows them to convert points from their attack bonus into extra damage. The attribute points are already factored in. The snake's extra feats are bonus feats to compliment it's role as a predator.
Skorpy 02-06-08, 03:49 AM	thanks for the answer on ability score stuff- I missed that. FEATS All monsters have a number of feats equal to 1 + (1 per 3 HD). Monsters must meet the prerequisites for feats, just as characters must. If your creature concept begs for a feat for which the creature does not qualify, consider altering the creature so that it qualifies for the feat, or assign the feat as a bonus feat. (It is acceptable for a creature to have a bonus feat for which it does not meet the prerequisites.) Assign feats with your creature concept in mind, just as you did for skills. For example, spellcasting creatures can benefit from Combat Casting. Creatures that depend on their senses to locate prey or alert them to danger can benefit from Alertness. Creatures that attack from ambush can use Improved Initiative. Any creature can benefit from the feats that improve saving throws(Great Fortitude, Lightning Reflexes, and Iron Will). Weak creatures can benefit from Weapon Finesse, which allows a creature to use its Dexterity bonus on melee attacks (very useful for Small, Tiny, and Diminutive creatures). Likewise, very big or strong benefit from Power Attack, which allows them to convert points from their attack bonus into extra damage. The attribute points are already factored in. The snake's extra feats are bonus feats to compliment it's role as a predator. They're not marked as bonus feats, though, are they? None of them have the little "B" beside them (unlike, say, the Eagle, which has one normal and one bonus feat).
The_Shaman 02-06-08, 06:08 AM	No, bonus feats are iirc feats you get because of a race or template, not HD or class levels.
seventh_scroll 02-06-08, 08:52 AM	I just checked this out. From Monster Manual V 3.5, page 279: Constrictor Snake Medium Animal Hit Dice: 3d8+6 (19 hp) Initiative: +3 Speed: 20ft. (4 squares), climb 20 ft., swim 20ft. Armor Class: 15 (+3 Dex, +2 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 12 Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+5 Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d3+4) Full Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d3+4) Space/Reach: 5ft./5ft. Special Attacks: Constrict 1d3+4, improved grab Special Qualities: Scent Saves: Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +2 Abilities: Str 17, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2 Skills: Balance +11, Climb +14, Hide +10, Listen +7, Spot +7, Swim +11 Feats: Alertness, Toughness Environment: Warm Forests Organization: Solitary Challenge Rating: 2 Advancement: 4-5 HD (Medium); 6-10 HD (Large) Level Adjustment: -- Where do you see a third feat? It has Alertness and Toughness. Are you counting Improved Grab? I was under the impression that special attacks were part of a monster's build. Does a Wight's energy drain attack count against his total feats? No. So why should a constrictor snake's improved grab ability? Don't confuse it with Improved Grapple, which gives a bonus to Grapple checks and removes the attack of opportunity. Improved Grab is a monster-only(I think) attack that allows a free Grapple attempt on a successful attack with some natural weapons.