Post/Author/DateTime	Post
heavenisme 02-05-08, 06:43 PM	Question: When playing as a level adjusted race do you have to pay for HD of the monster, even if you dont want it? For example if your playing a +4 LA race, and just want the +4 LA but not the monster HD which is shown in the monster manual is that ok? I have a person who says you must have the HD listed, and pay for the LA and HD even if you don't want them.... A little help please...
Orenmir 02-05-08, 06:47 PM	Question: When playing as a level adjusted race do you have to pay for HD of the monster, even if you dont want it? For example if your playing a +4 LA race, and just want the +4 LA but not the monster HD which is shown in the monster manual is that ok? I have a person who says you must have the HD listed, and pay for the LA and HD even if you don't want them.... A little help please... You can not drop the racial HD. Built into those HD are things that advance the race, such as ability score boosts and racial abilities. Take a look at any template or race that has high racial HD -- ignore the HD and ask yourself if you think it's still balanced. Stone Giant as a character (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersG.html#stone-giant) is a good example.
BugHunter 02-05-08, 08:05 PM	Question: When playing as a level adjusted race do you have to pay for HD of the monster, even if you dont want it? For example if your playing a +4 LA race, and just want the +4 LA but not the monster HD which is shown in the monster manual is that ok? I have a person who says you must have the HD listed, and pay for the LA and HD even if you don't want them.... A little help please... You need to look at the heading "Monster as Characters" if it shows a racial hit dice you have to take the hit dice since they increase the BAB, saves and provide feats. If you don't want the adjustment for RHD and the LA all at once look in Savage Species there are level progressions for several races the thing is you don't get all of the bonuses at once.
Krusk 02-05-08, 09:03 PM	The HD are there as a penalty, not a bonus. That is similar to asking "can i take half orc as my race, but drop the int and cha penalty?"
CryoSilver 02-05-08, 10:52 PM	Though outsider hit dice aren't too bad, overall.
Crimson_Concerto 02-05-08, 11:52 PM	Though outsider hit dice aren't too bad, overall.Neither are Dragon HD. Perfect BAB, all good saves, and 6+ skill points per level? Where do I sign up? :P Anyways, yes, you do need to take the racial HD. It's part of the penalty of playing the race. The only exception is if you have a race that has only a single racial HD. In this case, you lose that first HD and replace it with the stuff from whatever the first class level it is you take.
wonlee76 02-06-08, 11:37 AM	If you really want to get rid of the HD, as a houserule I find for every 2 HD removed, a +1 to LA should be tacked on. For most monstrous races it works out pretty well.
Neutronium_Dragon 02-06-08, 09:24 PM	Do note, however, that there are a number of (well, many) races which are considered to be overcosted, to the point that hit dice or LA might be shaved off. A primary example of this is gnolls, who are terrible with 2 humanoid hit dice and +1 LA, but would be okay if you either dropped the racial hit dice or reduced the LA to +0.