AD&D General Mechanics
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@Raduziel
OK, let's continue here our discussion....
So, Hit Die refers also to the level the creature is supposed to be.... This means that Umber Hulks are always a level 8 creature and Goblins a level 1 creature.... But does this rule apply if the creature under consideration is, say, a FIGHTER (i.e., a playable class)? I'm asking because in SoD there are certain goblins coded as level 2/3 FIGHTERs....
OK, let's continue here our discussion....
So, Hit Die refers also to the level the creature is supposed to be.... This means that Umber Hulks are always a level 8 creature and Goblins a level 1 creature.... But does this rule apply if the creature under consideration is, say, a FIGHTER (i.e., a playable class)? I'm asking because in SoD there are certain goblins coded as level 2/3 FIGHTERs....
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Keep in mind that everything you find in AD&D are generic rules. The DM is free to go nuts.
One of the best fights I ever had was against a Druid Troll. Later the DM told me he was built as a Lv 12 Druid.
If you want to build a creature with a proper class the best source is The Complete Book of Humanoids. Actually, I rarely use the Monsters Compendium nowadays as I prefer to build every minion.
Yep, Monster Manual Hit Dice are guidelines for the average sort of creature you would find of that type. Creatures usually not considered playable races can still gain class levels, and starting from 3rd Edition onward, there are unique prestige classes for non standard races, like ogres and faeries. In 2nd edition there are usually strict limits on what kind and what type of class levels creatures can gain though, for example goblin shamans only reach 7th level. This is still more of a suggestion rather than a hard rule, though.
So, generally speaking, goblins (or any non-playable race) can be of any level provided they're given a playable CLASS => That's why some SoD goblins are level 3 (instead of just 1): they're FIGHTERs
The playable race is not necessary, though. A DM may create a 10 HD Goblin and call it a day.
The MC only gives a north for the DM.
I see. Of course in such cases only HPs will get adjusted accordingly (since generally speaking THAC0 and AC don't scale with level) => for instance, a 10 HD goblin would have 10d8=10-80 hit points with the same THAC0 and AC of a standard 1 HD goblin
Thanks
I see, so it's like saving throws => to sum up, this means that a 10 HD goblin would have 10-80 hit points, THAC0 11, Saves 8/10/9/9/11 if it's not given a particular playable CLASS. Otherwise, I should refer to that particular class table.
Warrior classes, Specialization and Mastery can all add additional APR.
Is that correct? I mean, according to the manual, a goblin has a Hit Dice of 1-1 (1 minus 1...?). So a 10 HD goblin would actually have 10d8-1=9–79, right?
Each HD of a goblin is a "d7".
If 1HD is 1d8-1, 10HD would be 10d8-10.
Not sure, though. Haven't played for a while.
The manual states that "Some monsters have a hit point spread instead of Hit Dice, and some have additional points added to their Hit Dice. Thus, a creature with 4+4 Hit Dice has 4d8+4 hit points (8-36 total)."
If the same applies to that "minus" (i.e., that "-1" is considered as "additional points"), then it should be 10d8-1 (9–79 total......)
That seals the discussion. Thanks for refreshing my memory.