creatures spell like abilities.


Rules Questions

Liberty's Edge

the the universal monster rules state that, If no caster level is specified, the caster level is equal to the creature’s Hit Dice. Ok that seems to make sense, since there are scads of munchkins out there i was wondering about that word 'specified'.

So lets take the Silvanshee as a test case.

So a bunch of spell like abilities where the caster level is 2, its 2 hit dice so check.

Then you have commune at 12th level, so 'Specified' as 12 level, so check.

What if i wanted to enhance that Silvanshee to 4 HD, either by adding templates or making it a familiar. Do the spells that are set on the page as 2nd level, where second level = its HD , go up to 4th level.

Based on Sean Reynolds ruling on its Paladin like ability going up with its HDs i would hazard a guess and say yes... they would. But that word 'specified' is annoying because, for the sake of convenience, they always specify the caster level on page, even though it does usually equal the HD.

Was this clarified anywhere, i think it makes sense and follow the 'All things based on HD' ruling already made.


It's probably appropriate that you raise the caster level. But from all the monster advancement I've seen, it doesn't say to.

Grand Lodge

In the case of applying a template, if the template increases the HD of the creature then any Spell-Like Abilities that either don't list a caster level of say that the caster level is equal to HD would increase but the specifically stated caster level (in this case 'Commune') would stay at CL12.

If the creature became a familiar it's actual HD don't really increase. It's considered to either have it's normal HD or HD = to it's master, whichever is higher, but it's actual real HD never increase so none of it's Spell-Like Abilities would increase in CL.

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