Racial HD vs. Class HD? Case in Point: Energy Drain


Rules Questions


Okay, so the rules for energy drain are on the surface plainly simple. the save DC is 10 + 1/2 Racial HD + Charisma Modifier.

So, lets look at the succubus.

8 HD, Charisma modifier of +8.

So, 10 + 4 + 8 = 22. Her entry says 22. Awesome.

Now, look at the example vampire.

It's a level 8 undead (augmented human) sorcerer who also has a +8 Charisma modifier. But, vampires don't have racial HD they have class HD, so therefore 1/2 of 0 is 0. So, 10 + 0 + 8 = 22??

The vampire is also 22. But, shouldn't she be 18, since those 8 HD they have are from sorcerer, not racial?

Or, for races that don't have racial HD, do class levels count as racial HD? Then, by that respect if a succubus were to get 10 levels in a class, would her DC for energy drain go up to 27, since she's gained 10 more levels?


Yep. Hit dice are hit dice whether they are from racial levels or class levels. A succubus that gains level would have a higher DC for her energy drain as you said.


If it specifically calls out racial HD then class levels should not count but if it only says HD then all od the HD count. The vampire may jave a rukes exception since it is likely to be tied to a character with class levels.


So, I have two conflicting answers now.


The vampire has 8 hd for energy purposes because vampire is a template that adds energy drain, so class hds count as racial hd for energy drain. A succubus that gains class levels would not increase the DC for energy drain.


You missed specific vampire's rule:

Quote:
Special Attacks: A vampire gains several special attacks. Save DCs are equal to 10 + 1/2 vampire's HD + vampire's Cha modifier unless otherwise noted.

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