Why did 3.5 constantly reference a PC/NPC/Creature's Hit Dice (HD) rather than levels? I apologize for asking such a basic question.
Levels give hit dice, but not all creatures have levels. All creatures do have Hit Dice.
Levels give hit dice, but not all creatures have levels. All creatures do have Hit Dice.
If I am understanding correctly then, the HD that a creature has are essentially its levels. For example, a level 3 fighter is equal to a monster with 3HD? Is that correct?
If I am understanding correctly then, the HD that a creature has are essentially its levels. For example, a level 3 fighter is equal to a monster with 3HD? Is that correct?Levels give hit dice, but not all creatures have levels. All creatures do have Hit Dice.
Not exactly. Hit dice are not the same thing as levels. A hit die is part of a level, but only part. When you get a level of fighter you gain a hit die and everything that comes with that as well as other stuff (class features).
Also monsters can have both. For instance, a minotaur who is also a 4th level fighter. He has 10 hd (6 naturally and 4 from the 4 levels of fighter). So level is not an accurate way to describe those 10 hd the minotaur has since it really refers to just the 4 levels of fighter.
Not exactly. Hit dice are not the same thing as levels. A hit die is part of a level, but only part. When you get a level of fighter you gain a hit die and everything that comes with that as well as other stuff (class features).
Also monsters can have both. For instance, a minotaur who is also a 4th level fighter. He has 10 hd (6 naturally and 4 from the 4 levels of fighter). So level is not an accurate way to describe those 10 hd the minotaur has since it really refers to just the 4 levels of fighter.
OK, I see. Thank you =)
The books generally imply that HD = character level, because it's the number of dice you threw in order to gain your HP.
I think of it this way: a monster's HD is like "level in being a monster"
1) an untrained monster with HD X has HP and BAB (and some feats) roughly equivalent to a character of the same level
2) a monster trained in some class has a "global level" equal to his "HD for being a monster" plus his level in that class
3) a character using a core race (or any race with a HD of 1 or lower) and starting a career with a class has no HD to begin with, his "global level" is the sum of his class levels
You can find more explanations in some of the old books from 3.0 and 3.5, most notably about LA and ECL.
Unearthed Arcana also proposed something like class levels for being a human, an elf, etc.
Hm. One of the names in this thread sounds oddly familiar. :)