Spell Specific Clarification

[KeithJohn]

In all my years of roleplaying, I've never played MU and have decided to try. Being relatively new to Pathfinder (about 5 months), I'm a bit confused on the explanation of some spells. I'm not grasping the meaning of the likes of:

"The maximum number of HD of animals you can affect is equal to 2d4
+ caster level." (from Calm Animals, Core Rule 252)

or

"A sleep spell causes a magical slumber to come upon 4 HD of
creatures." (from Sleep, Core Rules 344)

I know HD is hit dice, but I'm not getting the concept in explanations of this sort. I don't understand how to interpret these. Any help would be deeply appreciated...even if my ignorance is showing. thanks
Keith

[Xaratherus]

My assumption would be this:

Upon casting Calm Animals you'd roll 2d4 and add your caster level. This would be the max HD of creatures you could calm. Example: Say you rolled 3 and you were CL 4; you could calm 7 HD worth of creatures.

Sleep would function the same way: You could affect a single 4 HD creature, or two 2 HD creatures, etc.

[Kyoni]

KeithJohn wrote:

The maximum number of HD of animals you can affect is equal to 2d4 + caster level.

Means you roll 2d4+CL, let's say you end up with a total of 7.

Then you look at the battle map and pick a number of animals until their individual HD adds up to a total of 7: These are affected.

KeithJohn wrote:

A sleep spell causes a magical slumber to come upon 4 HD of creatures.

Same thing... you can put to sleep 4 creatures with 1 HD each or 2 creatures with 2HD each or 1 creature with 4HD... mix and match any combination that comes up with a total HD of 4.

edit: ninja!!! :-)

[Majuba]

As a player, you may not know the HD of your targets, the DM will have to adjudicate that for you. You might be able to get it with a strong knowledge check though.

[Claxon]

Also, if you have only 5HD creatures that you're fighting, sleep cannot do anything to them.

If you don't have enough HD worth of effect to equal a creatures HD then the spell doesn't work on them.

[KeithJohn]

Thank you very much for all the help. I hate being a newbie...but I do like playing the game. Appreciate it.
Keith