So monsters as PCs? Am I doing it right at all?

[Dustyboy]

I'm in a group starting at level five, And I got the go ahead to play a Flind were--hyaenodon

How would I advance in level? Would I gain an extra hd between 2nd-3rd, then between 6th-7th and finally between 9th-10th? Or would I not?

I'm going by the Flind Characters entry, dumping my physicals and pumping my mentals in order to be a pack master/leadership chieftain type.

Can anyone help me out with this?

[Eltacolibre]

With the pathfinder rules suggestion of monsters as pc, you will only advance with class levels and it would be 1 class level every 3 levels they gain for a number of times equal to half your CR (2.5 times).

Right now your flind were hyaenodon for example is cr 5, which means you will start with no class levels and won't get a class level until they are level 8.

Then you will receive another class level when they reach level 11, followed by another class level progression at level 12. Where you will finally level normally.

[Dustyboy]

Ok, read it wrong, I'm wondering if I should just use a Giant Hyena

I'd lose 1 natural armor and 8 strength, but would gain two class levels, and make up for two of the lost three over the course of a few levels (i believe it'd be about 5th-6th halfway, and 8th-9th halfway)

So i'd basically wind up at level 9 having 8 class levels with an awesome race and an extra HD if i go that route?

If I'm correct then I'm glad I asked because i'd rather that

[Stephen Ede]

At Character level 5 -
You are a Flind were - Hyaenodon.

6th lev - gain 1 Class level
7th lev - gain 1 class level (2 Class levels total)
7.5 level - gain 1 Bonus Class level (3 Class levels total)
8th lev - gain 1 class level (4 Class levels total)
9th lev - gain 1 class level (5 Class levels total)
10th lev - gain 1 class level (6 Class levels total)
10.5 level - gain 1 Bonus Class level (7 Class levels total)
11th lev gain 1 bonus Class level (8 Class levels total)
from then on there are no more bonus levels. Just gain a Class level every level (unless your GM allows to take Templates instead of class levels).

I'm running 2 campaigns with monster PCs using this basic technique (with variations based on if the monster has spellcasting or significant spell-like abilities or is a Dragon).

Basically a Monster Martial Character is Stronger than a Standard race Character, but a Pure Spell Caster Standard Race is still more than able to hold there own in comparison. Oddly enough Monster Spell Caster builds are good buffers but as compared to the glass jawed cannon of the standard Wizard they are a nice mix of useful but not overpowering magic but also don't fall down if someone gets to them and hits them.

[Secret Wizard]

Necro, just wondering, did you see the new half-hyena Gnoll archetype?

[Secret Wizard]

Talking about the Bouda Witch Archetype

[Gwiber]

Is there a book reference for converting monsters to classed PC's?

I seem to recall the simplest method was just to give its HD as its starting levels.

As in a 5HD monster starts as a 5th level PC, and then levels from there.

So when he hit 5th level he gets his 1st class level.

Never explains why the monster book in 3.0/3.5 insisted a Mindflayer be an 18th level PC though.