Supernatural Ability DC + Class Levels

[ckdragons]

I understand the standard DC for a supernatural ability is "10 + 1/2 HD + ability score". Do class levels add to the HD calculation? So, if a mummy had cleric levels, would the DC of its mummy rot increase? Or would it remain based upon the "base HD" of the creature regardless of the class levels?

Thanks.

[Chess Pwn]

class levels give HD so yes it goes up.

[Ascalaphus]

I'm not entirely sure whether meant "HD" or "monster HD". I suspect if you go look at DCs in published statblocks authors will split over the issue too.

[Chemlak]

I think this is one of the areas where there's likely to be wild inconsistency, as Ascalaphus says.

For example, the monster creation rules say:

Quote:

The DC for almost all special abilities is equal to 10 + 1/2 the creature's Hit Dice + a relevant ability modifier (usually Constitution or Charisma depending on the ability).

But, if you look at, for example, the Breath Weapon Universal Monster Ability:

Quote:

Breath weapons allow a Reflex save for half damage (DC 10 + 1/2 breathing creature's racial HD + breathing creature's Con modifier; the exact DC is given in the creature's descriptive text).

So there's a mixture. Which means you run by "Specific > General", and if the UMA says racial HD, you can only use racial HD, otherwise all HD, regardless of source, count.

[The Black Bard]

In general, you only use the HD/levels associated with the ability. Dragon breath weapon = Dragon HD. Cleric channel energy = cleric levels. And so on. These usually call out HD or Class level in the ability. Most common supernatural abilities are listed in the Universal Monster Abilities section of the Bestiary, where it specifically says "racial HD".

Some abilities (usually racial ones for playable races) specify "character level", which uses the full sum of class levels, regardless of multiclassing. This would also technically include racial HD, but that isn't spelled out anywhere that I am aware of.

And of course, a few prestige classes specifically increase your level for the purposes of calculating a prior ability, like channel energy. But those are specific call-outs.

[Gilfalas]

Chess Pwn wrote:

class levels give HD so yes it goes up.

Chess Pwn is correct. HD are HD no matter where they come from.

[Ascalaphus]

Just glancing into the Monster Codex, at the Serpentfolk Rogue 1 vs. the Serpentfolk Oracle 7 and the Serpentfolk Cleric 10, they have the same DC on their Disguise Self SLA, despite significantly different class levels.

However, the Vampire Bard 5 and Vampire Barbarian 9 have the same Charisma, but different Dominate DC.

I suppose that's because vampires are template monsters; they don't normally advance by racial HD.

[Plausible Pseudonym]

I think a strong majority of Adventure Path monsters with class levels do not count the class levels for racial SLA DC advancement.

[Quantum Steve]

PRD wrote:

The DC for almost all special abilities is equal to 10 + 1/2 the creature's Hit Dice + a relevant ability modifier (usually Constitution or Charisma depending on the ability).

This is completely wrong. Almost none of the special abilities in the Universal Monster Rules have a DC equal to 10 + 1/2 the creature's Hit Dice + a relevant ability modifier.

The DC for almost all special abilities is equal to 10 + 1/2 the creature's racial Hit Dice + a relevant ability modifier

So either there's a glaring error in the Monster Creation section, or the author writing about creating special abilities for monsters with racial HD was refering to the monsters' racial HD.

You decide.