Question on Giant's Hit Dice

Welleran · Post by **Welleran** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:43 am

A question for the sages here...

In the Monster Manual for Giants (I'll use Fire Giants, specifically, as that's what I'm working on right now), under their Hit Dice it says "11 +2-5"

I'd always interpreted that as meaning 11 HD + 2-5 HP but now realize that's not exactly what it says.

So, does it mean "11 HD +2-5 HP" or "11 HD +2-5 HD" (i.e. 13-16 HD for Fire Giants)?

I referred to G-3 but it does not list HD...

rredmond · Post by **rredmond** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:51 am

Considering the HD expanation in the MM I would think it's additional HPs.

Plus one would hope that they'd just say 13 - 16 HD instead of 11 + 2-5 HD.

I know, I know, too clear, what I'm I thinking...

I'm intrigued to find out what others think too, but the G-Series had the Hill Giant chief who "fights as a frost giant" or whatever it was, so such a spread wouldn't be way out of the ordinary.

Thorkhammer · Post by **Thorkhammer** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 10:28 am

I'd always interpreted that as meaning 11 HD + 2-5 HP but now realize that's not exactly what it says.

Actually, it says exactly that!

I suggest you read the paragraph in MM1 p.5 under HIT DICE.

T. Foster · Post by **T. Foster** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 12:17 pm

I concur with Mssrs. Redmond and Hammer

-- "11 +2-5" means 11 HD + 2-5 hp

Welleran · Post by **Welleran** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 12:23 pm

T. Foster wrote:I concur with Mssrs. Redmond and Hammer -- "11 +2-5" means 11 HD + 2-5 hp

Yeah, that's always been how I read it. Plus, if it really were to be 13-16, then it should say just that. Also, it would make more sense to say 12 + 1-4 otherwise.

Just an MM quirk, I guess!

EOTB · Post by **EOTB** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 12:48 pm

it might be written that way because Gary didn't want the max hit points to be 96, but since anything with a +3 hp or better attacks as the next higher hit die creature, he wanted most of them to attack as a 12 hd creature rather than an 11 hd creature.

Solinor · Post by **Solinor** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 2:42 pm

EOTB wrote:it might be written that way because Gary didn't want the max hit points to be 96, but since anything with a +3 hp or better attacks as the next higher hit die creature, he wanted most of them to attack as a 12 hd creature rather than an 11 hd creature.

Ah, I love insightful nuggets like this.

Thorkhammer · Post by **Thorkhammer** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:42 pm

Solinor wrote:
EOTB wrote:it might be written that way because Gary didn't want the max hit points to be 96, but since anything with a +3 hp or better attacks as the next higher hit die creature, he wanted most of them to attack as a 12 hd creature rather than an 11 hd creature.
Ah, I love insightful nuggets like this.

Well, that is certainly true for any plus (+) above 3, but not from 1 to 3 [DMG p.75]

EOTB · Post by **EOTB** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:36 pm

Good catch! Which makes it very symmetrical; 50% of giants will attack as if 11 HD (+2 or +3 hp) and 50% will attack as if 12 HD (+4 or +5 hp).

Knights & Knaves Alehouse

Question on Giant's Hit Dice

Question on Giant's Hit Dice

Re: Question on Giant's Hit Dice

Re: Question on Giant's Hit Dice

Re: Question on Giant's Hit Dice

Re: Question on Giant's Hit Dice

Re: Question on Giant's Hit Dice

Re: Question on Giant's Hit Dice

Re: Question on Giant's Hit Dice

Re: Question on Giant's Hit Dice