A question on Hit Dice and Experience

[MedievalMan]

Alright I have a question regarding Hit Dice and experience earned. Ok so I know at first level having lower than a d8 hit die means that is worth less Exp. But what about higher levels? What if a monster has say 3d6 hit dice? Is their any sort of experience reduction? I am curious because I am putting together a few custom monster races for my game and a few have the limitations of a max d6 hit dice. So when I go and turn them around back into monsters I am trying to figure out how much Exp they would be worth.

Thanks.

[SmootRK]

You are delving into the area where the rules are meant only as guidelines. Often the creative process is an art rather than a science. Just make it the way you feel is appropriate (and fair)... or just use regular HD XP figures and factor in some other offsetting perk for your race elsewhere, such as a Halfling's combat bonus vs. Large.

and FYI, I prefer a mechanic of "small races utilize one HD type smaller than the class normally dictates" This affects all classes equally, instead of just penalizing fighters (and it just makes more sense, if a race produces wimpy members, then they should have wimpy-er clerics/MU/Thief as well).
This is the converse of the rule given for Half-Ogres (using one die type bigger) given in the Half-Humans Supplement. The mechanic is more fully explained in the New Races Supplement (for Phaerim, a halfling size faerie sort of race), and is used also for Kobolds in the Monsters as Races Supplement. The Larger Races getting bigger HD, is used in both supplements as well.

For small races:
d8 becomes d6
d6 becomes d4
d4 becomes d3 (1d6, 1-2=1, 3-4=2, 5-6=3)

For large races:
d8 becomes d10
d6 becomes d8
d4 becomes d6

Then again, I use alternate (ad&d style) hit dice, so the figures are modified appropriately.

[MedievalMan]

Thanks Smoot, I might just use the Exp bonus for special abilities as a penalty for higher HD creatures that use a smaller hit die.

EDIT

I have been thinking about using the larger hit dice myself. How does that work out for you? Do you give monsters a d10 hit die as their standard, do you keep the d8, or do you differ by monster type (dragons get d12, giants get d10, humanoids get d8 and so on)?

[SmootRK]

Thanks Smoot, I might just use the Exp bonus for special abilities as a penalty for higher HD creatures that use a smaller hit die.

EDIT

I have been thinking about using the larger hit dice myself. How does that work out for you? Do you give monsters a d10 hit die as their standard, do you keep the d8, or do you differ by monster type (dragons get d12, giants get d10, humanoids get d8 and so on)?

Look in the New Races Supplement. There are both PC Races section, and Monster Entries for the same creatures in another section. Bisren (monster entry) has a sentence at the very end that says "Properly classed Bisron use Hit Dice one size larger than normal due to their great size, and otherwise follow normal character rules."... but Phaerim (as Monsters) leaders are mentioned as having 2d6 HD. So, it goes both ways.

Use the way you feel makes sense. There is no right or wrong when you are the GM.

As to monster hd by type, I just stick to d8 normally. But there are always exceptions. For instance, in the Field Guide, there is Headless Horseman which is a Fighter, and because I use alternate class HD (d10 for fighters), I use that for the rolls instead. But really, who is to know or care how you came up with the HP for the monsters you use in the game? No formula is necessary for your monsters. PC Races, I understand needing things dictated out, but Monsters are really none of the player's business while you run the game, and can have whatever you decide they need to have.

[SmootRK]

Of course, the advice mentioned is for you as GM to use in your own games. If you are trying to produce material to be shared and/or published somehow, then these things should be designed out.... but in your game, just stick to quick and dirty... you will seem like a better GM when your stuff just appears during game time without researching. I always called this "winging it" and is a really vital skill when sitting at the table gaming, so that stuff flows well.

[MedievalMan]

Yeah, I am just winging stuff for my own game. The only reason I ever thought about increasing the HD size for dragons, giants, golems, oozes and so forth was I always envisioned them as "tougher" thus bigger HD *shrug*.

[Joe the Rat]

A fun twist on all of this is the interplay of Hit Dice, hit points, and attack bonus. Unless you modify, having higher/lower Hit Dice produces monsters with more or fewer hit points, but equivalent fight ability. 5d12 HD? Modest attack, but the thing's made of iron. 5d4 HD? Same hitting power, but goes down like a chump.

I think the more traditional way to resolve the high end is to just give them a flat HP bonus, and for the low end... well, as a GM, you'd just assign them really crappy hp.

[Dimirag]

You can take the mathematical way, just take the proportional xp value of the dice you want to use, so if a d8 (using 8 as a value) equals X xp then the max number of the dice you want to use equals Y.

I'll make my on take on the BFRPG with severals rules changes, one of them is separate the attack bonus to the HD, I'll use both different attack bonus and HP values but both will be HD related and each will make 50% of the monster's XP value.