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Original D&D Discussion :: Dungeons & Dragons (1971-1978) :: Monsters & Treasure (1974) :: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
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AuthorTopic: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6 (Read 2,678 times)
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Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Thread Started on Aug 17, 2010, 10:25pm »
Sup. I p. 10 notes under its section regarding variable hit dice for PCs, that “if it is used all monsters should be based on the 8-sided die system.” Now, this is unfortunate, since I love Zulgyan’s popular idea of keeping a bucketful of d6’s to roll monster hit dice and leave them on the table, reducing them as the monster takes damage rather than scratching out numbers on a sheet. Of course, you could do that with d8’s, but it wouldn’t be quite the same. d8’s are more expensive and don’t sit as solidly on the table. Therefore, I came up with the idea that instead of changing it from d6 to d8, one could just roll more d6’s, something like this:

Hit Dice   Roll Instead
1/2        1-1
1-1        1
1          1+1
1+1        2
2          3
3          4
4          5
5          7
6          8
7          9
8          10
9          12
10         13
11         14
12         16
13         17
14         18
15         19
16         21

The only downside is that then there is another stat to keep track of for each monster (or another table to look up), however it solves a conundrum for me when using variable hit dice for PCs. Regards.
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #1 on Aug 17, 2010, 11:39pm »
Or just use six sided dice for the monsters. The pc's are just that much better.


(I kept wanting to mention at the time that Zulgyan's premise was flawed; given the number of players and the number of dice, it was obvious to me that each player was meant to have his own pair of six-siders. But I love the way he took the idea and ran with it!)
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #2 on Aug 18, 2010, 12:17am »
Or all monster HD are d6+2.

You don't have to convert anything, and monsters can never get a 1 or 2 hp hit die :)
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #3 on Aug 18, 2010, 6:37am »
I do something like this in my "AD&D with d6" thread in the Other Editions section, except that I suggested that you convert the HP from one die to create an equivalent number of d6 hit dice (like your chart) but then I suggest perhaps the monster could attack according to the d6 HD instead.

For example, using your chart a 9d8 critter becomes 12d6. So why not have them attack on the Level 12 column?

Or, if it was a dumb idea before maybe it's still a dumb idea. :D
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #4 on Aug 18, 2010, 6:57am »

Aug 17, 2010, 10:25pm, Falconer wrote:
Now, this is unfortunate, since I love Zulgyan’s popular idea of keeping a bucketful of d6’s to roll monster hit dice and leave them on the table, reducing them as the monster takes damage rather than scratching out numbers on a sheet.

Are these dice rolled in the view of the players or is this something only the referee can see, say, behind a screen?
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #5 on Aug 18, 2010, 9:05am »
Why not roll all but the final one or two in the open? That way you have a mechanic that allows players to have a sense of their opponent's injury level, while keeping the exact number of hp a mystery.
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #6 on Aug 18, 2010, 9:11am »
Behind the screen. I figure just the sound of how many dice are being rolled is enough to strike fear (or not) into the players’ hearts!
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #7 on Aug 18, 2010, 9:35am »

Aug 18, 2010, 9:11am, Falconer wrote:
Behind the screen. I figure just the sound of how many dice are being rolled is enough to strike fear (or not) into the players’ hearts!

That's cool. I don't use a screen for a variety of reasons, including logistical, but I can appreciate this approach. It definitely has a certain something to it.
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #8 on Aug 18, 2010, 11:17am »
By the way, Finarvyn, this post definitely got its inspiration from your post. Sorry, I meant to say that but forgot.
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #9 on Aug 18, 2010, 11:48am »
No problem -- we're all about sharing and discussing. :D
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #10 on Aug 18, 2010, 5:08pm »
I never liked that monsters got beefed up to d8 Hit Dice as they're not all Fighting-Men. I don't think an extra 2 possible hit points is worth using a whole different die. After all, Clerics only get a d6. Magic-Users and Thieves get d4. So a Thief is half the durability of a single orc? I think not!
I LOVE d6 for all things (Hit Dice, damage rolled, etc.). It's just so much simpler :)
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #11 on Sept 21, 2010, 5:49am »
I'd like to see a D&D varient that used just d6s or d6s and a single d20... I'm getting there (slowly).
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #12 on Sept 21, 2010, 4:19pm »
Same here, I'm using things from Tunnels & Trolls and merging them with Dungeons & Dragons to make a fantasy RPG that uses the OCE booklets, but only six-sided dice :)
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #13 on Sept 21, 2010, 5:30pm »
With my house rules I play with only a d20 and a bunch of d6s...

You can browse my Hinterlands game in the online games sub-board to see it in action :)
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Re: Monster Hit Dice: d8 converted back to d6
« Reply #14 on Sept 22, 2010, 4:49am »
Is your house rules in PDF format?

Perleeze?
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