More on damage rules

[edsan]

Greetings to all, hope everyone had a nice weekend.

New, in my never-ending quest for EPT rule clarificatons:

Advanced Level Characters vs. Low evel Foes (Sec 730. Text after damage matrix)

The example cited on this section is a bit unclear, but I think only Warriors get to use this option. Would you say this is correct?
This would make the prospect of playing Warriors more enticing and put emphasis on “niche protection”

And what exactly would you define as “lower-class” foes that can be affected by this?

- Anyone with at least one less HD than the attacker?
- Only foes low enough on HD that the attacker gets at least 2 dice in the attack matrix?
- Must all attackers be from the same type/race (like the example where the PC is sorrounded by Khurga) or could you use this while attacked by a Mrur, Khurga and Chnel?

[klamath]

Kind of late to be replying, but I just joined the board!

Anyway, I interpret this rule a bit differently than you suggest. The rulebook is pretty clear that the extra dice of damage are also available to priests and magic users, though on a less advantageous basis. To use the table for a priest p.c., you subtract one from his level; to use it for a mage, subtract two. So 5th level priest does extra dice of damage like a 4th level fighter, and a 5th level magician as a 3rd level fighter.

As to the 'lower class foes' I would go with your 2nd option--it means creatures with hit dice low enough that the attacker does more than one die of damage.

To be honest, I'd never thought much about your last question; normally characters end up fighting the same sort of monster not a mixture. The main exception is in combat against humans or other creatures that go up levels. There I'd rule that you can only get the extra damage if you concentrate your attack against the lower level opponents--you can't spill over damage the table awards you against 1 HD foes to deal with higher ones, for instance.