Elder Brain stat block error question?

[Max Caysey]

Hi guys and girls...

I was just wondering if anyone could tell my how the Elder Brain has 19 in base attack? Either I'm missing something (which is why I ask here) or the stat block is wrong. Depending on method of calcualtion, I get it to have either base attack 17 or 18, but not 19.

Any help clearing up this question of me will be much appreciated!


Cheers!

[Thurbane]

Elder Brain is a 26HD Aberration.

Aberrations have medium BAB.

+19 BAB seems accurate.



HD
BAB


1
0


2
1


3
2


4
3


5
3


6
4


7
5


8
6


9
6


10
7


11
8


12
9


13
9


14
10


15
11


16
12


17
12


18
13


19
14


20
15


21
15


22
16


23
17


24
18


25
18


26
19

[Max Caysey]

Elder Brain is a 26HD Aberration.

Aberrations have medium BAB.

+19 BAB seems accurate.



HD
BAB


1
0


2
1


3
2


4
3


5
3


6
4


7
5


8
6


9
6


10
7


11
8


12
9


13
9


14
10


15
11


16
12


17
12


18
13


19
14


20
15


21
15


22
16


23
17


24
18


25
18


26
19



From whence is that?

Clearly non of my ways got that.

1) 26x0.67=17.42
2) Look at what a level 26 cleric would have, which is 18.

I'm confused as to where your table is from or what it builds on?

Cheers!

[Thurbane]

From whence is that?

Clearly non of my ways got that.

1) 26x0.67=17.42
2) Look at what a level 26 cleric would have, which is 18.

I'm confused as to where your table is from or what it builds on?

Cheers!

Extrapolated from all of the medium BAB tables for the classes in the PHB/SRD:

https://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/cleric.htm

[edit] I think I can see your error now: you are treating Medium BAB as 2/3, whereas it should be 3/4.

[Max Caysey]

Extrapolated from all of the medium BAB tables for the classes in the PHB/SRD:

https://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/cleric.htm

[edit] I think I can see your error now: you are treating Medium BAB as 2/3, whereas it should be 3/4.

Ahhh... that makes sense! For some reason I can't read good! Thanks! That cleared that up nicely! :smallredface:


If I were to add class levels to an elder brain, how would I then calculate base attack? Would it be considered epic from the start or only after receiving 20 class levels?


Cheers!

[KillianHawkeye]

The "Monsters as Epic Characters" paragraph in the DMG just says that a monster character uses its ECL instead of just its class levels to determine when they start using the epic progressions. The example given is a bugbear with seventeen class levels who is ECL 22.

Now of course, the Elder Brain doesn't have a Level Adjustment nor a specified ECL, but it should qualify for Epicness on its Hit Dice alone.

[ShurikVch]

If I were to add class levels to an elder brain, how would I then calculate base attack? Would it be considered epic from the start or only after receiving 20 class levels?

If you would add any Class levels, you would use the Epic Attack Bonus (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/basics.htm#epicAttackBonus)
But if you would just add more racial HD, you would use the "usual" BAB (except - no more than 4 attacks with any given weapon)

[DarkSoul]

In my games, any feat gained from having 21 or more hit dice and/or levels combined can be an epic feat. Feats granted due to class levels can only be epic after the 20th level in the class, so a 26 HD elder brain wizard 20 (46 HD total) could choose up to 9 epic feats for hit dice from 21 to 45. The bonus feats gained from wizard every 5 levels must be nonepic.

As far as attack bonus is concerned, I do the same as ShurikVch.

[Darg]

In my games, any feat gained from having 21 or more hit dice and/or levels combined can be an epic feat. Feats granted due to class levels can only be epic after the 20th level in the class, so a 26 HD elder brain wizard 20 (46 HD total) could choose up to 9 epic feats for hit dice from 21 to 45. The bonus feats gained from wizard every 5 levels must be nonepic.

As far as attack bonus is concerned, I do the same as ShurikVch.

Bonus feats allow any feats that you qualify for. So that wizard can legally be taking those automatic metamagics with their bonus feats.