3.5 Noob question

[genericname]

So, what is a Hit Die, and is there a difference between it and the CR? If not, then how is the HD of a creature determined?

As for how this applies, its in the case of sleep and other wizard spells.

Thanks.

[Goonthegoof]

Hit dice are basically levels. One level of wizard gives the character one wizard hit die. CR is challenge rating, the level of the party that the designers think the monster would make a good challenge at.

Sleep only works against creatures with 4 hit dice or less, and this is completely unrelated to challenge rating, save that creatures with more hit dice are likely to have a higher challenge rating.

[Talakeal]

In literal terms hit dice are the dice rolled for hit points. So to find a monsters HD simply look at how many dice are rolled to determine their hit points (ignoring modifers for constitution etc.)

[Keld Denar]

Hit die for a character is generally the sum of all of his character levels. Each level gives a die (d4 for wizards, d12 for barbarians), that determines your hit points. So...hit die.

For monsters, its generally assigned. A Manticore has 6 HD, and as a Magical Beast, its HD size is d10. 6d10 + 6x is +Con mod (19, so +4) give it its total HP.

CR is the summation of how difficult a creature is to defeat. Its determined from a combination of HD, special abilities, creature type, and a few other factors. CR is only used by the DM for determining how many of a monster a group of characters should fight, and how much XP they get from it. Players don't really need to know CR for anything, unless you are playing a Truenamer.

[genericname]

So, if a creature entry in the Monster manual says 'Hitpoints: 2d8' it would be worth 2HD of the 4HD limit of a level 1 sleep spell?

[Gorgondantess]

So, if a creature entry in the Monster manual says 'Hitpoints: 2d8' it would be worth 2HD of the 4HD limit of a level 1 sleep spell?

Yep. CR are an abstract number: it just describes how powerful a monster is, and tags a number onto it. It also is done really badly and most monsters are either under CR'd or over CR'd.
Hid dice is just levels, essentially.

[WinWin]

To continue on from what has already been said, Hit Dice are only a general indication of power. CR is a little more accurate when compared to a party of characters.

A zombie has a lot of Hit Dice, but a low CR because it is slow, unintelligent and has limited attacks.

A ghost has a high CR for it's Hit Dice, because of the number of special attacks and advantages it has.

Hope this helps.

[WinWin]

So, if a creature entry in the Monster manual says 'Hitpoints: 2d8' it would be worth 2HD of the 4HD limit of a level 1 sleep spell?

yes, it would.

[genericname]

Alright, thanks all of you. I got it now.