What are hit dice?

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When it says a monster has 6HD what does that mean and how does it work? Does the computer roll 6d6 dice for hitpoints or what?

 

Possibly...but I also think it refers to the monster's level. ie: 5d6 hp would mean a level 5 creature, 6d6 would mean a level 6 creature, etc.

At least, that's how I've always thought of it.

 

Monsters in PnP are measured in hitdice. These represent the number of 8 sided dice you roll for its hitpoints. In ADnD you've got different dice to roll, namely a d4, d6, d8, d10, d12,d20 and even a d100. Mages roll a d4 for hitpoints, rogues and bards a d6, clerics and druids a d8, warriors a d10, barbarians a d12 and monsters a d8 unless they have a class. The number of HD also determine what level the monster is considered for saving throws and special abilities like deathblow and cloud kill.

As far as I know the monsters in BG2 always have maximum hitpoints. So a 6HD creature would have 6x8 hitpoints, which would translate in 48 hitpoints. When a creature like an Ogre for example has 4+1 HD, it means that it has 4x8= 32 hitpoints +1. This translates in 33 hitpoints. Every +3 on hitpoints counts as an extra HD for saving throws.

 

I think you shouldn't need to remember and know this all, it is a bit too much confusion, just build up your characters, but i am only using these rules when i select a weapon, you know, 1d6, 2d4, and so on...

 

Interesting. Thank you. I have a need to know how things work.

 

Does that mean you can always determine the hit dice of a monster by simply looking at their hit points? (assuming again monsters are always at their maximum hit points)

I thought monsters are, by default, fighters? (unless they have spells memorized, innate abilities don't count)

 

In PnP monster use a completly different THAC0 progression chart, but do save as fighters unless they have a component of an other class (like thieving abilities or spells). Then they use the most favorable saving throws, just like multiclassed characters. There are monsters that have +something on their hitpoints, but I don't know how it works in BG2. There are some monsters who have as much as +12 on their hitpoints, but I don't believe they are used in BG2.

 

Well, their hitpoints say alot about their hitdice, but why shouldn't you read the manual, i think you can find something about it there.

 

I have a friend who study all that stuff, since he also plays Fallout games he knows a lot, me? not a clue, I just know that those "imaginary" dices always roll better to the AI, example? you are a powerfull guy who can beat any dragon without scraches, suddenly you find a shaman kobold and throws you ... fear... all your party scared because all dices... well, you can't scare your own little brother in the game because you see: hit roll: 2 so you do nothing, but when it comes to save your characters from anything, most of the time you roll the lowest number... So, for me, they mean nothing, they are just there because of the rules or something...

 

Well, i share your opinion too, the rolls and hitdice are just too confusing, just buy and find better items, kill enemies, build-up your characters, and after a while you don't need the rules anymore.

 

I agree, I have the 2nd-ed AD&D rules and it doesn't help that much. It does help make sense of the mechanics of the game, but that is no help in actually beating the enemies. Just treat HD the same as levels to give you an idea where you should be at that point in time. Just always aim to have the best equipment you can for that stage of the game. There is no enemy that can't be beaten with decent ranged support and good AC.