5
\$\begingroup\$

I've been playing D&D 5e for about 1,5 year now (as DM and PC), and sometimes play D&D 3.5e as a half-orc ranger (level 3 currently). I don't own any 3.5 books, and only use the online SRD.

Context

Last session my ranger befriended a worg that attacked us. In time — when I reach level 4 and she's still with me — she'll become my Animal Companion. We're aware that it's a magical beast: the DM allows it as animal companion as long as my ranger takes an ECL +1. Together we worked out the stats, but now aren't certain of how to calculate the Skill Points per HD for this worg.

Research

On the SRD I found that (magical) beasts gain skill points based on:

2 + Intelligence modifier per HD

My worg has an Intelligence modifier of -2, so that would mean she gains 0 skill ranks per level-up. The DM rules that we take the minimum of 2 per HD, and ignore the negative value for the modifier. I'm fine with this ruling, but I'm still curious about the RAW.

Note: I know D&D 5e often uses a minimum of 1 in similar cases.

Question

What is the minimum amount of skill points per HD?

When it comes to gaining HD as characters advance, I'm assuming the same rules apply to both animal companions and player characters. If this assumption is wrong, please explain why, and where I can read up more about it (preferably online).

Related:

Improve this question
\$\endgroup\$

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
10
\$\begingroup\$

The minimum is 1 skill point per HD

As noted under Intelligence:

The number of skill points gained each level. (But your character always gets at least 1 skill point per level.)

Despite saying character level, that rule is also applied to monsters using their HD instead of levels, as noted under Improving Monsters:

As long as a creature has an Intelligence of at least 1, it gains a minimum of 1 skill point per Hit Die.

However, creatures with no Int score will not get this minimum, and may get 0 skill points per HD:

Creatures with an Intelligence score of "—" gain no skill points or feats.

Improve this answer
\$\endgroup\$
3
\$\begingroup\$

The minimum is one skill point per level.

From the SRD:

[Intelligence affects] The number of skill points gained each level. (But your character always gets at least 1 skill point per level.)

Improve this answer
\$\endgroup\$

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .