GameBanshee Forums

What does this mean? (This is an excerpt from a spell in the game)

"A target creature with 5 Hit Dice or less is afflicted with fear and suffers a -2 penalty to attack, damage and saving throws."

Is it the creatures to hit(attack bonus), or its level or what? Hope it hasnt been asked before

Hit dice is basically hit point dice, as in what you have next to your class level.

If you're a 5th level fighter, you have 5 D10 hit dice, just the same a monster such as a normal ogre will have 3 D8 hit dice.

I honestly don't see the point in that statement if you can't view a creatures hit dice like in the previous neverwinter nights.

Am I correct in assuming that this spell will only be usefull on lowlevel enemies then ? Perhaps enemies up to lvl 5 to be specific?

Then what about this other spell:

Color Spray sends forth a dazzling array of lights to confound all creatures within the area of effect. Its effects vary according to the Hit Dice of the affected creatures:
1-2 HD: Sleep for 3 + 1d4 rounds
3-4 HD: Blinded for 2 + 1d4 rounds
Over 4 HD: Stunned for 1 + 1d4 rounds

This makes me wonder, sure it is slightly less rounds - but the most powerful effect seems to be against the most powerful of enemies? If im not mistaken, stun ought to be total incapacitation like in other games? But sleep only works untill you hit the enemy? Weird stuff this is!

Yes, you are correct.

As far as the sleep/stun issue, a sleeping target can be hit for sneak attack damage, hit easier, and depending on the circumstances and if the game designers incorporated the rules, a Coup De Grace. Technically, if the same rules are applied as I think, you get an auto-critical hit on sleeping targets when you strike them with a melee weapon.

On the contrary, many types of enemies are resistant or even immune to sleep effects. So he is not totally wrong assuming that the 4HD+ ability is the most powerful. But it's true. Once the sleep effect does occur it has certain benefits over the stun effect. Anyway, I pretty much dislike those X HD spells cause you never know exactly how many hit dice the opponent you're facing has. You can only guess so or learn from experience.

So long,
Sol