+2 ECL character race question

[Arcanus]

Okay lets say that we have a +2 ECL race and the character class is a fighter that is 4th level. This combined make it a 6th level character correct?

Now does said 6th level character gain exp. point awards as a 6th level character or is he considered to be 4th level?
I think he is 6th level.

If the race he chooses to make this character, is granted bonus hit dice at creation for being a +2 ECL race, that is a 1 shot deal right? You get, lets say 2d6 at creation of character and when you become a 1st or 2nd level fighter you only get the d10 from the class, correct? I mean you don't gain 2d6 and a d10 each time you raise levels, right? I think there is some confusion about to occur in our party, if I am correct in all 3 cases.

 

[Henrix]

No. He is a 4th level character.
He needs experience points as if he were a 6th level character.

 

[Arcanus]

I meant is the character treated as if he was 6th level when it comes time to hand out Exp. Point awards or determining what ECL or CR's to throw at him.


What about the hit point bonuses.

 

[Henrix]

[Edit]
I am no longer certain this is correct. See below.
[/Edit]

And to answer the second part of your query; you do not get any bonus HD for a race being +2 ECL.

The only case when a character of a non-standard race gets any other hit points than from her class, is when the creature (in it's non-classed, MM format, form) has more than one hit die. In that case you start with the creatures extra hit dice.

As an example let us create a first level barbarian ogre, ECL +8. (Assume average ogre constitution.)
When the player creates the ogre, he starts with 36 000 xp, and 4d8+8 (for ogre) +1d12+2 hit points (Bbn1).
As a second level barbarian (45 000 xp) he has 4d8+8 (fr ogre) +2d12+4 (Bbn2).

And let's do a dark elf wizard, ECL +2.
At first level (3 000 xp) 1d4-1 hit points.
Second level (6 000 xp) 2d4-2 hit points.

 

[Henrix]

I meant is the character treated as if he was 6th level when it comes time to hand out Exp. Point awards or determining what ECL or CR's to throw at him.

Uh, yes, as far as I can see, he should be counted as 6th level for handing out XPs and seeing what CRs are suitable.

After all, the idea is that you can be allowed to make a character with higher ECL when you are allowed to start a character with n XP. I.e, instead of making a first level character with +4 ECL, you could have made a fifth level character.

This, obviously, does not always work out so well, in particular if you choose a race that just let's you start out as a first level character and the race gives you no extra hit dice.
What I mean is, a first level dark elf wizard with 1d4-1 hit points doesn't do so well against CR 3 monsters.

 

[Arcanus]

thanks for the help.

By the way the race is a Bladeback saurial from the Dragon magazine a couple of issues back.

 

[Henrix]

I may be wrong in what I said above.
And I am not sure a Bladeback saurial is ECL +2. It might be +4. But, frankly, I do not know.

I looked up the saurials, Dragon #292, and reread the Level Adjustment rules there, and reread what I,
as I mentioned elsewhere, saw in this thread Dragon #295 in today!

Another letter points out that while that while that article and the FRCS use ECL, the articles on the Saurials and the Elemental Planetouched use LA (level adjustment). I'll quote the reply in full, since it's pretty much errata:

"The confusion in those articles represents legitimate efforts to clarify both terms. According to the folks in R&D, the new standard is simply that ECL (Effective Character level) is synonymous with character level. For monsters, ECL represents the total level of the monster; that is the sum of the monster's Hit Dice plus level adjustment and class levels. For example, a monster with 3 Hit Dice, special powers that give it a +1 level adjustment, and 2 levels of rogue would have an ECL of 6. Future articles will reflect and explain the terms in this way."

So, according to this, a Bladeback saurial, with a +2 Level Adjustment and 2d8 HD, would be +4 ECL. (Huh?)
And a first level cleric Bladeback saurial would be a fifth level character.
That also means a change of what ECL means from FRCS and OA.
What it means in terms of skill points and feats, well...

God, I don't know anymore. I give up.

 

[Arcanus]

NO WONDER THIS SAURIAL IS WALKING THROUGH RANKS OF ENEMIES ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With his Natural AC, Dex and Armor he is untouchable compared to a 2nd to 3rd level character.

 

[Henrix]

... but in the Powerful Races sidebar in the Saurials article they treat the Saurials Level Adjustment at face value, just as if it were FRCS style ECL, that is, just adding it to the character level without involving any hit dice....

 

[protheus]

With ECL bring me a tuff question... at the creation of a monster caracter, he only have his monstrous stats with no class (Let's say a gnoll, my favorite

Edit: Let say that all other caracter is 1st Lv. So he would be a gnoll with 0 xp.

He got his 2D8+2 hp +all other bonus.

But what happen if he die.... and then get raised???? Rasing death make you loose 1 level or 1 con point if your at the level 1 (Right?)

But the gnoll is a Effective Caracter Level +2, since he "like" a caracter level 2 would he loose 1d8 HP (as his monstrous class) or 1 con since he did'nt already "have" Level!!!

Edit: Maybe i should say "loosing a level of monster caracter rather than 1d8"