A discussion on Level Adjustments and thier implications

[Crothian]

buying off the ecl is in Unearthed Arcana

 

[Mortis]

If you have a problem with Level Adjustments, why not just use the buyback mechanic in.....what was it, Savage Species, or Unearthed Arcana? At higher levels the LA will go away, while still balancing the race at lower levels.

The buyback option works for +1 LA creatures and possibly for +2 LA (must check) but IIRC it's far too expensive after that.

I used it to buy off the +1 LA of a half-ogre (back in the days when it was +1 - although he was given a -4 penalty to Int instead of -2) and found it well worth it.

Regards,
Mortis

 

[DamionW]

I still have trouble understanding how racial hit dice and ECL operate. Say as a DM I like having Azer NPCs, or allowing them as PCs. Because they have 4 racial hit dice and a +2 LA (I think, don't have the MM handy), that says to start them down a PC level advancement, 1st class level = 7th ECL? That sucks if I want to start the party out at 1st level. I can't have an azer character as part of that party (PC or NPC) until the normal races do 6 levels of catching up, even though thematically both characters are just starting their adventuring careers. Are there good rules somewhere to work around this? Savage Species? What pages so I can stop by FGLS and take a look...

 

[Mortis]

I still have trouble understanding how racial hit dice and ECL operate. Say as a DM I like having Azer NPCs, or allowing them as PCs. Because they have 4 racial hit dice and a +2 LA (I think, don't have the MM handy), that says to start them down a PC level advancement, 1st class level = 7th ECL? That sucks if I want to start the party out at 1st level. I can't have an azer character as part of that party (PC or NPC) until the normal races do 6 levels of catching up, even though thematically both characters are just starting their adventuring careers. Are there good rules somewhere to work around this? Savage Species? What pages so I can stop by FGLS and take a look...

Azer do indeed have 2 racial hit dice and a +4 level adjustment, so a 1st level Azer fighter would be the equivalent to a 7th level human fighter.

Savage Species does help but I can't give the page numbers now (at work).

As to how to get him into a game of 1st level humans/elves etc you would need to use the monster classes in Savage Species. IIRC there's one for the Azer - it would be 6 levels long and give you the 2 hd (1 at 1st level, the other at 4th?) and split the Azer's special abilities between the 6 levels.

One thing to note, however, is you must finish the monster class before you take a 'proper' class such as fighter.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Mortis

 

[DamionW]

Azer do indeed have 2 racial hit dice and a +4 level adjustment, so a 1st level Azer fighter would be the equivalent to a 7th level human fighter.

Savage Species does help but I can't give the page numbers now (at work).

As to how to get him into a game of 1st level humans/elves etc you would need to use the monster classes in Savage Species. IIRC there's one for the Azer - it would be 6 levels long and give you the 2 hd (1 at 1st level, the other at 4th?) and split the Azer's special abilities between the 6 levels.

One thing to note, however, is you must finish the monster class before you take a 'proper' class such as fighter.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Mortis

Thanks! I'm trying to create a campaign world with a lot of varied races (azers, merfolk, tritons, salamanders, etc.), but want to keep them on an even keel with core races. I'll have to take a closer look at Savage Species.

 

[Arkhandus]

Azers are on pages 158 and 159 of Savage Species. 6 racial levels, gets a hit die (with skill points, BAB, & saves) at 1st and 3rd. 1st-level is +2 Con, -2 Cha, darkvision, subtypes, +2 natural armor, and a feat. Gains other Azer racial traits as they advance in the racial class. After completing all 6 levels in it, they can/must move on to normal character classes.

Merfolk have 1 HD and a +1 Level Adjustment, but no Savage Species progression (probably fine to start them off in a 1st-level party anyway, they'll fall in line after the rest of the group reaches 2nd-level). Flamebrother salamanders are on pages 168 and 169, with 7 racial levels, gaining a hit die (etc.) at 1st, 2nd, and 5th-level in their racial class. Initially +2 Int, +2 Wis, small, darkvision, fire subtype, and minor versions of their normal monster qualities. Other salamander types are not listed in Savage Species. Tritons are on page 199 with a 5-level racial class, getting a hit die at 1st, 2nd, and 4th. They start with the water subtype, +2 Str, +2 Con, darkvision, and a few other minor traits.