Henrix
Explorer
I started a thread on this (with the very same title) a month ago. There were some good ideas there.
Alternatives to Level Adjustment?
- Thread starter Kobold Avenger
- Start date
JoeGKushner
Adventurer
Depends on the campaign.
Originally, monsters had LA to represent the fact that many of their special abilities could be used outside of combat and this makes them more 'useful' to players in long term campaigns.
However, classes like the warlock and the ToB classes with their per encounter, showcase a different way of thinking.
If 1 level = 1 cr for a PC appropriately armed class, then monster CR = monster level.
Originally, monsters had LA to represent the fact that many of their special abilities could be used outside of combat and this makes them more 'useful' to players in long term campaigns.
However, classes like the warlock and the ToB classes with their per encounter, showcase a different way of thinking.
If 1 level = 1 cr for a PC appropriately armed class, then monster CR = monster level.
Celebrim
Legend
LA tries to cover too much territory. You really can't use a single number to adjust a character both for abilities which scale and do not scale with level.
LA should cover only those abilities that don't scale with level. For those abilities that do scale with level thier should be an XP penalty representing a slower rate of advancement. Of the two, the second is a better single number than the first especially for creatures with relatively low LA.
LA should cover only those abilities that don't scale with level. For those abilities that do scale with level thier should be an XP penalty representing a slower rate of advancement. Of the two, the second is a better single number than the first especially for creatures with relatively low LA.
painandgreed
First Post
I'd go with monster character classes ala Savage Species (and soem Dragon articles). However, allowing them to level in other classes before finishing the monster levels and even limiting or requiring advancement in monster levels according to in game age of characters in cases. No turning from young dragon to ancient in two years, but rather a young dragon with class levels.
TheYeti1775
Adventurer
Find the happy balance within your Campaign.
Depending how fast and loose you play you can easily account for various LA's at low levels. If one person wants the +3 LA while everyone else is playing +0 LAs, then see if there is a way to gradually let them gain thier power over a few levels. Or use any of the examples above. To many worry about exact rulings when they should ask suggestions like you have. Make the PC have a heck of a Backstory why this powerful race wants to run with all these weaker races.
Personnally I think playable races should be capped around +3 for the lower level campaigns, cause past that you start getting a little loopy.
Depending how fast and loose you play you can easily account for various LA's at low levels. If one person wants the +3 LA while everyone else is playing +0 LAs, then see if there is a way to gradually let them gain thier power over a few levels. Or use any of the examples above. To many worry about exact rulings when they should ask suggestions like you have. Make the PC have a heck of a Backstory why this powerful race wants to run with all these weaker races.
Personnally I think playable races should be capped around +3 for the lower level campaigns, cause past that you start getting a little loopy.
sckeener
First Post
Savage Species is the way to go for playing LA races. Unfortunately I can't see WotC taking the time to write up all the monsters as LA races....
Now I'd love it Paizo did something like that....maybe an ecology of X monster with a section for playing the race...i.e. racial levels. That I think would be awesome.
Most people I know who play SS creatures play this way. I am sure there was a reason why the designers didn't go there...(probably to prevent munkinism - just going to X racial level to get the neat power) but in the games I've played in SS players follow #1 & #2.
Now I'd love it Paizo did something like that....maybe an ecology of X monster with a section for playing the race...i.e. racial levels. That I think would be awesome.
Dannyalcatraz said:
Most people I know who play SS creatures play this way. I am sure there was a reason why the designers didn't go there...(probably to prevent munkinism - just going to X racial level to get the neat power) but in the games I've played in SS players follow #1 & #2.
I agree because...Aust Diamondew said:
1) For the most part Wizards of the Coast R&D underestimated the penalty of levels where you don't gain skill points, hit dice, base attack bonus, or saving throw advancement.
2) Any monster with racial hit dice is very restricted in the viable character classes they can play. Due to the non-linear power curve (e.g. 8 levels in one class is much more powerful than 4 levels in two different classes) preventing specialization of character class by monster races really limits their role in the party.
Like many I don't require monster races to take all their monster levels (if I'm using Savage Species) or I allow them to trade racial hit dice for character levels as is done with 1HD creatures.
IME, it doesn't take much time to suss out monster levels after taking a look at the way SS and AU/AE did theirs.
The main hassle is remembering which creature type you need to use...after that, you check out the MM to see what kind of BAB, HD, etc. to use for the racial levels.
Usually, I just do a direct translation of LA into actual levels, and spread the abilities out over that span. However, you may feel that some of the creature type progressions are beefy enough that you may want to add one more level to the progression.
The main hassle is remembering which creature type you need to use...after that, you check out the MM to see what kind of BAB, HD, etc. to use for the racial levels.
Usually, I just do a direct translation of LA into actual levels, and spread the abilities out over that span. However, you may feel that some of the creature type progressions are beefy enough that you may want to add one more level to the progression.
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