Character Level - Simple Question

[GakToid]

Effective Character Level (ECL) = racial hit dice + level adjustment + class levels

Character Level = ?

Specifically, the Vow of Poverty refers to the "character level" for determining benefits. I would assume that "character level" = class level, but that would imply that a monstrous race without class levels gains no benefit from Vow of Poverty.

Example:
Half-Ogre (House Rule: 2HD +1LA) Monk 7
ECL 10
CL 7? 9? 10?

Thanks.

-Gak Toid

 

[UltimaGabe]

Character levels = Hit Dice.

Anything referring to character levels refers to total hit dice (racial or class). Therefore, you are not considered an epic level character until you have more than 20 hit dice, as your character level has to equal 20 or higher.

 

[Darklone]

And it's nice to nuke Half-dragon/halfogres with Cloudkills.