Character level

[Trellian]

For what purposes are an 11th level Aasimar regarded as 12th level? Only when given funds to start out with? Isn't there spells that only affect characters of X level or below? Or is that HD?

 

[Rystil Arden]

The Aasimar is not counted as 12th-level for the effects of any spells or effects based on character level. The LA only effects character level for purposes of earned XP, required XP, and starting wealth.

 

[Rystil Arden]

I guess I didn't give any good examples, so I guess the best thing to help understand how LA works is to consider that an Aasimar 11 does not get the stat raise or feat that a 12th-level character would have. LA is basically just a phantom level that gives no benefits but forces more XP to be earned before the player can level up. Because of this, Aasimar characters tend to be extraordinarily terrible in comparison with their comrades. I highly suggest allowing an aasimar player to buy off the LA as per the rules in Unearthed Arcana.

 

[Trellian]

What does the Unearthed Arcana do with the Aasimar? I didn't think the ECL +1 was too bad, considering the resistances and ability modifiers. It's perfect for a cleric character.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Any LA +0 cleric will trounce on the aasimar cleric hands down, especially on odd levels, when the normal cleric has a whole new spell level. UA lets you remove LA at level LA*3.

 

[Trellian]

Yeah, I checked up on it now. So the Aasimar cleric in question could have paid 3000 xp at 3rd level to be rid of the level adjustment? Meaning that instead of starting play as 11th level with the minimum amount of XP needed, he is now only 3000 xp away from 12th?

 

[Rystil Arden]

Exactly. So he still pays a price for the minor benefits of Aasimar, but at least he is not now totally screwed, since he's much closer to everyone else, and the 3.5 rules mean that he will be getting more XP than the rest of the party for each encounter until he catches up in level. This is particularly important since you are at such a high level, as the marginal benefits fo aasimar tend to nearly disappear by this point.

 

[Trellian]

Thanks, the player has already jumped at the idea. The only problem is that I don't use the normal XP system, but rather give out XP based on completion of primary and secondary objectives, role-playing, staying alive and misc. I can easily give a character of different levels than the average more or less XP by giving a 10% bonus to character below average level, and 10% penalty to characters above average level.

Thanks again

 

[Rystil Arden]

I'm glad it worked out well for the player! 10% is a good rule of thumb, although by level 12 using the charts, the player who was 1 level behind would receive more like a 37.5% bonus on XP. It really shouldn't make too much of a difference though, since the aasimar will catch up partway through the level and only have to play the catch-up game at the beginning of each new level or so.

 

[Darkness]

UA lets you remove LA at level LA*3.

At (sum of) class level LA*3, yes, so it's more expensive the more racial HD and LA you have.