Cohort Level when Leader has Level adjustments

[Altamont Ravenard]

It's probably been covered before, but:

Half-Dragon 6th level Fighter. Has 6 class levels, but is the equivalent of a 9th level character.

What's the maximum level for his cohort? 4 (6-2) or 7 (9-2)?

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Human Paladin 10 gets a Half-Dragon (monk) cohort. The maximum level for said cohort is 8. Will the cohort be:
a) an 8th-level half dragon monk
b) a 5th-level half dragon monk (taking into account the +3 level adjustment)
c) something else?

Thanks in advance.

AR

 

[Henrix]

The feat and the description in the DMG only speaks of character level, which I suppose means character level, not effective character level.

However, I would not find it unreasonable if DM allowed the LA as a positive modifier on the leadership table, for cohorts that would be impressed by the character's race.
This could lead to problems with the cohort being of a higher level than the leader, though, so should perhaps be used carefully, and entirely up to the DM.

 

[Henrix]

And to answer your questions:

The half-dragon Ftr6 could have a lvl 4 cohort.

The human Pal10 a lvl 5 half-dragon monk (ECL 8).

 

[Li Shenron]

I think it's should be 7, two levels less than your effective character level, which would also count as prerequisite for the feat itself.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

I think it's should be 7, two levels less than your effective character level, which would also count as prerequisite for the feat itself.

Are you saying a half dragon (la +3) character with 3 class levels can take the leadership feat?

AR

 

[Henrix]

That's not what is generally meant by character level, however!
It would be a house rule to allow monster PCs to take leadership at ECL 6.

A fair house rule, possibly, but still a house rule.

 

[Greatwyrm]

From what I've seen, ECL is only supposed to be used to figure xp, everything else is based on your hit dice. Your DM might give you the bonus for "powerful or unusual powers" or whatever it is on the Leadership chart, but LA probably shouldn't count.

 

[The Amazing Dingo]

From what I've seen, ECL is only supposed to be used to figure xp, everything else is based on your hit dice. Your DM might give you the bonus for "powerful or unusual powers" or whatever it is on the Leadership chart, but LA probably shouldn't count.

ECL is also used to figure up the money a character has available to him/her when starting at a level above first. Obviously an ECLed character will always be starting above first, but you know what I mean.

 

[Halivar]

Effective Character Level (ECL): This number represents a creature's overall power relative to that of a character from the Player's Handbook. A creature with an ECL of 10 is roughly equivalent to a 10th-level character. A creature's ECL is the sum of its Hid Dice (including class levels) and level adjustment. For instance, a minotaur has 6 HD and a +2 level adjustment. It is the equivalent of an 8th-level character.

ECL = CL. If you have a +2 LA, then you are 2 levels higher wherever your character level comes into play. This includes (but is not limited to) starting gold, experience gained, experience to next level, cohort level, and whether or not you may take epic feats (see DMG p. 209; if your ECL is above 20, you are an epic character). Nowhere in any of the core rulebooks is ECL limited in its application (if I'm wrong, please correct me ).

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

What book are you referencing? Monster Manual 2.5?

The 3.5 SRD says:

A character’s ECL affects the experience the character earns, the amount of experience the character must have before gaining a new level, and the character’s starting equipment

AR