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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Spatzimaus" data-source="post: 1255318" data-attributes="member: 3051">There are a few interwoven problems here, and each should be resolved separately.NUMBER 1: Savage Species' ECL/LA system sucks.This one's been argued to death, but for those of you new to the debate, the problem is simple: 1 HD should not equal 1 ECL.  One level of a PC class is one ECL; 1 HD of any type is inferior to a class level.  So, you get a ridiculous situation: if two different races both have the same special abilities and the same LA, the one with more HD will be weaker than the one with less.  Ergo, LA is only useful when considered in conjunction with the HD, not as an independent variable; a high-HD creature should have a low (or even negative) LA to compensate for its inferior HD.Solution: Just use one ECL number that accounts both for the HD and the special abilities in a fair way.  For this, I'd suggest Soldarin's ECL system, although there have been a few other good ones.  Whatever system you use, just make sure that it's balanced well.NUMBER 2: The D&D spellcasting system is very level-dependent.Having really great stats doesn't make up for a shortage of caster levels, so playing a high-ECL race neuters you as a caster.  For the lone dragon PC in a group of human adventurers, this isn't an issue, but an all-dragon group is something else...Solution: There isn't an easy solution.  If you want casters in the group that can deal well with SR and Epic-level foes, you'll need them to be simple Humans and such.  Or, revamp D&D's entire magic system to be purely stat- and skill-based.  But, as it is right now, a Dragon's magic is good for two things: buffing/non-combat stuff, and attacking hordes of much weaker opponents.NUMBER 3: Blending in is A Good Thing.Unless you're one of the dragon types that can polymorph, forget it.  You'll stick out, and in general you'll be left behind whenever the party needs to enter a building, dungeon, or do anything weight-limited (teleportation?)  In a more general way, certain abilities or drawbacks that would be relatively minor in a foe become hugely important in a PC.  I played a Giant Owl Psion PC once, and things were really difficult for me until I reached a level where I could use Polymorph Self.  Before then, I had to make a lot of arrangements... (Leadership, with a cohort who could take care of things for me, that sort of thing)Solution: Play in a setting where remaining in your natural form isn't a problem, or make sure you get a dragon breed that polymorphs from the start.  If you have to get the DM to fudge the abilities a bit, do it.  (Offer to trade some of the low-end spell-like abilities for a basic human-to-dragon shapeshift, he might go for it)Anyway, I think that covers the basics.</blockquote>

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