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<blockquote data-quote="frankthedm" data-source="post: 4152470" data-attributes="member: 1164">ECL almost never helps a character. It is just there to make sure the Fellowship of the Ring races are not outshined by the oddball races.Level Adjustment and Effective Character LevelTo determine the effective character level (ECL) of a monster character, add its level adjustment to its racial Hit Dice and character class levels.Use ECL instead of character level to determine how many experience points a monster character needs to reach its next level. Also use ECL to determine starting wealth for a monster character.Monster characters treat skills mentioned in their monster entry as class skills.If a monster has 1 Hit Die or less, or if it is a template creature, it must start the game with one or more class levels, like a regular character. If a monster has 2 or more Hit Dice, it can start with no class levels (though it can gain them later).Even if the creature is of a kind that normally advances by Hit Dice rather than class levels a PC can gain class levels rather than Hit Dice.Hit DiceThe creature’s Hit Dice equal the number of class levels it has plus its racial Hit Dice. Additional Hit Dice gained from taking levels in a character class never affect a creature’s size like additional racial Hit Dice do.Feat Acquisition and Ability Score IncreasesA monster’s total Hit Dice, not its ECL, govern its acquisition of feats and ability score increases.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="frankthedm, post: 4152470, member: 1164"] ECL almost never helps a character. It is just there to make sure the [I]Fellowship of the Ring[/I] races are not outshined by the oddball races. [B]Level Adjustment and Effective Character Level[/B] To determine the effective character level (ECL) of a monster character, add its level adjustment to its racial Hit Dice and character class levels. [I] Use ECL instead of character level to determine how many experience points a monster character needs to reach its next level. Also use ECL to determine starting wealth for a monster character.[/I] Monster characters treat skills mentioned in their monster entry as class skills. If a monster has 1 Hit Die or less, or if it is a template creature, it must start the game with one or more class levels, like a regular character. If a monster has 2 or more Hit Dice, it can start with no class levels (though it can gain them later). Even if the creature is of a kind that normally advances by Hit Dice rather than class levels a PC can gain class levels rather than Hit Dice. [B]Hit Dice[/B] The creature’s Hit Dice equal the number of class levels it has plus its racial Hit Dice. Additional Hit Dice gained from taking levels in a character class never affect a creature’s size like additional racial Hit Dice do. [B]Feat Acquisition and Ability Score Increases[/B] A monster’s total Hit Dice,[U] not its ECL,[/U] govern its acquisition of feats and ability score increases. [/QUOTE]

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