ECL and Experience Question

[Aluvial]

I have a new Aasimar character starting in my game (paladin).

I am confused about the ECL thing. I'm starting the character at 3rd level Paladin. This makes his total ECL a 4. Correct?

Now, my real question is, how many XP does this character have (assuming I start him at the bottom of the level).

Is it 6,000 XP? Is that right?

Thanks,

Aluvial

 

[Maleketh]

He counts as a 4th-level character for experience purposes, so yes, he has 6,000 XP, and will need 4,000 more to gain a level. He also earns XP as though he were a 4th-level character, meaning he won't get as many points as if he were 3rd-level.

 

[Aluvial]

Here's another question, how do you adjust the XP, if you buy it down from the Unearthed Arcana (p 18)?

If (assuming I have 6,000 xp, need 10,000 xp to get to 4th level) I gain 3,000 xp, giving me 9,000, can I then buy down the level adjustment (because it costs 3,000 xp: the current (ECL -1) X 1000.)

If so, I am reduced back to 6,000 xp, which is 4th level anyway.... I'm confused; where's the penalty?

Aluvial

 

[irdeggman]

Here's another question, how do you adjust the XP, if you buy it down from the Unearthed Arcana (p 18)?

If (assuming I have 6,000 xp, need 10,000 xp to get to 4th level) I gain 3,000 xp, giving me 9,000, can I then buy down the level adjustment (because it costs 3,000 xp: the current (ECL -1) X 1000.)

If so, I am reduced back to 6,000 xp, which is 4th level anyway.... I'm confused; where's the penalty?

Aluvial

There is another part to the buy back equation.

"The deduction should reduce the character's level (ECL) by 1. (If this deduction would not reduce the character's ECL by 1, the character's XP total is set at the maximum of the level below his current ECL instead)."

And another part (which I had missed in the game I've been running):

"The payment must be make immediately upon becoming eligible to reduce the character's level adjustment."

So in the example you gave:

ECL 4 (+ LA) at 6,000 xp (4th level) you must immediately spend the xp to reduce your level - thus ending up at 3,000 and being a 3rd level (ECL 3) character.


Now if you started at 5,999 and received 3,050 xp (at one time) - you would have a total of 9,049 (4th level, ony high in the band).

You must immediately buy back the level (cost = 3000 xp), but that leaves you at 6, 049 (still 4th level). So the other part comes into play and you new xp total is 5,999 and you are a 3rd level character (ECL 3, no LA).