ECL, Feats and Ability Increases...

[Soldarin]

I'm also not upset.

To make things more muddied (or clear them up, depending on where you stand), it really matters very little balance-wise which you choose (total HD or class levels only).

HD
Pro's: you "only" need 2 character level definitions.
Cons: determining when you get an ability increase/new feat is a bit more work

Class level
Pro's: less work for determining ability increases, etc.
Cons: you need 3 character level definitions (also HD for max skill ranks).

Balance-wise the first tends to give you an ability increase sooner, while the second gives you a feat sooner. Very little difference, truely. At least IMHO.

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

I agree with all that.

Out of curiosity, how did you know to assume (correctly) that Dragon 293 was wrong? Or have you not seen it yet in Europe?

 

[Nathan]

I think a player's character whose race is a monster with an ECL modifier and has more than one HD should have the same abilities as the same monster who takes class levels as an NPC.

In the monster manual the process how to class levels to a monster is described. Use this to add class levels to a PC who is of a monster race. The ruling in the Monster Manual is that the total number of HD determine if you get a feat and/or ability score increase when you advance in a class.

 

[Soldarin]

I don't subscribe to Dragon magazine. My interpretation was based on what I read in the DMG, MM and FRCS, as well as some opinions I found on the messageboards (Monte's amongst them).