ECL for Half-Celestial

[Juggernaut]

Can anyone help me out with this one?

Thinking of making a PC with the Half-Celestial Template. Just wondering what ECL should it get.

Opinions welcome. Documented Proof Even better as DM wants to know.

Thanks in advance.
Jugg

 

[Pax]

DMG pegs it at +3.

SavS pegs it at +4, and assumes you get wings.

I prefer the +4, wings or no, because half-celestials can be VERY powerful, if they play to their strengths.

 

[Grishnak]

Our group made a mistake and went of the CR rating of +1 and so far there hasn't been any trouble with them. We've got 2 currently and I played 1 as a Druid. The later abilities though would knock it up though, being able to summon a Celestial creature (Summon Monster 9) is way cool!! Oh my Pet was a Half Celestial Dire Lion, a whopping 17 hd creature with awaken cast upon it!

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

DMG pegs it at +3.

SavS pegs it at +4, and assumes you get wings.

I prefer the +4, wings or no, because half-celestials can be VERY powerful, if they play to their strengths.

I definitely lean to +4 with Wings, +3 without. The designers weren't kidding about Wings being worth a full LA, and most of the benefits of a Half Celestial apply to spellcasters, who get considerably weaker for any level loss.

 

[gariig]

Don't you mean better for non-spellcasting types?

Great template for fighter.

Gariig

 

[Hypersmurf]

Don't you mean better for non-spellcasting types?

Great template for fighter.

... paladin...

-Hyp.

 

[Pax]

... paladin...

-Hyp.

... monk (broad-based stat increases, including the critical str, dex, wisdom) ...

... ranger (same reasons as Paladin) ...

... and, oddly enough, it's even potentially useful for a sorceror (it's hard to find CHA-bonus races, and the divine spells don't hurt a sorceror's flexibility any).

 

[Hypersmurf]

... and, oddly enough, it's even potentially useful for a sorceror (it's hard to find CHA-bonus races, and the divine spells don't hurt a sorceror's flexibility any).

Yeeea-ah... although a 4-level caster level hit is vicious for a primary caster class.

Fighter types are four points behind on BAB and 4 hit dice... but by mid levels, the Con bonus makes up for the hit dice, and the Str bonus compensates a little for the BAB. The major hurt for fighters is that 4 points of BAB means they're almost always one iterative attack behind.

But I really believe all the benefits make up for that - especially for a Paladin, and not at all bad for a Monk either.

The Cha bonus is pleasant for a sorcerer, but you're two whole spell levels behind the curve, and can never get 9th-level spells pre-epic.

-Hyp.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Don't you mean better for non-spellcasting types?

Great template for fighter.

No, I meant that most of the Half-Celestial's benefits are good for spellcasters. High mental stats (esp. Wis and Cha), the energy immunities (casters' biggest weakness) and the bonus spell-like abilities.

If I were going to put it on a warrior-type, I'd definitely go Monk/Paladin/Sacred Fist.