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<blockquote data-quote="LightPhoenix" data-source="post: 2438519" data-attributes="member: 115">I don't particularly think ECL is a bad mechanic.&nbsp; I'm not entirely convinced the right angle is used to ascribe an ECL to a creature, especially with regards to HD and abilities.&nbsp; These have all been mentioned before.&nbsp;The biggest problem with ECL, IMO, is that it assumes levels are generally linear.&nbsp; In fact, it assumes the game as a whole is linear.&nbsp; We all know that not to be true.&nbsp; A 20th level character most certainly does not equal two 10th level ones.&nbsp; Furthermore, spellcasting is very much non-linear, which creates more of a curve for any spellcasting class, which is half of the classes in the game.&nbsp; If the level curve is not linear, then ECL is simply not going to work as it was intended.&nbsp; The idea wasn't bad at all, it just doesn't work with the non-linear nature of levels in D&amp;D.&nbsp;There's an assumption that you always balance a race's ECL with it's best class.&nbsp; I think that's wrong.&nbsp; IMO your best bet for ECL is to balance everything as a Fighter.&nbsp; Fighter is by far the most linear class - no spellcasting, clear, steady progression of skills (except 1st level).&nbsp; If an Aasimar Fig 5 is roughly equivalent to a Human Fig 4, then it's roughly ECL+1.&nbsp; If they make better Paladins, or worse Rogues, whatever.&nbsp; There has to be a few points of balance - one of those is the Human race, another should be, IMO, the Fighter class.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="LightPhoenix, post: 2438519, member: 115"] I don't particularly think ECL is a bad mechanic. I'm not entirely convinced the right angle is used to ascribe an ECL to a creature, especially with regards to HD and abilities. These have all been mentioned before. The biggest problem with ECL, IMO, is that it assumes levels are generally linear. In fact, it assumes the game as a whole is linear. We all know that not to be true. A 20th level character most certainly does not equal two 10th level ones. Furthermore, spellcasting is [i]very[/i] much non-linear, which creates more of a curve for any spellcasting class, which is half of the classes in the game. If the level curve is not linear, then ECL is simply not going to work as it was intended. The idea wasn't bad at all, it just doesn't work with the non-linear nature of levels in D&D. There's an assumption that you always balance a race's ECL with it's best class. I think that's wrong. IMO your best bet for ECL is to balance everything as a Fighter. Fighter is by far the most linear class - no spellcasting, clear, steady progression of skills (except 1st level). If an Aasimar Fig 5 is roughly equivalent to a Human Fig 4, then it's roughly ECL+1. If they make better Paladins, or worse Rogues, whatever. There has to be a few points of balance - one of those is the Human race, another should be, IMO, the Fighter class. [/QUOTE]

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