ECL Rules?

[0-hr]

Where are the rules for determining the ECL of a custom race?

Specifically I'd like to make a race with wings (unlimited flight) and a +2 WIS adjustment, but no ECL. The race has the disadvantage of being "unraise-able" - can't come back from death no matter what, and will have a -2 CON penalty. What else (if anything) would be needed to balance out the flight ability.

This is a non-Fearun winged elf, so I'd also like to work in low light vision and elf weapon profficiencies if possible. Everything else is optional.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I don't know that there are rules. I always compare anything new to existing creatures and see what's what. I suppose the only general rule is to remember that CR and LA are different because of the differences between a one-time combatant and a multiply-played character.

That said, a +2 Wis adjustment by itself probably doesn't warrant any change. The -2 Con penalty is fairly stiff and certainly offsets the +2 Wis bonus. The fact that members of this race cannot be raised is only a penalty if the world you're playing in has raising as a somewhat common phenomenon. If almost no one else gets raised either, then it's not a penalty.

The elven weapon stuff and low-light vision are pretty much balanced by the same reason other racial stuff is balanced: no bonus feat for being human, no bonus skill points for being human. So, that looks okay to me.

Flight is a big deal, you're right about that. If you limited the being's ability to fly so that it couldn't fly when it had taken a certain amount of damage, or couldn't fly while exhausted, or something, that might help (I don't recall all the existing rules off the top of my head anyway).

Still, it does seem like ECL +1 at this point. Maybe this creature has Dex -2 because the wings make it difficult to move around on the ground? I'd think that having big things sticking out of my shoulder-blades might make it harder for me to swing a sword or look over my shoulder.

Dave

 

[Targos]

There are some various ECL determining formulas out on the web, but as far as WOTC products go Savage Species has some basic ECL tools. An elf with wings would be ECL +1 as stated. The kobold may be an example for bumping down the ECL. It has a +1 natural armor bonus (+1ECL), but it has light sensitivity and unbalanced stats (a net -4 in 3.5, harsh by some standards, 3.0 was -2 on the stats) and thus is ECL0. If you want a ECL0 race with wings try giving it a strength penalty also. Keep in mind the potential of such a character as an archer staying out of reach by flight.