ECL & XP

[Mean Eyed Cat]

Okay, this has probably been asked before, but I need a quick answer and I don't have the ability to search these forums.

On page 37 of the DMG it states "Determine each character's level. Don't forget to account for ECL if any of the characters are of a powerful race."

I just had a player start a new character - a 7th level Avariel Elf [+3 level adjustment]. So, when I go to award xp to that character and cross reference his character level with the CR [on pg. 38], do I use 7th level or 10th level? "Account" is a little vague. Does that mean "take into consideration" or does it mean I need to actually add the level adjustment?

Thanks ENWorld for the assistance

 

[Infiniti2000]

ECL = class levels + LA + racial HD. In this case, it's 7 + 3 + 0 = 10. The PC's ECL is 10.

Hopefully, the other PCs also have ECL 10.

 

[Hellefire]

Reading it again, it is a little vague, but I'm pretty sure the ECL is supposed to be used for determining XP (both for XP from encounters and for level advancement). That's the way I've always interpreted it.

Aaron

 

[irdeggman]

Continue to follow the reference to pg 172-173 for monsters as races (and ECL) and it lays out out to handle it there.

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

Thanks everybody, thats what I thought. However...

Continue to follow the reference to pg 172-173 for monsters as races (and ECL) and it lays out out to handle it there.

... page 172-173 only references Table 3-2: Experience and Level-Dependent Benefits in the PHB. Another player is making the argument that it's not referencing the DMG's Table 2-6: Experience Point Awards. On top of that he pointed out that, according to definition, "account" only means "take into consideration" and does not mean "add."

The rest of the party is 9th/10th level. I'm pretty sure he's wrong, because when I do the math for xp awards [with lower level character's getting more xp], the 7th level character [with the +3 level adjustment] would get more xp than the rest. Clearly unbablanced - right?

 

[Hellefire]

Yeah lack of mention of the DMG xp table was the exact reason I decided it was vague, but yes I'm pretty sure its supposed to work that way, and it would be unbalanced if he XP'd faster than another ECL 10 character (a lvl 10 human fighter for example).

Aaron

 

[irdeggman]

Pg 5 of Savage Species has under Effective Character Level. “Use character level for all game functions except awarding experience, determining starting equipment, and determining how much experience the character needs to gain a new level.”


Does anyone have the collector's edition DMG? It would be handy to check for any "stealth" errata here.

The reference on pg 37 of the DMG for when calculating xp awards to "don't forget to account for ECL" sure indicates that it should be used. Especially since awarding xp has nothing to do with the amount of xp needed to advance - at least not in this section of the DMG anyway.

 

[Hellefire]

To complete that quote from Savage Species, the next sentence is 'All three of those functions use effective character level instead.'

The somewhat vague part, where it says to 'take into account ECL' is a basic step-by-step list for determining XP. Later other possible changes are listed, but this is just a straightforward A-B-C guide. There is nothing in the list that is subjective at all, and I don't expect that step is meant to be subjective (as in take into account = think about) but rather objective (take into account = add).

The encounter XP calculator on the SRD site also uses a characters ECL for determining XP awards.

Aaron

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

To complete that quote from Savage Species, the next sentence is 'All three of those functions use effective character level instead.'

Aaron

Perfect. That's exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks