Ecl

[Thatwackyned]

ok, i want to create a Minotaur char level 1, but am having trouble understanding the ECL.

A minotaur has 6d8 hit dice and a +2 Level adjustment.

Does that make him at level 1, ECL 9?

 

[frankthedm]

ok, i want to create a Minotaur char level 1, but am having trouble understanding the ECL.

A minotaur has 6d8 hit dice and a +2 Level adjustment.

Does that make him at level 1, ECL 9?

A Minotaur with One level of a PC class IS a 9th level character, has the XP total of a 9th level Character and the gear of a 9th level character. He has six monstrous humanoid racial hit dice and one more hit die from his class. Only his first racial hit is maxed out for HP.

You might want a decent con booster item since you are two hit dice behind other front line characters.

Now if you were hoping to play a minotaur in a level 1 game in 3.5, you are out of luck. If the DM accepts 3.0 material, you might be in luck...

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20030202

Broken down like this you can really see how weaksauce ECL critters are.

 

[Runestar]

ok, i want to create a Minotaur char level 1, but am having trouble understanding the ECL.

A minotaur has 6d8 hit dice and a +2 Level adjustment.

Does that make him at level 1, ECL 9?

This makes a minotaur PC ECL8 without any class lvs, and you need to be 9th lv before you are eligible for your 1st class lv.

 

[Shin Okada]

To clarify. Minotaur with 1 level of a PC class is an ECL 9 character but not a 9th-level character.

ECL is only used for calculating XPs the PC gains, the amount of XPs the PC need to gain the next level, and the amount of wealth the character has.

He is still a 7th-level (7 HD) character for other purposes. So, for example, he may be affected by Circle of Death spell. And he dies when he gains 7 negative levels.

 

[Angrydad]

If you want to let the minotaur into your game at only 3rd level all you have to do is sack the racial HD, BAB, Saves, skills, and feats. Then just let the minotaur take 1 level in a class and give him/her the racial bonuses to stats, skills, darkvision, scent, etc.

 

[Corsair]

If all you care about is flavor, I assume the Dragonlance hardcover has a more playable minotaur (though obviously it'll be somewhat weaker).

 

[Shin Okada]

IMHO Minotaur is one of the better LA+2 race to play, even with racial HDs. Large, strong, high con, and never being flat-footed. Monstrous Humanoid HDs are rather better racial HDs, too. And Monotaur also has gore attack. Ah, and immune to Maze. It is hard to play monster race at lower levels. But Minotaur melee brute works fine at, say, 10+ levels.

 

[frankthedm]

IMHO Minotaur is one of the better LA+2 race to play, even with racial HDs. Large, strong, high con, and never being flat-footed. Monstrous Humanoid HDs are rather better racial HDs, too. And Minotaur also has gore attack. Ah, and immune to Maze. It is hard to play monster race at lower levels. But Minotaur melee brute works fine at, say, 10+ levels.

Centaur works well unless the character really needs natural reach. Grabbing your Large* lance with both hands, charging your target and judiciously 2 for 1 power attacking will surpass the damage of the minotaur's horned charge.

*as a large creature the rules let you wield large weapons.

 

[irdeggman]

For a 1st level Minotaurs (ECL 1) try the level progression from Savage Species pg 28.

It runs through 8 levels (treated as class levels) for the minataur.

Too lengthy to write here - but it has reduced ability score bonuses (full penalties though) 1d8 HD and a gore attack (with some other things too).

 

[Runestar]

The minotaur SS progression is also available as a free excerpt on the wotc dnd website. Try searching for it.