FAQ New Entries

[dcollins]

On 8/15/03, WOTC posted updated copies of 2 FAQs: the 3.0 Main FAQ (labelled v06272003), and the brand-new 3.5 Main FAQ (labelled v07302003).

(1) In the new 3.0 FAQ, there's nothing marked in red (the sign of new entries) that I can find. Can anyone identify any new entries in the 3.0 FAQ? Is this possibly just the final release cleanup of the 3.0 FAQ, removing the identification of new entries?

(2) In the new 3.5 FAQ (not that I have the 3.5 rules), there seems to be a contradiction. Much of this FAQ deals with clarifying the differences between Class Levels, Characters Levels, LA, ECL, and CR, etc.

On page 2 it says: "In addition, your character level determines how much experience you earn when you defeat a foe and how many experience points you need to gain your next class level."

On page 3 it provides an example: "Your example minotaur character does have an ECL of 15 (6 HD, 7 class levels, and a +2 level adjustment), but it is a 13th-level character... The minotaur character starts with 15th-level equipment, however, and earns experience as a 15th-level character."

Isn't this a contradiction in what parameter keys to XP?

 

[AGGEMAM]

Isn't this a contradiction in what parameter keys to XP?

No.

Creatures that hae a Level Adjustment (LA) have an Effective Character Level (ECL), whereas creatures that do not have that simply have a Character Level.

 

[Olive]

No, it's effective character level which detemins experience etc.

The minotaur in question is 13th level, in terms of combined class levels and HD which is called character levels. However it's his ECL which determines this, he's at 13th level character (6 HD, 7 class levels) but has an effective character level of 15 due to his +2 LA.

Make sense?

 

[dcollins]

Re: Re: FAQ New Entries

Creatures that hae a Level Adjustment (LA) have an Effective Character Level (ECL), whereas creatures that do not have that simply have a Character Level.

That's not what the FAQ says. It says every character has both a CL and an ECL. The minotaur example shows exactly this: a 13 CL and a 15 ECL.

 

[Planesdragon]

Re: Re: Re: FAQ New Entries

That's not what the FAQ says. It says every character has both a CL and an ECL. The minotaur example shows exactly this: a 13 CL and a 15 ECL.

They do. A Human Fighter 4 / Paladin 11 has a 15 CL and a 15 ECL, because "human" has a +0 LA.


I'm personally just peeved that they didn't continue the LAs for Dragons. *grumble, grumble*.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Re: Re: Re: FAQ New Entries

That's not what the FAQ says. It says every character has both a CL and an ECL. The minotaur example shows exactly this: a 13 CL and a 15 ECL.

What's the difference?

If you don't have a LA then your CL is equal to your ECL.

Note that ECL are mentioned after which means it overrides what has been stated before, that is normal procedure in technical manuals.