Guidelines for calculating LA?
- Thread starter BigCat
- Start date
frankthedm
First Post
1. LA must be set assuming the most powergamed class, skill and feat selection.
2. PHB races without LA must remain attractive in comparison.
2. PHB races without LA must remain attractive in comparison.
Mustrum_Ridcully
Legend
A few very broad guidelines. They provide a starting point, but they can't guarantee balanced LAs (especially not compared to each other).
For races directed at fighter types:
Probably every 2-4 points of Strength Bonus (beyond that of a Half-Orc or Orc, with the associated penalties) are worth one point of LA. Though for a "fair" LA, you will also need to slightly boost Constitution (to compensate the HD loss), maybe by +2 for every 6-8 points of Strength.
So, a "Brute Monster" that grants a +8 bonus to Strength and a +2 bonus to Con should probbly have an LA around 3. (Note that the Half-Dragon Template probably grants more than this for the same LA, indicating that it is only a starting point)
For races with spell-like or supernatural abilities:
The LA should ensure that a unclassed character does not have access to (significant) spells or spellike abilities beyond its ECL (Racial HD + LA). A creature that can cast Fireball 3/day per day should probably unattainable before Level 5 (where a straight Wizard would get the ability to cast Fireball, too). As a guidline, the spellcasting ability score (with a straight 10-11 base stat) should probably be high enough to allow a spellcaster to cast the equivalent spell.
So, a "Fireballslinger" Monster that can cast Fireball 3/day should probably have a Intelligence or Charisma modifier of +2 to +4 and an LA of 5.
For races directed at fighter types:
Probably every 2-4 points of Strength Bonus (beyond that of a Half-Orc or Orc, with the associated penalties) are worth one point of LA. Though for a "fair" LA, you will also need to slightly boost Constitution (to compensate the HD loss), maybe by +2 for every 6-8 points of Strength.
So, a "Brute Monster" that grants a +8 bonus to Strength and a +2 bonus to Con should probbly have an LA around 3. (Note that the Half-Dragon Template probably grants more than this for the same LA, indicating that it is only a starting point)
For races with spell-like or supernatural abilities:
The LA should ensure that a unclassed character does not have access to (significant) spells or spellike abilities beyond its ECL (Racial HD + LA). A creature that can cast Fireball 3/day per day should probably unattainable before Level 5 (where a straight Wizard would get the ability to cast Fireball, too). As a guidline, the spellcasting ability score (with a straight 10-11 base stat) should probably be high enough to allow a spellcaster to cast the equivalent spell.
So, a "Fireballslinger" Monster that can cast Fireball 3/day should probably have a Intelligence or Charisma modifier of +2 to +4 and an LA of 5.
Aust Diamondew
First Post
Try this:
http://soldarin.tripod.com/id5.html
and the automated version of it:
http://rpg.hmimages.com/racecalc.cfm
Keep it mind it is just an estimate. And often overestimates the value of a monster being able to cast spells as a member a spell casting class and underestimates the value of a creautre with a lot of spell-like abilities.
When trying to caculate the ECL of something in the case of melee type races I often look at it's total increase to a PCs attack (+10 str, large size and 4 giant HD for instance in the case of the ogre is a total attack increase of +7) and I'll make the ECL in between its (attack increase-1) and its attack increase being 3/4 of its ECL.
That was probably really confusing the two links I gave you are a lot more helpful.
http://soldarin.tripod.com/id5.html
and the automated version of it:
http://rpg.hmimages.com/racecalc.cfm
Keep it mind it is just an estimate. And often overestimates the value of a monster being able to cast spells as a member a spell casting class and underestimates the value of a creautre with a lot of spell-like abilities.
When trying to caculate the ECL of something in the case of melee type races I often look at it's total increase to a PCs attack (+10 str, large size and 4 giant HD for instance in the case of the ogre is a total attack increase of +7) and I'll make the ECL in between its (attack increase-1) and its attack increase being 3/4 of its ECL.
That was probably really confusing the two links I gave you are a lot more helpful.
