Help needed in building a planetouched

[DethStryke]

I've been offered the opportunity to play an Aasimar in a Ptolus campaign that a friend is running. I've read every source I could find on the Planetouched (Races of Destiny, MM1, Savage Species, Planer Handbook, etc.) but obviously there is a bit of confusion across the board.

The question I have is this: Can anyone PLEASE give me an example of a Aasimar Cleric at "first level" as he would enter the game with an ECL of 2?

The way the DM wants to run it is that I start the game with the full Aasimar racial bonuses & the first level of Cleric, leveling at 3,000 exp and going from there - always a class level behind everyone else in turn for the racial bonuses. I am confused as to whether I get HP for the Aasimar AND the cleric portions, the racial martial weapon feats (according to MM1) and starting skill points listed in there (8x4 to start rather than the 2x4 from the cleric level or just 2 and no other starting skill points if they are sacked for having the racial bonuses...).

I'm really, really confused by it all and have yet to find an example of how it would come together at first level. All my searches turn up crazy detailed combos of mindflayers and drow, which don't really explain the aasimar type at all.

 

[Kafkonia]

The question I have is this: Can anyone PLEASE give me an example of a Aasimar Cleric at "first level" as he would enter the game with an ECL of 2?

I think there's an "Aasimar as Characters" bit in the MM which should give you what you need, but the short is:

-You get no Racial Hit Dice, so you have 1 d8 HD from being a first-level cleric.
-You get (2+Int)x4 skill points for being a first-level cleric.

Basically, you build a first level cleric, then add in the racial modifiers for being an Aasimar afterward -- attribute bonuses, daylight ability, etc. This applies to any playable race that has only 1 hit die -- the hit die is replaced by the class hit die.

The question of weapon proficiencies is one you should go over with your DM, because there are two different ways of reading it...

 

[VonRichthofen]

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a

Aasimar as a ECL 0 character race.

The way Kafkonia describes it sums up to: Just ignore the fact you're an ECL +1 race. Doesn't sound valid to me.

Everybody would play an ECL +x race with these rules.

 

[DethStryke]

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a

Aasimar as a ECL 0 character race.

The way Kafkonia describes it sums up to: Just ignore the fact you're an ECL +1 race. Doesn't sound valid to me.

Everybody would play an ECL +x race with these rules.

Not true: you level per ECL... so I become a lvl 2 cleric at 3k, lvl 3 cleric at 6k rather than lvl 3/4 respectively. You're effectively sacking an entire level for that bonus, which is not a direct transfer of 1st level for planetouched but an exponential debt curve of earned EXP, forever a full level in class abilities behind my counterparts with a total gap that widens as I gain levels. In return, I can make things light up once a day, see in the dark, not be hurt as bad by some energy sources and become completely immune to a whole host of magical effects (humanoid targeted spells not effective). Whether it is a *fair* trade is debatable, but that's why you get a choice.

My confusion stemmed from what is gained directly at character creation, which Kafkonia summed up pretty clearly. Thank you for the assistance! I'm still interested in anyone else's translation or clarifications though. Thank you in advance!

 

[Kurashu]

You could eliminate that debt with LA buyoff.

LA Buyoff

Basically, when you reach ECL 4 you tell your DM "I'd like to trade in 3000 XP in order to get rid of my +1 LA." And if you DM says "Ok." (or any other affirmative, it really shouldn't matter much which one he picks) you say a ton of money.

It's like switching to Geico except there are no geckos involved.

 

[DethStryke]

You could eliminate that debt with LA buyoff.

LA Buyoff

Basically, when you reach ECL 4 you tell your DM "I'd like to trade in 3000 XP in order to get rid of my +1 LA." And if you DM says "Ok." (or any other affirmative, it really shouldn't matter much which one he picks) you say a ton of money.

It's like switching to Geico except there are no geckos involved.

Now <b>there</b> is a pitch man!

Cool, I'll have to run that by him. Thanks for the link!