LA charachters for Lvl 1 game

[Mojo Jojo]

Is is it possible to make a LA character for a level 1 game?
or are the higher LA characters meant to be played only at a higher level?

 

[AGGEMAM]

Personally I would not allow it, but here are two possible suggestions that could be used or even combined.

1) 0-level character as per DMG

2) Not gaining 2nd level until enough XP is earned

Which you prefer for an ECL +1 creature is up to you, but for ECL +2 to +3 you should probably combine them. ECL +4 shouldn't be used with a 1st level campaign at all.

 

[FireLance]

Savage Species has some progressions for LA characters from 1st level to the final ECL. Also, check out the template progressions on the WotC website - so far, they have done the vampire, half-dragon and wererat templates. You could plan a similar progression for a LA race not covered. For example, a 1st-level Aasimar character could start out with 1 class level, Darkvision and a +2 racial bonus to Spot and Listen checks. When he gains 2nd level, instead of a class level (and hit die), he gets +2 to Wisdom and Charisma, Daylight 1/day, and acid, cold and electricity resistance 5, making him the same as any other 1st-level Aasimar character (ECL 2). He gains levels normally after that.

 

[shilsen]

You could also use the approach in "Savage Species", which is specifically designed to allow powerful creatures to be used as PCs from 1st lvl.

(beaten to the punch, so see above post)

 

[Creamsteak]

Also, if you use point buy you could reduce the starting points for a character till they gain their next level. For example, if you give 30 points normally, the character only gets 24 points for their starting ability scores.

It's got problems, but it's just another (relatively easy) answer.

 

[Norfleet]

I'd just go with leaving them frozen in level until their XP allows them to catch up to their LA. It's not as if your campaign will stay forever, or even very long, at first level, since, frankly, 1st level characters suck and are utterly worthless, not to mention way too easily to accidentally kill when you didn't intend to even try to do so.

DMing first level characters is one of the least satisfying things to do, personally, because you spend most of your time pulling your punches on characters which, frankly, haven't had any room whatsoever to develop.

On the flip side, as a player, I don't really invest any real attachment to first-level characters either, since I fully expect them to die and thus consider them entirely expendable. After all, it'll take me all of a minute to roll up another one just like it, and point-buy further reduces the value of a character at all, since when all characters are the same, you're simply churning out mass-produced stamped-from-sheet-metal characters. Perfect time to be pulling a Desert Gorge.

 

[Ogre Mage]

LA character for Lvl 1 game

We've played several first-level campaigns with +1 LA characters, with the characters frozen in level until their XP caught up to their LA. We didn't have any balance problems with them dominating the other first level characters. No one has ever played a +2 or +3 LA, so I can't comment on that.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I'd create a "racial advancement" where they don't get all of their abilities at first level, but only as much as would be OK for a LA+0 Race, and their first class level. then, add class levels and some abilities over the next few levels, leaving out class levels every now and then. It's important to have more than half your ECL as HD. So if you have ECL 5, you should at least have 3 HD, or you'll either fall rather quickly or the DM has to pull his punches too much.

For example: Drow. Start with Gold Elf abilities (+int, -con) and one level of the class. Spread the abilities over 5 levels like that:

1: Abilities, class level
2: Abilities, class level
3: Many Abilities
4: Abilities, Class level
5: Many abilities.