Herzog
Adventurer
The 'buy-off' is included in the table.
7000 XP payed at lvl 6, and 9000 XP payed at lvl 9.
for a total of 16000 XP remaining at lvl 20.
This table represents the total XP needed for LA+2 using the UA buy-off rules.
I disagree. Although the LA penalty is 'front-loaded', as you say, so are the racial abilities.
Instead of the Drow, let's take a look at the Half-Ogre.(from RoD).
They get:
7000 XP payed at lvl 6, and 9000 XP payed at lvl 9.
for a total of 16000 XP remaining at lvl 20.
This table represents the total XP needed for LA+2 using the UA buy-off rules.
The lowest levels are precisely when LA races do NOT need the worst penalties but the least.
<snip>
At 20th level, no racial abilities are worth one full level of power.
I disagree. Although the LA penalty is 'front-loaded', as you say, so are the racial abilities.
Instead of the Drow, let's take a look at the Half-Ogre.(from RoD).
They get:
+6 Strength, –2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, –2 Intelligence,–2 Charisma.
Giant type.(immune to several spells that target humanoids)
Large: –1 to AC and attack. 10' reach.
Darkvision 60'.
Natural Armor +4.
That, (and several other minor things I left out) makes a formidable addition to a first level fighter or barbarian. It makes a half-ogre far more powerfull than a normal first level fighter.
We could argue whether it is worth +2, but that's a different discussion altogether.
Now, by the time he reaches lvl 20, the darkvision, natural armor, and probably even reach should be available through (permanent?) magic.
However, that +6 to strength is a racial bonus. It stacks with all other bonusses. And it can't be dispelled.
So, he's still more powerfull than a regular fighter or barbarian.
And when using the XP-by ECL rules, that 16000 XP difference will stil be gone by the time he reaches lvl 20.
Another calculation:
At 3000 XP, he's a first lvl barbarian with LA+2. Assume we put him in a party with lvl 2 characters.
He earns XP at the same rate the other characters do.
At 28000 XP, he would reach lvl 6 barbarian, for a total ECL of 8.
He pays of his first LA.
He's left with 21000 XP, for a total ECL of 7.
He now earns XP as a character one lvl lower than the other characters. (an XP gain increase of about 30%)
By the time he reaches lvl 9, the increased XP gain will have him at the same XP level as the rest of the group.
At 45000 XP, he would reach lvl 9 barbarian, for a total ECL of 10.
He pays of his second LA.
He's left with 36000 XP, for a total ECL of 9.
H now earns XP again as a character one lvl lower than the other characters.
(an XP gain increase of about 35%)
After a few (3) lvls, he'll be at the same XP lvl again as the rest of the group.
Which leaves him at lvl 20 with the same amount of xp and still additional powers.
Giant type.(immune to several spells that target humanoids)
Large: –1 to AC and attack. 10' reach.
Darkvision 60'.
Natural Armor +4.
That, (and several other minor things I left out) makes a formidable addition to a first level fighter or barbarian. It makes a half-ogre far more powerfull than a normal first level fighter.
We could argue whether it is worth +2, but that's a different discussion altogether.
Now, by the time he reaches lvl 20, the darkvision, natural armor, and probably even reach should be available through (permanent?) magic.
However, that +6 to strength is a racial bonus. It stacks with all other bonusses. And it can't be dispelled.
So, he's still more powerfull than a regular fighter or barbarian.
And when using the XP-by ECL rules, that 16000 XP difference will stil be gone by the time he reaches lvl 20.
Another calculation:
At 3000 XP, he's a first lvl barbarian with LA+2. Assume we put him in a party with lvl 2 characters.
He earns XP at the same rate the other characters do.
At 28000 XP, he would reach lvl 6 barbarian, for a total ECL of 8.
He pays of his first LA.
He's left with 21000 XP, for a total ECL of 7.
He now earns XP as a character one lvl lower than the other characters. (an XP gain increase of about 30%)
By the time he reaches lvl 9, the increased XP gain will have him at the same XP level as the rest of the group.
At 45000 XP, he would reach lvl 9 barbarian, for a total ECL of 10.
He pays of his second LA.
He's left with 36000 XP, for a total ECL of 9.
H now earns XP again as a character one lvl lower than the other characters.
(an XP gain increase of about 35%)
After a few (3) lvls, he'll be at the same XP lvl again as the rest of the group.
Which leaves him at lvl 20 with the same amount of xp and still additional powers.
No, ability bonusses don't scale with level. They don't have to, they are at the base of any character, and any increase in an ability makes the character more powerfull, no matter what the level.And most of the other LA races don't even have abilities that scale with a character's level.