Level Adjustment and Character Wealth...

[jaldaen]

Is there a core rule about this (in the PHB, DMG, or MM?)? I know that Forgotten Relams says that LA is indeed used to determine starting character wealth, but from what I can tell the only thing the core rules say (DMG Character Wealth table pg 135) is that character level is used to determine character wealth and not effective character level (they are two different terms from my understanding).

This is a pretty big difference as if effective character level is used (instead of character level) a 3.5 ogre/1st level fighter would have the wealth of a 7th-level character... which is insanely better than what a regular MM 3.5 ogre has... I mean that is a difference of over 18,000 gp!!!

It just seems strange that LA characters, which have never adventured a day in their lives would start with a hoard of equipment.

So which is right the DMG or Fortgotten Realms? Or does effective character level = character level... If so what does it count towards... afterall feats and ability score increases are determined by character level (PHB pg. 22). It seems if ECL = CL than there needs to be a few clarifications made to the PHB, DMG, and MM...

Thanks,
Joseph

 

[Liquidsabre]

Just check page 3 of the D&D FAQ, first question on the page with the minotaur example.

LA is included with character level when determining starting equipment.

 

[Pax]

When you tell players to make new characters, you shoudl NOT simply say "male ECL 10 characters". Instead, you give them a total number of GP and XP to start with.

If you then chosoe to play, oh ... Drow; your actual character level is lower than that of the human sitting next to them ... but they still get the same XP and GP to start with.

Saying "make 10th level characters" shoudl only be treated as a shortcut ... directing theplayers to look up the proper XP and GP for a 10th level character, and start with those.

 

[dcollins]

It just seems strange that LA characters, which have never adventured a day in their lives would start with a hoard of equipment.

I agree with you. The original 3.0 DMG specified that monster characters start with wealth determined by their class levels only (3.0 DMG, p. 24, paragraph 3), and my opinion on the matter is that would have been the best way to go.

However, every WOTC book since the 3.0 DMG has gone with the "wealth by total ECL" idea instead.

 

[jaldaen]

I agree with you. The original 3.0 DMG specified that monster characters start with wealth determined by their class levels only (3.0 DMG, p. 24, paragraph 3), and my opinion on the matter is that would have been the best way to go.

Okay... so at least I was correct under 3.0 and did not just invent this rule myself ;-) I too find it strange that it was changed as I thought that was part of the balance of LA... Oh well... I'll have to keep that in mind when I'm designing adventurers... I do find it interesting that the rule on using ECL instead of character level appears only in non-core books... You'd think they would put that in the DMG or MM...

Thanks for the help!

And if anyone has anything else to add (opinions, etc...) please do ;-)

 

[wocky]

Savage Species allows you to spread monster hit dice and LA across as many levels as the ECL, and progress by adventuring. So a creature with ECL 10 could already have had a long life of adventuring.

You'd expect a mature troll to have a hard youth...