level adjustment

[altier]

OK everyone, I know that I should now this but, could someone explain to me exactly how a level adjustment works.

This is what I understand so far, when you start a character with a level adjustment (at level one), then you have a character who is, lets say, one level sorcerer, and two levels drow (as drow have a la of +2, effectively making the character starting at level three.

So here is my question, does the character start with 3,000 xp automatically, and to progress to level 2 sorcerer, the character would need 6,000 xp?

Also as part of the level adjusted levels, the character gets nothing for the two racial levels, no extra hit points, or anything, except the bonuses that are built into the race (like the extra ability modifiers), making it so you are affectively playing a third level character with level class abilities of level 1?

So are these assumptions correct or am I compleatly off base?

 

[UltimaGabe]

OK everyone, I know that I should now this but, could someone explain to me exactly how a level adjustment works.

This is what I understand so far, when you start a character with a level adjustment (at level one), then you have a character who is, lets say, one level sorcerer, and two levels drow (as drow have a la of +2, effectively making the character starting at level three.

So here is my question, does the character start with 3,000 xp automatically, and to progress to level 2 sorcerer, the character would need 6,000 xp?

Also as part of the level adjusted levels, the character gets nothing for the two racial levels, no extra hit points, or anything, except the bonuses that are built into the race (like the extra ability modifiers), making it so you are affectively playing a third level character with level class abilities of level 1?

So are these assumptions correct or am I compleatly off base?

You seem to have it down pretty good. As far as XP is concerned, though, he starts off at 0 XP. So to advance his class level to 2, he's gotta get 6,000 more xp. So the rest of the group will be levelling up and gaining HP and saves and whatnot, and he'll stay just the way he is (crappy hit points and all) until he's gotten enough xp for a normal character to get to level 4.

 

[Darkwolf71]

As I understand, and I have never run a LA character, so I may be wrong...

You start with 0 xp. as any other char. The kicker is that when xp is divied up, you get the 3rd level chunk instead of a 1st level chunk.

Playing with racial hit dice, that's different. You would have to start with the xp neccisary to have the hit dice in question. PLUS class levels PLUS applicable LA.

 

[UltimaGabe]

As I understand, and I have never run a LA character, so I may be wrong...

You start with 0 xp. as any other char. The kicker is that when xp is divied up, you get the 3rd level chunk instead of a 1st level chunk.

Ooh, I forgot about that. Yeah, the 1st-level Drow is considered a 3rd-level character for purposes of determining XP. It's not that big of a deal right now (as I think that 1st-3rd level characters count as the same on the XP chart), but for a character who takes on a template at a higher level, it means the rest of the party gets less XP.

I was playing in a campaign once where a Cleric in the party decided to become a Lich. Basically, he got this template, the average party level increased by one (since the LA for Lich is +4, I think? I could be wrong), so we all got less XP, and then he didn't actually gain any more levels for a dozen game sessions.

LAs suck. They're hardly ever worth it. I'm pretty sure they'll be done away with (or at least completely revamped) in 4e.

 

[altier]

Ya, it doesn't sound like having an LA character is worth it at all, anyone now a better way to do things?

I mean you get some neat benefits and it's fun playing a different race, but having only starting hit points is hard to survive for 3 levels, and it seems like it would put you way behind the rest of the group.

 

[darthkilmor]

it means the rest of the party gets less XP.

Why would the rest of the party get less XP ? Standard DMG XP distribution doesn't care about different members have more or less levels, just how many ppl you have in the party.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Actually, as far as I understand it, there are no rules at all for starting a 3rd-level character off at 1st-level. A 1st-level drow sorcerer cannot be run in a 1st-level game. The DM should start him off at the XP required for 3rd-level, with suitable wealth, and treat him accordingly. I don't recall seeing any support to put him at 0 XP with no wealth.

 

[mikebr99]

Actually, as far as I understand it, there are no rules at all for starting a 3rd-level character off at 1st-level. A 1st-level drow sorcerer cannot be run in a 1st-level game. The DM should start him off at the XP required for 3rd-level, with suitable wealth, and treat him accordingly. I don't recall seeing any support to put him at 0 XP with no wealth.

Actually the FR campaign setting... page 21 has some ok rules on how to start LA +1 to +3 races at 1st level.

Mike

 

[Infiniti2000]

Is this an FR game? Anyway, I've always heard that Savage Progressions were a good idea, but I've never tried them. I'm sure there's a decent workaround, but I suspect that everyone's assumption the character start at 0 XP is not correct.

 

[altier]

Is the savage progression form the FR manual (the one on page 21), if not were do you get it?