Is there a way to consistently determine a monsters ECL.
I tried using CR and HD combined and alone to see if there was a formula that could be derived using the examples in the Dungeon Master's Guidebook but could not deduct any semblance of a consistant formula.
My main intrest lies in Salamanders, Slaadi and Illithid, but this is for virtually any monster useable. I can not find a consistant way to determine their ECL. I'm not even certain how certain monsters have such a high ecl at times while others are so much lower.
I'm also curious about monster HD and character classes. Are they forced to remain at their base HD prior to taking a chr class or can they advance in their monster HD any and then take a chr class. If they do advance any, does that also determine how many levels their class could obtain from then on?
EX:Monster with base 12HD takes 20 levels of fighter.
Could same monster who advanced to 16HD before becomming a fighter gain 20 levels or would they be limited to 16 levels.
Thanks for your time.
I tried using CR and HD combined and alone to see if there was a formula that could be derived using the examples in the Dungeon Master's Guidebook but could not deduct any semblance of a consistant formula.
My main intrest lies in Salamanders, Slaadi and Illithid, but this is for virtually any monster useable. I can not find a consistant way to determine their ECL. I'm not even certain how certain monsters have such a high ecl at times while others are so much lower.
I'm also curious about monster HD and character classes. Are they forced to remain at their base HD prior to taking a chr class or can they advance in their monster HD any and then take a chr class. If they do advance any, does that also determine how many levels their class could obtain from then on?
EX:Monster with base 12HD takes 20 levels of fighter.
Could same monster who advanced to 16HD before becomming a fighter gain 20 levels or would they be limited to 16 levels.
Thanks for your time.