Pixie ECL Question

[Shadow_js]

I am thinking about making a Pixie Sorcerer for an upcoming campaign. We are starting at 4th level and a Pixie has +4 Level Adjustment. However, in the description for the Pixie it states that the Pixie replaces it's one HD of Fey with that of the class it becomes.

Since I don't have any room to add a level of sorcerer yet (Pixie +4, Sorcerer +1 = 5) what do I do about the HD, and what happens to the HD and HP currently there when I gain enough XP to level up?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Your answer would be in the Savage Species book. It lets you "split up" the level adjustment in several levels.

Of course, you could just ask your DM to start at 5th and take longer to attain your 2nd Sorcerer level.

You do realize that you'll have a measely ~4-8 hp while the typical CR4 opponents 3 to 10 times that It's going to be hard in the beginning...

AR

 

[Jdvn1]

Yeah, how it's typically done, I think, is that you make your Pixie Sorcerer (ECL 5) but only have 6,000 xp (instead of 10,000 xp for a 5th level character). And you need 15,000 xp to level. So, you stay at ECL 5 for a longer time.

Edit: Assuming your GM lets you do that. He might just say to pick something else. Maybe there's another small fey that fits your character concept?

 

[Arkhandus]

Mind you, if you're going to play a Pixie with class levels, you replace its 1 Fey hit die right at character creation, not later. So you start your pixie as a 1st-level sorcerer with a +4 level adjustment. No Fey HD first, just the sorcerer level in its place, right off the bat. That's how it works. So you figure your 1st-level HP, BAB, skill points, etc. based on a 1st-level sorcerer.

 

[Imhotepthewise]

Here's one I was working on:

Last Updated 2/25/05

You are a Pixie. A pixie stands about 2-1/2 feet tall and weighs about 30 pounds. You have insectlike wings. Pixies wear bright clothing, often including a cap and shoes with curled and pointed toes. You can speak Sylvan, Common, Language, Language, Language, and Language.
In combat, the normally carefree pixies ferociously attack evil creatures and unwanted intruders. You take full advantage of your greater invisibility and other abilities to harass and drive away opponents. You can remain invisible even when attacking. This ability is constant, but it can be turned off and on as a free action. This is a supernatural ability.

You have a bow and arrows and a small rapier (thin, stabbing sword)

You wear no armor, nor want to.

Your normal walking speed is 20ft.

Your normal flying speed is 60 ft. with good maneuverability

All pixies are capable of casting spells, but you are also a sorcerer, naturally able to cast even more.

Spell-like abilities:

Once per day, you can cast any of the following:

Lesser confusion - causes the target to become confused, making them unable to independently determine what they will do (their save DC 15)
Dancing lights - make moving lights appear near you
Detect chaos - detect if someone or something is or is not chaotic
Detect evil - detect if someone or something is or is not evil
Detect good - detect if someone or something is or is not good
Detect law - detect if someone or something is or is not lawful
Detect thoughts - read someones mind (their save DC 16)
Dispel magic - make some magic not work anymore
Entangle - command the plants around someone to grab them (their save DC 15)
Permanent image - make an illusion of sight and sound only (their save DC 19)
Polymorph - change yourself into another creature

Sorcerer spells:

As a first level sorcerer, you can cast any of the following zero level spells up to 6 times a day:

Detect Magic - Detects spells and magic items within 60 ft.
Light - Object shines like a torch.
Message - Whispered conversation at distance.
Read Magic - Read scrolls and spellbooks.

You can also cast any of the following first level spells up to 4 times a day:

Shield - Invisible disc gives +4 to AC, blocks magic missiles.
True strike – +20 on your next attack roll.

You can also use the 4 first level spell options to cast any zero level spell you know.

Hit Points: 6
Nameless Pixie
Small Fey
Female Sorcerer 1

HD 1d4, HP 6 (1d4+2CN)
LA+4, Class Level 1, Character Level 5,

Speed 20 ft, fly 60 ft (good)

AC 16 (+1 size, +4 DX, +1 natural)
touch 15 (+1 size, +4 DX)
flat-footed 12 (+1 size, +1 natural)

Init +4 (+4DX)

BAB +0

Grap -4 (+0BAB+0ST-4 size)
Melee Attack +5 rapier (+0BAB+0ST+1 size+4 weapon finesse) 1d4/18-20X2
Ranged Attack +5 longbow (+0BAB+4DX+1 size) 1d6/19-20X3
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Feats: Dodge(race bonus), Weapon Finesse (rapier)(first level)

SA Spell-like abilities
SQ Damage reduction 10/cold iron, greater invisibility, low-light vision, spell resistance 15

ST 11 IN 18 WS 17 CN 14 DX 18 CH 19
(+0) (+4) (+3) (+2) (+4) (+4)
15 12 8 14 10 13 (heroic array)
-4 +6 +4 +0 +8 +6 (pixie modifications)


Totsl Base Abil
Fort +2 +0 +2CN
Refl +4 +0 +4DX
Will +5 +2 +3WS

Languages: sylvan, common, and four others

Skills (Max Ranks: 4/2): 24=((2+4IN)*4)

Appraise +4 (+4IN)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Balance +4 (+4DX)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Bluff +8 (+4CH)(4 ranks) (4 points) (sor)(c)
Climb +0 (+0ST)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Concentration +6 (+2CN)(4 ranks) (4 points) (sor)(c)
Craft(any) +4 (+4IN)(0 ranks) (sor)(c)
Diplomacy +4 (+4CH)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Disguise +4 (+4CH)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Escape Artist +4 (+4DX)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Forgery +4 (+4IN)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Gather Information +4 (+4CH)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Heal +3 (+3WS)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Hide +8 (+4DX)(+4 size)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Intimidate +4 (+4CH)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Jump +0 (+0ST)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Knowledge (arcana) +8 (+4IN)(4 ranks)(4 points) (sor)(c)
Listen +5 (+3WS)(+2 racial bonus)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Move Silently +4 (+4DX)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Profession +3 (+3WS)(0 ranks) (sor)(c)
Ride +4 (+4DX)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Search +8 (+4IN) (+2 racial bonus)(2 ranks)(4 points) (any)(cc)
Sense Motive +3 (+3WS)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Spellcraft +8 (+4IN)(4 ranks)(4 points) (sor)(c)
Spot +7 (+3WS) (+2 racial bonus) (2 ranks)(4 points) (any)(cc)
Survival +3 (+3WS)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Swim +0 (+0ST)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)
Use Rope +4 (+4DX)(0 ranks) (any)(cc)

Summon Familiar: Sorcerers may summon familiars

Greater Invisibility (Su): A pixie remains invisible even when it attacks. This ability is constant, but the pixie can suppress or resume it as a free action. It is not subject to spell resistance, counterspelling, or dispelling by dispel magic. It does not work in areas where magic is suppressed or negated.

Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day—lesser confusion (DC 15), dancing lights, detect chaos, detect good, detect evil, detect law, detect thoughts (DC 16), dispel magic, entangle (DC 15), permanent image (DC 19; visual and auditory elements only), polymorph (self only). Caster level 8th. The save DCs are Charisma-based. (This pixie does not know Otto's irresistible dance)

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Sorcerers are proficient with all simple weapons. They are not proficient with any type of armor or shield. Armor of any type interferes with a sorcerer’s gestures, which can cause his spells with somatic components to fail.

Sorcerer Spells (6/4, Save DC 14+spell level) 0-Detect Magic, Light, Message, Read Magic; 1-shield, true strike

 

[Diirk]

ll have a measely ~4-8 hp while the typical CR4 opponents 3 to 10 times that It's going to be hard in the beginning...

Not with a permanent greater invis, it won't

 

[Orm]

Not with a permanent greater invis, it won't

It will. It´s hard to hit you ,with greater invis and damage reduction, but when you get hit, you´re toast.
That´s my experience from playing a pixie wizard level2 (ecl 6). Fighting a young blue dragon with blindsense, going from 12 to -9 hp by its breath. Or later, at level 3, getting four negative levels by a vampires energy drain on a critical hit.
On the other hand, it´s lots of fun to play a pixie

Orm

 

[Diirk]

Most enemies won't have any clue where you are... and even for the ones that do, by 6th level you'll have 2nd level spells, so false life, resist energy, mirror image etc.

The dragon only has blindsense to 60', so keeping your distance is a huge plus if you're able to, and I'm not quite sure how the vampire was able to see you at all.

Honestly, as a pixie caster I'd be far more concerned with not having enough spells to really be able to contribute meaningly than the fact that I'm quite fragile to the rare enemy that can see me... if they were smart they'd just ignore my ineffectual spells until the rest of my party was incapacitated (until the higher levels, when the hp situation isn't quite as bad).

 

[Orm]

All that happened in a cave, so staying away from the dragon meant to stay outside the cave. The vampire made a good guess and was lucky.
Being a wizard 2 means only 1st level spells. And not too many of them. The other +4 to the ecl are level adjustment for the pixie!

All I wanted was to point out that it´s hard to get hit, and in fact, that were almost the only occasions when I got hit. But when you get hit, it will hurt.
Not to mention area effect spells and such when the caster doesn´t have to know exactly where you are. See invis or glitterdust are always a good choice when fighting invisible people and a CR6 wizard should have these.

 

[Shadow_js]

Thanks for all the input, it will be difficult, especially since this DM likes to kill of characters and usually doesn't go easy on anyone. I should make a backup character just in case. Well, the pixie will be fun while it lasts, hopefully that is past a first level wizard.