Please help me understand +1LA races

[seans23]

Any amount of LA really hurts in a lot of very devious and subtle ways. At some point in the future if you go straight by what is in the MM you may have players who are unhappy with their choice because of all of these little things that nag constantly.

LA will hurt spellcasters, because it will take an extra level to get to the next level of spells.

LA will hurt fighters, because their base attack bonus will suffer, and they'll have less HD than LA 0 characters.

LA will hurt rogues, because their SA damage progression will take longer.

etc...

So you have to choose carefully.

 

[Teemu]

The Hobgoblin is a 1HD creature with +1LA.
However, creatures with only one racial HD are allowed to swap it out for a PC level; so a Hobgoblin Ftr 3 would be a 4th level character.

Hobgoblins don't have racial HD. The sample Hobgoblin in MM is a 1st-level Warrior, just like most other humanoids.

 

[Rel]

One more thing:

Let's say one of the players has a Hobgoblin Fighter 3. Is he considered a 4th level character who needs 4,000 XP (for a total of 10,000) to reach 5th level? Or is he simply a 3rd level character who needs 3,000 XP (for a total of 6,000) to reach 4th?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Hobgoblins don't have racial HD.

Actually, they do.

So do humans, elves, and dwarves.

However, all of these creatures only have 1 racial hit dice, which means that they swap their racial hit die for their class hit die at 1st level.

Thus, there are no Humanoid 1 humans, because they all have classes.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

One more thing:

Let's say one of the players has a Hobgoblin Fighter 3. Is he considered a 4th level character who needs 4,000 XP (for a total of 10,000) to reach 5th level? Or is he simply a 3rd level character who needs 3,000 XP (for a total of 6,000) to reach 4th?

He's treated as 4th-level for Experience and Starting Wealth purposes, so he'd need 4K XP to reach 5th-level.

He also counts as a 4th-level character whenever you're calculating XP, like from combat, for example.

 

[Scion]

Well, they aren't and they are, respectively ...

... if you're a Dragon, or an Outsider, or [debatedly] a Monstrous Humanoid.

Would I rather have a dragon hd or a class level? Even with dragon hd being as good as they are the majority of the time I'd rather have the class level.

Dragon hd are d12, good BAB, all good saves, and 6 skill points a level. But, class levels wind up giving some very good things eventually. higher level class abilities tend to be stronger than lower level ones, so delaying getting them or not gaining them is a pretty heavy price to pay. (even with a fighter I'd rather have 20 levels of fighter over 20 hd of dragon.. 11 feats make for a whole lot of options )

still though, it isnt a benefit directly, it is merely something that offsets the loss of a class level.

Humanoid hd are slightly better than an LA, but no a huge boost You wouldnt be able to count dragon hd as much of a detriment, but definately not a 'bonus'.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Would I rather have a dragon hd or a class level? Even with dragon hd being as good as they are the majority of the time I'd rather have the class level.

I agree with that, although I wouldn't mind mixing a couple in there.

 

[Scion]

I agree with that, although I wouldn't mind mixing a couple in there.

Depends on what you are giving up, if you can get them for free then of course! Bards should have a few dragon hd right instead of their normal ones right?

 

[Aust Diamondew]

May I point out that a hobgoblin is a very very weak +1 LA creature. You're better off making it no LA and getting rid of it's con bonus or it's dex one and then either calling it even or give it -2 cha.

 

[Rel]

May I point out that a hobgoblin is a very very weak +1 LA creature. You're better off making it no LA and getting rid of it's con bonus or it's dex one and then either calling it even or give it -2 cha.

I don't necessarily disagree with you but the player in question likes the concept of the Hobgoblin and doesn't mind the level adjustment. I'm trying to avoid getting in the business of making too many exceptions to the rules.