Quick EL Balance question

[Mal Malenkirk]

Mistwell:

A level 1 nioumus is a level 3 character (1 + 2 ECL or LA).

He starts the campaign as a level 1 PC with 3,000 XP. He'll gain his level 2 when he reach 6,000 XP (and effectively be 4th level PC). And Level 3 at 10,000 XP (and effectively be a 5th level PC) etc.

The simplest thing to do is to simply let him enter at level 1 with the rest of the party normally. His slower level progression will let the other PCs quickly gain 2 levels over the Niomus, especially if you use the FRCS rules of XP distribution. Don't give him the equipment of a 3rd level character tough. Give his standard gold for a 1st level PC of his class.

In my current campaign, 3 of the original PCs where ECL race (a Drow, a Tiefling and a Water Genasi). It is my experience that while ECL 1 and 2 races are more powerful than the other member of a level 1 party, they become weaker for the next 3-5 levels because the advantage of the race usually don't make up for being a 2nd or 3rd level PC in a 4th or 5th level party. When the PCs reach 7th+ levels, the situation stabilize.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

First of all, never let role-playing imbalance your game. Just because a player (or DM,) believes a certain ability is "in character" does not mean that PC should get something that will make the PC much stronger than the rest of the party.

Secondly, I don't really see a problem with what you're suggesting, except for the fact that, as it stands, you're giving one PC a bonus, while the rest of the PCs are getting squat. If you truly want to give this PC a +2ECL race without having them pay the levels, then try and give the rest of your PCs each a similar advantage.

So long as all the PCs in a party are equal, there's no problem. But giving one PC a +2ECL bonus like flight, while the others get bupkiss, can lead to problems...

 

[Mistwell]

So far I really like Mal Malenkirk's idea, and will probably go with that version.

As for Lord Pendragon's "First of all, never let role-playing imbalance your game.", I simply don't think you get the kind of campaign I'm talking about. It isn't a wargame. If you want a wargame, go play chainmail. I do want some vague level of balance, but if you KNOW something won't be abusive, it does not matter if things are "balanced" at all. Role playing is FAR FAR FAR more interesting and important that combat abilities in my campaign. The other players are not cheated because they didn't "get something" that this one player is "getting", they all got what they were looking for, because they chose what to play and how to play it. They may want a character that is weak and frail, just for role playing reasons, and will therefore choose to lower their constitution, voluntarily.

Most of the parties experience has been through solving riddles, figuring out traps, and role playing their way through NPC's. Flight would not have been useful at all to this point (nor electricity resistance), and likely won't be most of the time. I do want to have some penalty for having it, for a vague level of balance, but only if it makes sense for the game and the character.

I have one player playing a Seelie fairy, and on paper this is a very powerful race. But I know this player. There is no chance, at all, that her additional abilities will interfere with gameplay. I could have given her a rocket-launched nuclear missle and it wouldn't have impacted the game (it never would have been used). Her character is going to run and hide during virtually every combat encounter that the party comes upon. She will fire off a magic missle or two, but generally, she's hiding behind someone and waiting until the boys are done with their toys. But when a non-combat encounter comes along, she will be right there, making things interesting with the best of them.

Anyway, enough ranting. Thank you all for your advice on this issue. It has been helpful.

-Mistwell