kreynolds
First Post
The benefit of receiving character wealth based upon level also carries its own commensurate ECL cost. Every class level includes this small amount to ensure balance. Take a 1st-level PC fighter and a 1st-level NPC fighter. Load them up with the exact same feats, skills, stats, and gear. There's just one problem. You can't load them up with the exact same gear. Why? NPC's don't get as much wealth. Therefore, it is apparent that the wealth included with NPC class levels does not represent an equal amount of each and every class level as it does in the case of a PC. The obvious conclusion is that a 1st-level NPC fighter simply is not equal to a 1st-level PC fighter. Thus, their ECLs are not equal.
If you break down the ECL of a drow, you'll find that it doesn't actually equal a +2 ECL. It's roughly there, but not quite. When you include the factor of gaining two levels worth of character wealth, it brings that value even closer. The drawback, however, is that WotC does not have a system that acurately measures ECL. They simply make up a rough number and acid test it, then raise or lower the total ECL based on said testing. That's it. There are far more accurate systems out there, and when they are used, it shows that wealth in and of itself affects ECL.
Basically, what I'm saying is that it isn't as clear cut as it seems. Apparently, someone noticed the disparity with character wealth and ECL and realized that to not base character wealth on ECL further reduces the power of a character when compared to a straight up classed character of equal level, thus the change in determining character wealth in the FRCS.
If you break down the ECL of a drow, you'll find that it doesn't actually equal a +2 ECL. It's roughly there, but not quite. When you include the factor of gaining two levels worth of character wealth, it brings that value even closer. The drawback, however, is that WotC does not have a system that acurately measures ECL. They simply make up a rough number and acid test it, then raise or lower the total ECL based on said testing. That's it. There are far more accurate systems out there, and when they are used, it shows that wealth in and of itself affects ECL.
Basically, what I'm saying is that it isn't as clear cut as it seems. Apparently, someone noticed the disparity with character wealth and ECL and realized that to not base character wealth on ECL further reduces the power of a character when compared to a straight up classed character of equal level, thus the change in determining character wealth in the FRCS.