Whats the ECL of a bugbear?

[trentonjoe]

don't have my books and have an idea!

THanks for the help.

 

[Uriel - inactive]

Well the Bugbear is medium-sized, has a CR of 2, no special abilities, and 3HD. So i think it'd be logical to give it a +2.

Mojo

 

[mikebr99]

Bugbear ECL=2

 

[RogueJK]

With 3 HD, it's required to have an ECL of at least +3. Both the DMG and Soladrin's ECL Calculator list it as ECL +3.

[Edit] The FRCS errata lists the Bugbear as ECL +4. I agree with that. They get +4 Str, +2 Dex and +2 Con vs. only a -2 to Cha, which is pretty powerful. [/Edit]

 

[trentonjoe]

It gets Alertness for free right?

Any stat increases?

 

[RogueJK]

Any stat increases?

Bugbears get +4 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Con, and -2 Cha. They also get a +4 racial bonus to Move Silently checks.

A Bugbear's Favored Class is Rogue.

 

[Forrester]

It doesn't get Alertness for free -- that's just its suggested starting feat.

At least, that's my take on the situation. Goblin PCs don't get "Alertness" for free, either. That is to say, a 1st level goblin fighter doesn't get Alertness, a starting feat, and a fighter 1st level feat.

Not sure why the same thing wouldn't apply to bugbears.

 

[Artoomis]

I may be wrong, but this is how I understand PCs based on monsters works, if the monster has more than 1 HD:

First, of course, you need to know its ECL.

2nd. the PC can only start at teh ECL +1 level, with that level being a character class.

3rd. You start with stats rolled up by whatever method, modified by teh stat modifiers for the monster race.

4th. You get skills and feats that the monster has.

5th. You get gp value for yout total of ECL + class level, which is what your character level is, effectively.

Feats and skill advance as per a regular character from this point forward.

That should be close - see the FRCS for a better explanation of how this works.

Anyway, if I'm right, then, yes, Bugbear PCs would get the feat(s)that Bugbears get.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I may be wrong, but this is how I understand PCs based on monsters works, if the monster has more than 1 HD:

Yeah, this is kinda wrong. The character starts out with levels equal to the party's starting level (whatever the DM decides) less its ECL modifier. Thus, an aasimar created for a 5th level party gets 4 class levels.

You roll up stats normally and add racial modifiers.

You choose skills based on the race (see "How to Make a Monster" or MM page 11. All skills listed in the creature's entry are class skills; others are cross-class.

You choose feats equal to the number of feats the monster has plus the number of feats for a character of your level. For this step, ask Caliban.

 

[Artoomis]

Yeah, this is kinda wrong. The character starts out with levels equal to the party's starting level (whatever the DM decides) less its ECL modifier.

I don't think that's true for greater than 1 HD monsters. I think they get monster "levels" + character levels + ECL = starting level.

Of course, without the FRCS handy I amdit it's possible I'm wrong. Can anyone quote teh FRCS for this? I think they lay it out pretty well, IIRC.