Which of these template possibilities strikes you as more fair?

[Mordane76]

Okay -- in this given situation, a PC will gain a template that increases their ECL. Which of these options is more balanced and fair? If neither strikes you as fair, then does someone have another idea?


1 -- Character gains a template, maintains whatever XP total he had before the template was added, and gain XP as a character of his new ECL. He does not level until his XP total reaches that require for a character of his ECL to gain the next level. Example: a 12th level character gains a template that makes him ECL 16. He has the XP of a 12th level character, buts gains XP as a 16th level character, and does not level until he reaches the XP required for a 17th level character.

2 -- Character gains a template, gains XP to equal his new ECL, but gains no other XP until the other characters in his party reach a level equal to his ECL. Example: a 12th level character gains a template that makes him ECL 16 He has XP of a 16th level character, but does not gain XP until the other characters in the party reach level 16 as well.

 

[SylverFlame]

Of the two, number 1 is the most realistic. Relying on other players for a PC's experience is not fun in my opinion.

This shows the real problem with ECL. It's just an annoiance all-round. Any ideas on how to fix/replace it?

EDIT: I don't mean to hi-jack this thread with my question and apologize if that is what happens.

 

[Xeoble]

3. You could have the ECL 16 character gain exp as a 16th level character with exp calculated separately so as not to screw the 12th level characters over by making their group level higher and have everyone else continue at 12th without the 16th level spike for party level

 

[The Iron Mark]

I thought that if you gain a template in game, it doesn't affect yuor ECL. It only does when you apply the template during character creation. Can't remember where I read this though...

 

[Mordane76]

If it so, could someone point it out to me in an official text?


I'm not going to allow that option, regardless, however, because I don't think characters should get a template, which grants powers beyond other characters at no charge, even if it does happen in-game. Templates figure as ECL for PCs, which is extra levels... which means XP should be involved somehow.

 

[Ferrix]

Go with your first option, it seems generally most realistic and balancing for play.

~Ferrix

 

[Forrester]

You realize that with Option #1, the ECL16 guy will not reach 17th level at the same time as his companions, right? He'll do it later -- perhaps considerably later. Which is a little odd.

 

[Xeoble]

Thats the way i saw it....Option 1 screws ECL 16 guy for a long time

 

[Mordane76]

Yeah -- I did the math.
But Option 2 screws the rest of the group, because they have to work for the same amount of power and also have to wait for it, while the guy with the template gets it all right away, and only has to wait for everyone else to catch up.

Working it over, I think I've come up with a third option --
We use Option 2 (the wait), and then the character receives at temporary penalty of XP equivalent to the power of the template that he must work off before he begins gaining XP. So, just like everyone else had to work up to the power, the ECL 16 guy has to pay a little back for the power he took up front.

 

[Khorod]

random thought: the template is treated as another class until all characters are equal, so XP penalties maybe.