effective caracter level [Archive] - Wizards Community

effective caracter level [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
shadow_roug3
03-10-04, 03:51 AM what are the rules for properly calculating the effective caracter level of any given creater from any of the source books?
Freefall
03-10-04, 02:19 PM My understanding is a creature's ECL is equal to its Hit Dice, Level Adjustment, and any class levels all added together, so for example, a 2nd level Paladin Hound Archon would be ECL 13 (6 HD+5 level adjustment+2 class levels).

That's how I think it works anyway. It actually seems pretty unfair to me.
ieattrollsforbreakfast
03-10-04, 05:02 PM Since ECL =HD + LA, the tricky bit is working out the LA (level adjustment), so heres a rough guide:
-All Abilities that give a decent degree of power to the race, such as regeneration, spell-like abilities, SR, DR, Energy resistance or alternate forms for example give a +1LA, though especially powerful ones may give +2.
Note that spell like abilities only give LA if a spellcaster of the same HD could not cast it as many times.
-Unbalanced ability scores (ie, whose total modifiers are more than 0) add either 1 or 2 to the LA.
-Skill bonues and bonus feats count for LA only if there are a significant amount.

Once you have found a total LA, this is only a ROUGH GUIDE. Look at a PC stats of the same type of character and effective level (eg a barbarian for a troll, or a sorceror for a rakshasa) and weigh up the various advantages and disadvantages of each. Adjust the LA until you would not prefer one over the other in terms of power. Doing this is vital for good balance.

For a better guide, buy Savage Species.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
shadow_roug3 03-10-04, 03:51 AM	what are the rules for properly calculating the effective caracter level of any given creater from any of the source books?
Freefall 03-10-04, 02:19 PM	My understanding is a creature's ECL is equal to its Hit Dice, Level Adjustment, and any class levels all added together, so for example, a 2nd level Paladin Hound Archon would be ECL 13 (6 HD+5 level adjustment+2 class levels). That's how I think it works anyway. It actually seems pretty unfair to me.
ieattrollsforbreakfast 03-10-04, 05:02 PM	Since ECL =HD + LA, the tricky bit is working out the LA (level adjustment), so heres a rough guide: -All Abilities that give a decent degree of power to the race, such as regeneration, spell-like abilities, SR, DR, Energy resistance or alternate forms for example give a +1LA, though especially powerful ones may give +2. Note that spell like abilities only give LA if a spellcaster of the same HD could not cast it as many times. -Unbalanced ability scores (ie, whose total modifiers are more than 0) add either 1 or 2 to the LA. -Skill bonues and bonus feats count for LA only if there are a significant amount. Once you have found a total LA, this is only a ROUGH GUIDE. Look at a PC stats of the same type of character and effective level (eg a barbarian for a troll, or a sorceror for a rakshasa) and weigh up the various advantages and disadvantages of each. Adjust the LA until you would not prefer one over the other in terms of power. Doing this is vital for good balance. For a better guide, buy Savage Species.