Encounter Levels? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Encounter Levels? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Illithius
10-18-03, 03:18 PM I'm reading through the MM 3.5...and it says to find a monsterNPC's ECL, you must add its level adjustment to its total hit dice (including class levels)

for the mind flayer/level 9 sorcerer....it has 9 sorcerer hit dice, 8 mind flayer hit dice, and a lvl adjustment of 7....so why is his CR only 17 instead of 24? (which doesnt make much sense)

I guess I'm asking for someone to clear up the level adjustment rules for me
Mr.Waesel
10-18-03, 03:47 PM CR = Challenge rating

ECL = Effective Character Level

A Mind Flayer is as challenging as anything of CR 8, but if a PC becomes it is as powerful as a 15th level character (mainly due to the fact that a Pc can use its powers over and over again, while a Mind Flayer uses them only once or twice)

You should ask this over on the Savage Species boards; They can explain it a lot better than I do.
Illithius
10-18-03, 04:19 PM I was reffering more to DMs using them as NPCs rather than PCs wanting to be a mind flayer
The Abominable Darkling
10-19-03, 05:14 AM A DM never needs to concern himself with an NPC's ECL. ECL is only used when players want to play an unusual creature as a player character.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Illithius 10-18-03, 03:18 PM	I'm reading through the MM 3.5...and it says to find a monsterNPC's ECL, you must add its level adjustment to its total hit dice (including class levels) for the mind flayer/level 9 sorcerer....it has 9 sorcerer hit dice, 8 mind flayer hit dice, and a lvl adjustment of 7....so why is his CR only 17 instead of 24? (which doesnt make much sense) I guess I'm asking for someone to clear up the level adjustment rules for me
Mr.Waesel 10-18-03, 03:47 PM	CR = Challenge rating ECL = Effective Character Level A Mind Flayer is as challenging as anything of CR 8, but if a PC becomes it is as powerful as a 15th level character (mainly due to the fact that a Pc can use its powers over and over again, while a Mind Flayer uses them only once or twice) You should ask this over on the Savage Species boards; They can explain it a lot better than I do.
Illithius 10-18-03, 04:19 PM	I was reffering more to DMs using them as NPCs rather than PCs wanting to be a mind flayer
The Abominable Darkling 10-19-03, 05:14 AM	A DM never needs to concern himself with an NPC's ECL. ECL is only used when players want to play an unusual creature as a player character.