Starting XP [Archive] - Wizards Community

Starting XP [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kingjester
06-30-07, 09:56 AM A friend of mine is running a game where we can have a starting char of up to level 5.

One of the players has chosen to play a half fiend, which has a level adj of +4 i think. He as chosen to make the half fiend a warrior so that it is now a level 1 warrior, so form my understanding thats a ECL of 5?

The first couple of sessions have been played and all the level 5 chars (chosen normal races with no level adjustment) have leveled to level 6 as they started on 10k XP (level 5 XP)

However the half field started on 0 XP (level one XP) and has been told he needs to aculmate 15k xp befor he can level to level 2 (which would be a ECL of 6).

Now this has caused a little bit of a problem, as the Half field player said he should start on level 5 XP as his ECL was 5? He pointed out that his char has only has 1HD of hp and would have to wate untell most other classes in the game are about level 7 untell he can level up.

Is this all correct as its runing what was a good game, Just glad i rolled a gnome ^^.
Neutronium_Dragon
06-30-07, 10:00 AM If he's ECL 5, then he starts with XP equal to a level 5 character (10,000) and needs to reach 15,000 in order to attain 6th level. His wealth per level expectations are also based on his ECL of 5, so he should enter play with 9,000 GP worth of gear just like any other level 5 character.

Those are the two things which are determined by ECL. Everything else (base saves, skill points, and so on) goes by his class level.
Shadowfax7
06-30-07, 10:03 AM Normally it's a good idea to take a PC with a high LA only at high levels.
Thomar_of_Uointer
06-30-07, 02:21 PM A friend of mine is running a game where we can have a starting char of up to level 5.

One of the players has chosen to play a half fiend, which has a level adj of +4 i think. He as chosen to make the half fiend a warrior so that it is now a level 1 warrior, so form my understanding thats a ECL of 5?

The first couple of sessions have been played and all the level 5 chars (chosen normal races with no level adjustment) have leveled to level 6 as they started on 10k XP (level 5 XP)

However the half field started on 0 XP (level one XP) and has been told he needs to aculmate 15k xp befor he can level to level 2 (which would be a ECL of 6).

Now this has caused a little bit of a problem, as the Half field player said he should start on level 5 XP as his ECL was 5? He pointed out that his char has only has 1HD of hp and would have to wate untell most other classes in the game are about level 7 untell he can level up.

Is this all correct as its runing what was a good game, Just glad i rolled a gnome ^^.

As an ECL 5 character, he starts with experience as a level 5 character (even though he only has 1 class level). He should be in line with the rest of the party.

Why did he choose to play a warrior? The warrior NPC class sucks, even more than the PHB fighter!
Kingjester
07-02-07, 06:29 AM Thanks for your replys, However does anyone know where this is stated in any rule book?

Ive looked and it dosent atually say what xp the char starts with all i can find is a refrence to the total xp needed to level. Neather will back down untell they see this printed in a book and this is disrupting the game.(the DM and the player have both looked and neather will back down)

As for the class he is playing a Fighter not a warrior, my bad

Thanks again
zeratulcraft
07-02-07, 07:00 AM As an ECL 5 character, he starts with experience as a level 5 character (even though he only has 1 class level). He should be in line with the rest of the party.

Why did he choose to play a warrior? The warrior NPC class sucks, even more than the PHB fighter!

Warrior = warrior, warrior can be a Fighter, a Ranger, a Warrior, a Paladin, a Warblade, a Swordsage, a Crusader, a Hexblade...the list goes on. Capitalization ftw.
Captain_Kobold
07-02-07, 09:20 AM He should have started with 5th level XP, the same as all the other ECL 5 characters.

From the SRD:
Experience for Monsters: A monster with Hit Dice of 1 or less, no level adjustment, and class levels uses the same tables as standard PC races when determining experience needed.
A monster with Hit Dice of 1 or less, a level adjustment, and class levels adds its class levels, Hit Die, and level adjustment together when determining experience needed (class level + HD + level adjustment).

In order to take its first class level (and so effectively start as a PC), the half fiend needs to have 10,000 XP, the same as any other ECL 5 character.
Thus, once the game has started, he will need 15,000 XP to level to 6th level, likewise the same as his equal-ECL companions.
Thomar_of_Uointer
07-04-07, 12:58 AM Warrior = warrior, warrior can be a Fighter, a Ranger, a Warrior, a Paladin, a Warblade, a Swordsage, a Crusader, a Hexblade...the list goes on. Capitalization ftw.

"Fighter" is not a place, person, nor thing. Most references to classes in the core rulebooks do not capitalize class names. I merely assumed that Kingjester meant to say what he said (not a bad assumption on a forum).

Thanks for your replys, However does anyone know where this is stated in any rule book?

Ive looked and it dosent atually say what xp the char starts with all i can find is a refrence to the total xp needed to level. Neather will back down untell they see this printed in a book and this is disrupting the game.(the DM and the player have both looked and neather will back down)

As for the class he is playing a Fighter not a warrior, my bad

Thanks again

Check out this, it's a copy of what's in the MM:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monstersAsRaces.htm

However, it doesn't exactly specifically state it anywhere that I know of in any books I own. Keep in mind that monster races are already variant rules, so the DM is within his bounds to lay down more rules. However, it is common practice to start high-level PCs (even without level adjustment) with enough experience to be at that level.
AllWillFall2Me
07-04-07, 02:00 PM Well, I remember it's shown in The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, but other than that, I have no idea.
Platstud
07-04-07, 03:09 PM I'm pretty sure that it doesn't say anywhere in the rules that the rest of you should start with 10K xp either. By your DM's logic, you should all start at 0xp. When starting a game, EVERY character should start with the same xp(you could make an exception for unevenly level multi-class characters), and then you determine their level from there. Basically, think of it backwards. You aren't starting at level 5, you're starting at 10,000xp: enough for you all to be level 5 and the half-fiend to be level 1. The part in the rules that says that LA characters have to gain more xp to level up the first time refers to when everyone starts at first level. For some strange reason, 3.5 Edition has continued the long D&D tradition of absolutely refusing to recognize that many players don't start games at level 1, and therefore not including clear rules for starting at higher levels(though I do admit that they're much better about it than 2nd Edition).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kingjester 06-30-07, 09:56 AM	A friend of mine is running a game where we can have a starting char of up to level 5. One of the players has chosen to play a half fiend, which has a level adj of +4 i think. He as chosen to make the half fiend a warrior so that it is now a level 1 warrior, so form my understanding thats a ECL of 5? The first couple of sessions have been played and all the level 5 chars (chosen normal races with no level adjustment) have leveled to level 6 as they started on 10k XP (level 5 XP) However the half field started on 0 XP (level one XP) and has been told he needs to aculmate 15k xp befor he can level to level 2 (which would be a ECL of 6). Now this has caused a little bit of a problem, as the Half field player said he should start on level 5 XP as his ECL was 5? He pointed out that his char has only has 1HD of hp and would have to wate untell most other classes in the game are about level 7 untell he can level up. Is this all correct as its runing what was a good game, Just glad i rolled a gnome ^^.
Neutronium_Dragon 06-30-07, 10:00 AM	If he's ECL 5, then he starts with XP equal to a level 5 character (10,000) and needs to reach 15,000 in order to attain 6th level. His wealth per level expectations are also based on his ECL of 5, so he should enter play with 9,000 GP worth of gear just like any other level 5 character. Those are the two things which are determined by ECL. Everything else (base saves, skill points, and so on) goes by his class level.
Shadowfax7 06-30-07, 10:03 AM	Normally it's a good idea to take a PC with a high LA only at high levels.
Thomar_of_Uointer 06-30-07, 02:21 PM	A friend of mine is running a game where we can have a starting char of up to level 5. One of the players has chosen to play a half fiend, which has a level adj of +4 i think. He as chosen to make the half fiend a warrior so that it is now a level 1 warrior, so form my understanding thats a ECL of 5? The first couple of sessions have been played and all the level 5 chars (chosen normal races with no level adjustment) have leveled to level 6 as they started on 10k XP (level 5 XP) However the half field started on 0 XP (level one XP) and has been told he needs to aculmate 15k xp befor he can level to level 2 (which would be a ECL of 6). Now this has caused a little bit of a problem, as the Half field player said he should start on level 5 XP as his ECL was 5? He pointed out that his char has only has 1HD of hp and would have to wate untell most other classes in the game are about level 7 untell he can level up. Is this all correct as its runing what was a good game, Just glad i rolled a gnome ^^. As an ECL 5 character, he starts with experience as a level 5 character (even though he only has 1 class level). He should be in line with the rest of the party. Why did he choose to play a warrior? The warrior NPC class sucks, even more than the PHB fighter!
Kingjester 07-02-07, 06:29 AM	Thanks for your replys, However does anyone know where this is stated in any rule book? Ive looked and it dosent atually say what xp the char starts with all i can find is a refrence to the total xp needed to level. Neather will back down untell they see this printed in a book and this is disrupting the game.(the DM and the player have both looked and neather will back down) As for the class he is playing a Fighter not a warrior, my bad Thanks again
zeratulcraft 07-02-07, 07:00 AM	As an ECL 5 character, he starts with experience as a level 5 character (even though he only has 1 class level). He should be in line with the rest of the party. Why did he choose to play a warrior? The warrior NPC class sucks, even more than the PHB fighter! Warrior = warrior, warrior can be a Fighter, a Ranger, a Warrior, a Paladin, a Warblade, a Swordsage, a Crusader, a Hexblade...the list goes on. Capitalization ftw.
Captain_Kobold 07-02-07, 09:20 AM	He should have started with 5th level XP, the same as all the other ECL 5 characters. From the SRD: Experience for Monsters: A monster with Hit Dice of 1 or less, no level adjustment, and class levels uses the same tables as standard PC races when determining experience needed. A monster with Hit Dice of 1 or less, a level adjustment, and class levels adds its class levels, Hit Die, and level adjustment together when determining experience needed (class level + HD + level adjustment). In order to take its first class level (and so effectively start as a PC), the half fiend needs to have 10,000 XP, the same as any other ECL 5 character. Thus, once the game has started, he will need 15,000 XP to level to 6th level, likewise the same as his equal-ECL companions.
Thomar_of_Uointer 07-04-07, 12:58 AM	Warrior = warrior, warrior can be a Fighter, a Ranger, a Warrior, a Paladin, a Warblade, a Swordsage, a Crusader, a Hexblade...the list goes on. Capitalization ftw. "Fighter" is not a place, person, nor thing. Most references to classes in the core rulebooks do not capitalize class names. I merely assumed that Kingjester meant to say what he said (not a bad assumption on a forum). Thanks for your replys, However does anyone know where this is stated in any rule book? Ive looked and it dosent atually say what xp the char starts with all i can find is a refrence to the total xp needed to level. Neather will back down untell they see this printed in a book and this is disrupting the game.(the DM and the player have both looked and neather will back down) As for the class he is playing a Fighter not a warrior, my bad Thanks again Check out this, it's a copy of what's in the MM: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monstersAsRaces.htm However, it doesn't exactly specifically state it anywhere that I know of in any books I own. Keep in mind that monster races are already variant rules, so the DM is within his bounds to lay down more rules. However, it is common practice to start high-level PCs (even without level adjustment) with enough experience to be at that level.
AllWillFall2Me 07-04-07, 02:00 PM	Well, I remember it's shown in The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, but other than that, I have no idea.
Platstud 07-04-07, 03:09 PM	I'm pretty sure that it doesn't say anywhere in the rules that the rest of you should start with 10K xp either. By your DM's logic, you should all start at 0xp. When starting a game, EVERY character should start with the same xp(you could make an exception for unevenly level multi-class characters), and then you determine their level from there. Basically, think of it backwards. You aren't starting at level 5, you're starting at 10,000xp: enough for you all to be level 5 and the half-fiend to be level 1. The part in the rules that says that LA characters have to gain more xp to level up the first time refers to when everyone starts at first level. For some strange reason, 3.5 Edition has continued the long D&D tradition of absolutely refusing to recognize that many players don't start games at level 1, and therefore not including clear rules for starting at higher levels(though I do admit that they're much better about it than 2nd Edition).