How does LA Buyoff for Dragons work? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How does LA Buyoff for Dragons work? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rakoric
10-30-05, 09:25 PM Greetings and salutations to all! This is my first post on the boards. :)

Anyways, I was wondering how the LA buyoff rules would work for dragon characters. True dragons are the only race that the LA increases as your dragon HD increases through age. I am thinking of making a dragon character for a high level campaign I'm going to be playing in this Saturday. Any thoughts on this??? :confused:
Wilds
10-31-05, 12:31 AM Uhh dont play past your current age category? that or have huge xp payoffs every couple eyars when u gain 3 ecl. I have pondered this question too and havent thought of anythign thats goods. Payoff seems ok, but once the dragon ages it gets ugly cause then u got tons of crap to work out
Tyler Do'Urden
10-31-05, 03:44 AM I don't think the dragon's age-based advancement meshes very well with player characters. But then, I don't have the Draconomicon.
gbnogkfs
11-02-05, 05:51 AM strictly speaking, they don't...

the two rules (LA buyoff and dragon advancements) are not really compatible, as Dragons never stop growing and gaining LA, whereas LA buyoff is balanced against the fact that you stop gaining monster levels at some point and begin gaining only class levels.

speak with your DM for a specific fix...
Part-Human2
11-02-05, 07:38 AM You could try but the Class Levels have to be 3x LA before you can start buying it off. That, and as mentioned, a Monster as PC must finish taking his Monster Levels before he can take Class Levels.

After you were a White Wyrmling (3HD +2 LA), you could say you then took 6 Class levels, bought off +1LA, then took 3 more Class Levels and bought off the last +1LA. Around 12th Level (3HD + 9 Class Levels) you'd have spent 2 levels of XP and could work towards Very Young (6HD +3 LA) with only 3 HD and +1 LA more. 3 more Class Levels after that you could buy off that extra LA. 18th Level (12 Class Levels, 6 HD, 3 levels of spent XP).

Additionally, LA buyoff would have meant that you'd be a lower level PC than those you're adventuring with, which gives you a greater XP rewards allowing you to somewhat catch up to your party's level. I worked it out rough once that 1 lost level in spent XP could be made back in about 6 levels. In they above example, the party should be about 21st level and you'd be 20th level.

Best I could do. Check my math, I'm sleepy.
gbnogkfs
11-04-05, 09:15 AM You could try but the Class Levels have to be 3x LA before you can start buying it off. That, and as mentioned, a Monster as PC must finish taking his Monster Levels before he can take Class Levels.

After you were a White Wyrmling (3HD +2 LA), you could say you then took 6 Class levels, bought off +1LA, then took 3 more Class Levels and bought off the last +1LA. Around 12th Level (3HD + 9 Class Levels) you'd have spent 2 levels of XP and could work towards Very Young (6HD +3 LA) with only 3 HD and +1 LA more. 3 more Class Levels after that you could buy off that extra LA. 18th Level (12 Class Levels, 6 HD, 3 levels of spent XP).

that is unfair: a Very Young White Dragon has +3 LA, and you would normally have to get 18 class levels to buy off the LA. With your suggestion, you would end buying off the LA with only 12 class levels.
Part-Human2
11-04-05, 05:40 PM that is unfair: a Very Young White Dragon has +3 LA, and you would normally have to get 18 class levels to buy off the LA. With your suggestion, you would end buying off the LA with only 12 class levels.

I'd say the same if I were the DM. I'd stat out the 20 level Monster Class (as done in a recent Dragon Magazine) and have the player run through it. That precludes them from taking Class levels until level 20 though.
Rakoric
11-05-05, 10:52 AM I'd say the same if I were the DM. I'd stat out the 20 level Monster Class (as done in a recent Dragon Magazine) and have the player run through it. That precludes them from taking Class levels until level 20 though.

That sounds like it would work for me. Which Dragon issue is that in?
Part-Human2
11-05-05, 10:26 PM #320 for Metallic Dragons
#322 for Chromatic Dragons

Looks like the Dragon Magazine rules allow a Dragon PC (using the 20 level Monster Class) to take other class levels after obtaining an age category, returning optionally at any time.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rakoric 10-30-05, 09:25 PM	Greetings and salutations to all! This is my first post on the boards. :) Anyways, I was wondering how the LA buyoff rules would work for dragon characters. True dragons are the only race that the LA increases as your dragon HD increases through age. I am thinking of making a dragon character for a high level campaign I'm going to be playing in this Saturday. Any thoughts on this??? :confused:
Wilds 10-31-05, 12:31 AM	Uhh dont play past your current age category? that or have huge xp payoffs every couple eyars when u gain 3 ecl. I have pondered this question too and havent thought of anythign thats goods. Payoff seems ok, but once the dragon ages it gets ugly cause then u got tons of crap to work out
Tyler Do'Urden 10-31-05, 03:44 AM	I don't think the dragon's age-based advancement meshes very well with player characters. But then, I don't have the Draconomicon.
gbnogkfs 11-02-05, 05:51 AM	strictly speaking, they don't... the two rules (LA buyoff and dragon advancements) are not really compatible, as Dragons never stop growing and gaining LA, whereas LA buyoff is balanced against the fact that you stop gaining monster levels at some point and begin gaining only class levels. speak with your DM for a specific fix...
Part-Human2 11-02-05, 07:38 AM	You could try but the Class Levels have to be 3x LA before you can start buying it off. That, and as mentioned, a Monster as PC must finish taking his Monster Levels before he can take Class Levels. After you were a White Wyrmling (3HD +2 LA), you could say you then took 6 Class levels, bought off +1LA, then took 3 more Class Levels and bought off the last +1LA. Around 12th Level (3HD + 9 Class Levels) you'd have spent 2 levels of XP and could work towards Very Young (6HD +3 LA) with only 3 HD and +1 LA more. 3 more Class Levels after that you could buy off that extra LA. 18th Level (12 Class Levels, 6 HD, 3 levels of spent XP). Additionally, LA buyoff would have meant that you'd be a lower level PC than those you're adventuring with, which gives you a greater XP rewards allowing you to somewhat catch up to your party's level. I worked it out rough once that 1 lost level in spent XP could be made back in about 6 levels. In they above example, the party should be about 21st level and you'd be 20th level. Best I could do. Check my math, I'm sleepy.
gbnogkfs 11-04-05, 09:15 AM	You could try but the Class Levels have to be 3x LA before you can start buying it off. That, and as mentioned, a Monster as PC must finish taking his Monster Levels before he can take Class Levels. After you were a White Wyrmling (3HD +2 LA), you could say you then took 6 Class levels, bought off +1LA, then took 3 more Class Levels and bought off the last +1LA. Around 12th Level (3HD + 9 Class Levels) you'd have spent 2 levels of XP and could work towards Very Young (6HD +3 LA) with only 3 HD and +1 LA more. 3 more Class Levels after that you could buy off that extra LA. 18th Level (12 Class Levels, 6 HD, 3 levels of spent XP). that is unfair: a Very Young White Dragon has +3 LA, and you would normally have to get 18 class levels to buy off the LA. With your suggestion, you would end buying off the LA with only 12 class levels.
Part-Human2 11-04-05, 05:40 PM	that is unfair: a Very Young White Dragon has +3 LA, and you would normally have to get 18 class levels to buy off the LA. With your suggestion, you would end buying off the LA with only 12 class levels. I'd say the same if I were the DM. I'd stat out the 20 level Monster Class (as done in a recent Dragon Magazine) and have the player run through it. That precludes them from taking Class levels until level 20 though.
Rakoric 11-05-05, 10:52 AM	I'd say the same if I were the DM. I'd stat out the 20 level Monster Class (as done in a recent Dragon Magazine) and have the player run through it. That precludes them from taking Class levels until level 20 though. That sounds like it would work for me. Which Dragon issue is that in?
Part-Human2 11-05-05, 10:26 PM	#320 for Metallic Dragons #322 for Chromatic Dragons Looks like the Dragon Magazine rules allow a Dragon PC (using the 20 level Monster Class) to take other class levels after obtaining an age category, returning optionally at any time.