Could Someone Explain ECL To Me? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Could Someone Explain ECL To Me? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SerpyMatt
08-21-05, 10:43 AM Hi all... Mr Million Questions here... sorry about that :)

After looking over the answers in my gnoll question thread (which were great, thanks!) I was kinda hoping someone could explain the ECL to me... I think it means that the gnoll wouldn't start out at lvl 1 like a human would, but I'm not really clear on it :)

Is there a simple way to explain it or is just one of those grab the book, crunch the numbers in your head, and repate until understood? ;)

Thanks again for being so helpful to a newb :)
Plateau Child
08-21-05, 10:47 AM Level adjustment + class levels = ecl
pres_man
08-21-05, 11:01 AM Effective Character Level (ECL) = racial hit dice + class levels + level adjustment (LA)

So for a 1st level gnoll ranger they would have an ECL of 4 = 2 racial hit dice + 1 level of ranger + 1 LA

Racial hit dice + class levels help determine most of your abilities: hit points, hit dice, saves, skills, bab, ability adjustments, feats, etc.

ECL is used to determine xp (current and needed to get to next level) and gp.

So a 1st level gnoll ranger would have the same xp and gp as a 4th level human ranger, but would only have 3 HD (2 racial + 1 class). Both would need 10,000 xp (total) to gain another level.
Plateau Child
08-21-05, 11:03 AM Oops. + racial HD. :embarrass
StormCrow42
08-21-05, 11:13 AM pres_man has it. In addition, the character counts as 3rd level for every other measure except what's an appropriate challenge and how much experience he needs to advance and gets per encounter. (and as was said above, how much treasure he should have). Spells effect him as if he has 3 hit dice, he gets skills and feats as a 3rd level character, etc.
StormCrow42
08-21-05, 11:18 AM As a way to play a gnoll in a campaign that starts at 1st level, Races of the Wild contains a "savage progression" for the gnoll. This is a series of "racial" levels and a set of beginning stats that allows you to create the gnoll as a 1st level character and then take a total of 3 levels of a gnoll "class" to gain the extra ability bumps, hit dice, and attributes of the gnoll. This rolls the 2 hit dice and +1 level adjustment into 3 levels of being a weak or lesser gnoll that slowly grows stronger until you can take your 4th level in an actual PC class.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SerpyMatt 08-21-05, 10:43 AM	Hi all... Mr Million Questions here... sorry about that :) After looking over the answers in my gnoll question thread (which were great, thanks!) I was kinda hoping someone could explain the ECL to me... I think it means that the gnoll wouldn't start out at lvl 1 like a human would, but I'm not really clear on it :) Is there a simple way to explain it or is just one of those grab the book, crunch the numbers in your head, and repate until understood? ;) Thanks again for being so helpful to a newb :)
Plateau Child 08-21-05, 10:47 AM	Level adjustment + class levels = ecl
pres_man 08-21-05, 11:01 AM	Effective Character Level (ECL) = racial hit dice + class levels + level adjustment (LA) So for a 1st level gnoll ranger they would have an ECL of 4 = 2 racial hit dice + 1 level of ranger + 1 LA Racial hit dice + class levels help determine most of your abilities: hit points, hit dice, saves, skills, bab, ability adjustments, feats, etc. ECL is used to determine xp (current and needed to get to next level) and gp. So a 1st level gnoll ranger would have the same xp and gp as a 4th level human ranger, but would only have 3 HD (2 racial + 1 class). Both would need 10,000 xp (total) to gain another level.
Plateau Child 08-21-05, 11:03 AM	Oops. + racial HD. :embarrass
StormCrow42 08-21-05, 11:13 AM	pres_man has it. In addition, the character counts as 3rd level for every other measure except what's an appropriate challenge and how much experience he needs to advance and gets per encounter. (and as was said above, how much treasure he should have). Spells effect him as if he has 3 hit dice, he gets skills and feats as a 3rd level character, etc.
StormCrow42 08-21-05, 11:18 AM	As a way to play a gnoll in a campaign that starts at 1st level, Races of the Wild contains a "savage progression" for the gnoll. This is a series of "racial" levels and a set of beginning stats that allows you to create the gnoll as a 1st level character and then take a total of 3 levels of a gnoll "class" to gain the extra ability bumps, hit dice, and attributes of the gnoll. This rolls the 2 hit dice and +1 level adjustment into 3 levels of being a weak or lesser gnoll that slowly grows stronger until you can take your 4th level in an actual PC class.