Post/Author/DateTime	Post
El Chipperagwa Jimmy 07-31-04, 09:35 AM	I'm not quite sure where this goes, but the description of the board seems to fit. I need someone to explain to me in as simple terms possible of the different number of hit idce effect your ecl.
KittenWarrior 07-31-04, 10:03 AM	Originally posted by El Chipperagwa Jimmy I'm not quite sure where this goes, but the description of the board seems to fit. I need someone to explain to me in as simple terms possible of the different number of hit idce effect your ecl. I'll give it a try.. A standard race's level is equal to its character level. Slightly more powerful races (e.g. a Tiefling), have an advantage over the 'core' races which is reflected by their ECL adjustment. A Tiefling (ECL adjustment +1) with 1 class level is in all respects a a 1st-level character. (S)He gains no extra hit dice, but counts as a 2nd level character for experience purposes. So, a starting Tiefling character would have 0 XP and need 3000 to become 2nd level (enough for a standard race to reach 3rd level), at which point he'll need 6000 total to gain another level, etc.. Now, some races (eg. a Thri-kreen), have both 'racial hit dice' and an ECL adjustment. A starting Thri-kreen character has 2d8 HD (racial), which makes it equivalent to a 2nd level character. so if your DM allows you to enter the campaign at 2nd level, you could start as a Thri-kreen with no class levels. If you were allowed to start a 3rd level character, you could be a Thri-kreen with 1 class level. The Thri-kreen also has an ECL of +3. This means that, for experience purposes, a Thri-kreen counts as 3 levels higher than its class level. So, a Thri-kreen with no class levels is equivalent to a 2nd level character (due to its 2d8 racial HD), but counts as a 3rd level character. Any class levels it has add up to both its actual level and its ECL. Think of ECL as something that determines your experience needed to level, and of racial HD as 'monster levels' (like you were a multiclassed character). Hope this is clear enough! Cheers, KW
trapspringer 07-31-04, 11:43 AM	Your first example was good, but your thri-kreen was either to difficult to follow correctly or you bungled it up. If you have racial hit-dice, you sort of have levels in a monster class. A thri-kreen in fact has a +2 LA now, so the earliest you could play one would be at fourth level, when racail hit-dice, class levels, and level adjustment total up to be four. You don't have to have class levels, but you must have at least one hit-die. If you have only one racial hit-dice, you 'drop' it when you take your first class level. So: Level Adjustment = A level granting no HD, skill points, or save increase. Used to balance play with monster characters, so everyone is equal capable. (almost) Racial Hit Dice = Hit Dice a character has due to race. Also a balancing factor, as most Racial Hit Dice are not as good as Class Levels. If you have only one Racial Hit Dice, it is dropped when you take your first Class Level, but if you have 2 or more, you keep them all. ECL = Your Effective Character Level. This is the sum total of your Class Levels, Racial Hit Dice, and your Level Adjustment.
FineasBoggs 07-31-04, 12:25 PM	ECL and LA are two different things. Trapsinger had it right for the most part. (kind of lost me on the drop racial hit dice thing. But that's probably neither here nor there.) http://webpages.charter.net/acamphuysen/manshoon_mage_sigil.gif
El Chipperagwa Jimmy 08-01-04, 12:30 AM	OK, thanks that help a lot.
KittenWarrior 08-01-04, 05:47 PM	Originally posted by trapspringer Your first example was good, but your thri-kreen was either to difficult to follow correctly or you bungled it up.Well, I was going by 3rd ed rules.. perhaps they've changed in 3.5. If you have racial hit-dice, you sort of have levels in a monster class. A thri-kreen in fact has a +2 LA now, so the earliest you could play one would be at fourth level, when racail hit-dice, class levels, and level adjustment total up to be four. You don't have to have class levels, but you must have at least one hit-die. If you have only one racial hit-dice, you 'drop' it when you take your first class level. Well, like I said, perhaps things changed with 3.5.. But near as I can make it, under 3rd, the Thri-kreen has an ECL adjustment of +3, and starts with 2 'monster levels'.. So: Level Adjustment = A level granting no HD, skill points, or save increase. Used to balance play with monster characters, so everyone is equal capable. (almost) Racial Hit Dice = Hit Dice a character has due to race. Also a balancing factor, as most Racial Hit Dice are not as good as Class Levels. If you have only one Racial Hit Dice, it is dropped when you take your first Class Level, but if you have 2 or more, you keep them all. ECL = Your Effective Character Level. This is the sum total of your Class Levels, Racial Hit Dice, and your Level Adjustment. Yup, that sums it up alright.. Cheers, KW