How to apply templates? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How to apply templates? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Outlier
12-13-05, 06:22 PM OK, I've got a question or two about aquired templates and how they relate to character advancement. I'm sure this is explained somewhere in the rules, but so far I've not found it. Pointers would be welcome.

1) I've got a character who wants Mineralize Warrior cast on him. It's a spell that basically gives him the Mineral Warrior template. Details aside, the template has a +1 level adjustment. Does he just pay to have the spell cast and effectively gain 1 ECL? If so, does he get ability score advances and/or feats that come with the new level? (ex: If his ECL goes from 5 to 6, does he get his 6th level feat? If his ECL goes from 7 to 8, does he get to add 1 to one of his stats?)

2) Lets say the character is being created at 9th level, and wants a +1 LA aquired template to have been applied at some time in his past (so the character starts with it). Now it would appear he should roll up a 8th level character with the +1 LA template (for a total ECL 9), but does he get his 9th level feat? Also, should he start with the cash/equipment of an 8th level guy, or a 9th level guy, or perhaps a 9th level guy less the cost of the spell that gave him the template?

Thanks in advance.
Braids
12-13-05, 07:36 PM I dunno about the first question, but he would effectively start as an 8th level character and thusly start with 8th level gold and no 9th level feat.
Milandros
12-14-05, 12:58 PM The best way to think about a positive ECL template is that you have a 8th level character, with 8th level abilities, feats, stat bonuses, spell levels, etc.

Then, you take a bunch of extra speciual abilities and powers instead of gaining a level. 9th level doesn't count for anythng else, just those abilities. He's an 8th level character who requires 10th level XP to get his his next level - which will be 9th level.

The reason so many templates seem groovy is you have to give up the HP, skill points, BAB, saves, spell progression, feats, class features and stat increases to get them. In general, a 9th level character with 9 class levels will be significantly more powerful than an ECL 9 character with 5 class levels and a +4 template. For a start, he'll have a lot more HPs.
Andrew_980
12-14-05, 03:13 PM In my experiance templates are almost allways bad. Either you have a guy who searches for the +1 la that gives too much power for the cost or you get the guy with the +5 la that makes him far weaker than the party in most things but speciallizes on one thing untill his mods are so rediculious that he doesn't need to roll.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Outlier 12-13-05, 06:22 PM	OK, I've got a question or two about aquired templates and how they relate to character advancement. I'm sure this is explained somewhere in the rules, but so far I've not found it. Pointers would be welcome. 1) I've got a character who wants Mineralize Warrior cast on him. It's a spell that basically gives him the Mineral Warrior template. Details aside, the template has a +1 level adjustment. Does he just pay to have the spell cast and effectively gain 1 ECL? If so, does he get ability score advances and/or feats that come with the new level? (ex: If his ECL goes from 5 to 6, does he get his 6th level feat? If his ECL goes from 7 to 8, does he get to add 1 to one of his stats?) 2) Lets say the character is being created at 9th level, and wants a +1 LA aquired template to have been applied at some time in his past (so the character starts with it). Now it would appear he should roll up a 8th level character with the +1 LA template (for a total ECL 9), but does he get his 9th level feat? Also, should he start with the cash/equipment of an 8th level guy, or a 9th level guy, or perhaps a 9th level guy less the cost of the spell that gave him the template? Thanks in advance.
Braids 12-13-05, 07:36 PM	I dunno about the first question, but he would effectively start as an 8th level character and thusly start with 8th level gold and no 9th level feat.
Milandros 12-14-05, 12:58 PM	The best way to think about a positive ECL template is that you have a 8th level character, with 8th level abilities, feats, stat bonuses, spell levels, etc. Then, you take a bunch of extra speciual abilities and powers instead of gaining a level. 9th level doesn't count for anythng else, just those abilities. He's an 8th level character who requires 10th level XP to get his his next level - which will be 9th level. The reason so many templates seem groovy is you have to give up the HP, skill points, BAB, saves, spell progression, feats, class features and stat increases to get them. In general, a 9th level character with 9 class levels will be significantly more powerful than an ECL 9 character with 5 class levels and a +4 template. For a start, he'll have a lot more HPs.
Andrew_980 12-14-05, 03:13 PM	In my experiance templates are almost allways bad. Either you have a guy who searches for the +1 la that gives too much power for the cost or you get the guy with the +5 la that makes him far weaker than the party in most things but speciallizes on one thing untill his mods are so rediculious that he doesn't need to roll.