Information Needed [Archive] - Wizards Community

Information Needed [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Viktor_Nightshade
07-09-07, 02:40 PM First off , I have been playing D&D for about 2 years now. So I feel as though I have a pretty firm grasp on how to play and whatnot.

anyways, to my question.

What exactly is the order of steps you take when you're creating a character based on the creatures in the monster manual?

For example: I'm thinking about creating a Hound Archon, Ranger, and I was wondering what steps I would take to begin making that character. After the obvious ones, of course (rolling stats, etc.).

Also, what about the level adjustment, do I factor that in when I create the character.

For example: Rangers gain spells and an animal companion and all that good stuff.

Would I have that to begin with, or does that not apply to my class level, and what about experience? Do I begin with boosted experience, or would I start at 0 and advance normally, as though I made a character based out of the PHB alone?
Aleolus
07-09-07, 02:54 PM Same as if you were making one with a base race. Roll up your stats, put them in the various abilities, applying racial mods, then adjust for class level. With a LA, you just subtract the LA of the race you're playing from the starting level of your campaign. For instance, if you're playing a Drow (+2 LA) in a 5th level campaign, you would start off as whatever class you chose, only level 3 (Starting level (5) - LA (2) = Starting level for that race (3)). You would count as a level 5, however, for purposes of acquiring experience and leveling up, however.
Rerecros
07-09-07, 03:00 PM OK, lets use a hound archon as an example.
They start off with 6 racial hit die (HD) and a +5 level adjustment (LA)
So their Effective Character Level (ECL) would be eleven
They couldn't start any earlier than as a level 11 character
Now class levels are added on top of that, so a hound archon, with one level in ranger would be a level 12 character

Savage progressions would be a way to start at level zero, and there are LA buy offs, but you'd have to talk to your DM about those.

If you want to find out the abilitie adjustments for a monster, just look at it's stats in the SRD and subtract 11 if odd, or 10 if even.
hound archons have the following adjustments.
+4 str +2 con +2 wis +2 Cha
Puca
07-09-07, 03:09 PM A hound archon starts with 6 racial hit-dice. As an outsider, they grant the following:
8-sided Hit Dice.
Base attack bonus equal to total Hit Dice (as fighter).
Good Fortitude, Reflex, and Will saves.
Skill points equal to (8 + Int modifier, minimum 1) per Hit Die, with quadruple skill points for the first Hit Die.

You get three feats, one each for your first, third, and sixth hit-die. You get a +1 to one stat, for the 4th hit die.

After this, you add ranger levels.

At each, you gain skill points like a normal ranger advancing, but note: you do not get the x4 to your skill points on your first ranger-level. You already got quadruple the skill-point at your first hit-die.

Feats and the rest advance the same way. You dont get a feat by taking one level of ranger. At your second level of ranger (hit-die #8) you gain a second stat increase. At your 3rd level of ranger, youd get to pick another feat, because that is you ninth hit-die.

With me so far?

After that, you add the +5 LA. This is only used to figure your ELC, which primarily has to do with the number of xp you need to advance a level, but also has some consequences for your DM regarding the effective level of your party, the value of wealth youd be expected to have at a given level, etc.

Would I have that to begin with, or does that not apply to my class level, and what about experience?As was said, youd be effectively be an 11th level character before you even took a single level of ranger. If you were starting out in a first-level campaign, god forbid, youd need to earn (I think) 78,000 xp to take your first level of ranger.

Do I begin with boosted experience, or would I start at 0 and advance normally, as though I made a character based out of the PHB alone?You should start with the same number of starting xp as every other PC in the campaign.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Viktor_Nightshade 07-09-07, 02:40 PM	First off , I have been playing D&D for about 2 years now. So I feel as though I have a pretty firm grasp on how to play and whatnot. anyways, to my question. What exactly is the order of steps you take when you're creating a character based on the creatures in the monster manual? For example: I'm thinking about creating a Hound Archon, Ranger, and I was wondering what steps I would take to begin making that character. After the obvious ones, of course (rolling stats, etc.). Also, what about the level adjustment, do I factor that in when I create the character. For example: Rangers gain spells and an animal companion and all that good stuff. Would I have that to begin with, or does that not apply to my class level, and what about experience? Do I begin with boosted experience, or would I start at 0 and advance normally, as though I made a character based out of the PHB alone?
Aleolus 07-09-07, 02:54 PM	Same as if you were making one with a base race. Roll up your stats, put them in the various abilities, applying racial mods, then adjust for class level. With a LA, you just subtract the LA of the race you're playing from the starting level of your campaign. For instance, if you're playing a Drow (+2 LA) in a 5th level campaign, you would start off as whatever class you chose, only level 3 (Starting level (5) - LA (2) = Starting level for that race (3)). You would count as a level 5, however, for purposes of acquiring experience and leveling up, however.
Rerecros 07-09-07, 03:00 PM	OK, lets use a hound archon as an example. They start off with 6 racial hit die (HD) and a +5 level adjustment (LA) So their Effective Character Level (ECL) would be eleven They couldn't start any earlier than as a level 11 character Now class levels are added on top of that, so a hound archon, with one level in ranger would be a level 12 character Savage progressions would be a way to start at level zero, and there are LA buy offs, but you'd have to talk to your DM about those. If you want to find out the abilitie adjustments for a monster, just look at it's stats in the SRD and subtract 11 if odd, or 10 if even. hound archons have the following adjustments. +4 str +2 con +2 wis +2 Cha
Puca 07-09-07, 03:09 PM	A hound archon starts with 6 racial hit-dice. As an outsider, they grant the following: 8-sided Hit Dice. Base attack bonus equal to total Hit Dice (as fighter). Good Fortitude, Reflex, and Will saves. Skill points equal to (8 + Int modifier, minimum 1) per Hit Die, with quadruple skill points for the first Hit Die. You get three feats, one each for your first, third, and sixth hit-die. You get a +1 to one stat, for the 4th hit die. After this, you add ranger levels. At each, you gain skill points like a normal ranger advancing, but note: you do not get the x4 to your skill points on your first ranger-level. You already got quadruple the skill-point at your first hit-die. Feats and the rest advance the same way. You dont get a feat by taking one level of ranger. At your second level of ranger (hit-die #8) you gain a second stat increase. At your 3rd level of ranger, youd get to pick another feat, because that is you ninth hit-die. With me so far? After that, you add the +5 LA. This is only used to figure your ELC, which primarily has to do with the number of xp you need to advance a level, but also has some consequences for your DM regarding the effective level of your party, the value of wealth youd be expected to have at a given level, etc. Would I have that to begin with, or does that not apply to my class level, and what about experience?As was said, youd be effectively be an 11th level character before you even took a single level of ranger. If you were starting out in a first-level campaign, god forbid, youd need to earn (I think) 78,000 xp to take your first level of ranger. Do I begin with boosted experience, or would I start at 0 and advance normally, as though I made a character based out of the PHB alone?You should start with the same number of starting xp as every other PC in the campaign.