ECL Question

[Heeza]

Extra Creamy Latte?

Actually I think it means, "Effective Character Level"

I'm not 100% sure I know how it effects my character. My guess is, with an ECL of 2, my level 1 character would gain XP as though he were a level 3. A CR 1.00 creature that would normally give (guessing here) 23 XP, would only give my character, effectively a level 3 character (guessing again on the exact XP) 19 XP.

This is to offset some of the extra attribute points or other perks this character receives for choosing a particular sub-class.

I know there's probably a great explaination of this somewhere.... I just haven't found it yet.

If someone could either confirm or clear this up for me I might just send them a cookie.

Thanks!!!

[Bargeld]

Sounds about right to me, although i can't confirm that it is 100% truth. I have only played ecl3 toons, on the basis that a lvl 40 ecl 0 toon is inferior to an ecl 3 toon, due to the spell resistance and other racial benefits that usually scale with level. Rats are CR .25 worth about 17 xp @ at level 1 & ecl 3, if I am remembering correctly.

[Daedalus]

ECL = effective character level
So at lvl 1, an ECL 0 toon = Level 1 xp, ECL 1 = Lvl 2 and so forth.
The theory is that since you are a more powerful sub race you should be able to fight monsters as if you were of increased level and you get an xp penalty accordingly.

[DM_Kim]

An even easier formula to remember for ECL is

0 ECL = YIPPY!!!!!
1 ECL = Not To Bad.. still pretty fast leveling
2 ECL = Oh? Can it get worse?
3 ECL = Oh Ya.. this just sucks...

[Shamed Monkey]

By the 30s at ECL 3 you just begin to lose hope.

[Tsavong]

nah from experance with drow its about lvl 34.3 that you feal all hope is lost :p

[Korr]

Ok I see so many of you getting this more confused than you need because of bad wording... here is the breakdown.

ECL = Effective Character Level
CL = Character Level
LA = Level Adjustment (the +3 and +2 from subraces)

ECL = CL + LA


So... simpleton terms, a level 1 character (CL = 1) with a drow subrace (LA = +3) has an ECL of 4
This same character at level 40 (CL = 40) still being a drow (LA = +3) has an ECL of 43.

So technically youre level 40 drow is a level 43 character.

The wording for all these things was never that great, but I played PnP for many years and got it down to the T these days.

You all werent getting it wrong, it just makes it confusing to say a drow is an effective 3rd level character at ANY level cuz its ECL is 3. The term Level Adjustment is what you wanted.