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I'm planning to start Expedition to Castle Ravenloft in a short while with the added twist of only allowing monstrous player characters. My idea is for a Seven Samurai set-up... basically, Barovia has become so desperate to find adventurers to free their land of evil that they're willing to fight fire with fire and put together a dirty half-dozen of monsters willing to take on Count Strahd. From a roleplaying standpoint, I think it could be massively fun.
Before I issue guidelines to my would-be players, I'm looking for advice on what limitations, if any, to place on the PCs. Most monster races have both hit dice and level adjustments, for example, that far exceed their challenge rating. I can think of a number of monsters that wouldn't stand a chance as PCs against creatures of a CR equal to their ECL. By the same token, if I chose to ignore level adjustments... or let the players substitute levels for monster hit dice, a monstrous PC might become hopelessly broken. I don't care so much about the fine points of the rules, so long as things stay balanced enough that it's as fun for them as it is challenging.
I'm aware of the monster class levels in Savage Species, and in some cases I like the approach, while others seem grossly underpowered and fragile (6th level characters with half as many hit dice would be incredibly vulnerable). I'm open to all suggestions at this point as to the best ways of handling this.
Thanks!
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I have had a bunch of experience with monster characters, to varying results.
Ignoring level adjustment is tricky, as things get a LA for different reasons. I would not recommend going this route.
The -LA penalty from FRCS works rather well. Basically, a level adjusted character takes a penalty on everything (attacks, AC, saves, caster level, checks) equal to their level adjustment until they level up. You can allow them to keep the penalty for as long as they like, or lose it buy levelling up into a level adjustment (extra level, no HD).
Ravenloft is a tricky campaign, as most of the monsters have lots of hp and damage, but a vulnerable to many other forms of attack (like Turn Undead). Watch out for turn-specialist clerics. FOr example, a succubus-cleric would be deadly. Putting up monster-level characters would probably make things difficult unless they choose a melee-based race like a Fire Giant, just because many races have limited options for things like spells and special abilities that would work on undead.
If you really want to get wacky (and this is a very fun option), use the Gestalt rules from Unearthed Arcana combined with monster classes from Savage Species. Mathematically it is tricky.
Basically, every time the monster class would give them a HD, they also gain a concurrent level in a character class. They gain the better of BAB, HD, skill points, and saves. They gain the class skills of the monster and the PC class, and the special abilities of both.
If you go this route, I recommend starting a level lower for the adventure, as this makes some powerful PCs (which you want from monsters) that are a little more stable than the monster classes alone. For example, your player could have a Fire Giant Sorcerer, gaining d8 HD and good BAB, and huge Str, plus all the sorcerer goodies.