|
Normally I use templates for monsters.. which the cr increase is designed for. But was often pointed out that just because a monster might get a +2 CR that doesn't always equal 2 effective levels. I have a new player that is really excited about his half dragon mini he bought and can't wait to start playing his half dragon character.
So does anyone know how the templates interact with PCs are the ELs equal to the CRs? I'm mainly looking for the half-dragon one, but a general rule is fine too.
|
|
For the half-dragon it's easy (for templates that scale with hit dice, it's much more complicated).
Assuming the non-dragon half of the character is one of the core races (or any other race with no "level adjustment," to use the 3.5 term):
Base CR ½
Template Adjustment to CR +2
Final CR 2
The Bestiary recommends that a CR 2 creature not be allowed until the rest of the party is comprised of level 2 characters (of non-level adjustment races).
At that time (2nd level) a half-dragon can be introduced. The half-dragon has 1 class level in addition to its racial abilities. It receives experience normally (starting from zero experience).
In addition to normal experience, the character will gain a bonus level the the average party level has increased by 2.5 levels. Thus, when the average party level (not including the half-dragon character) is half-way between 4th and 5th levels, the half-dragon character receives enough bonus experience to boost it to the next level.
For the half-dragon (which is CR 2 to start), there is only one bonus level. For creatures of CR 4 or higher, there are a number of bonus levels equal to half the CR.
Advice Not found in the Core Rules:
Including a lowish CR (1-3) creature from the start of the game isn't that bad. To keep the balance with the core races, simply don't give the special race any experience until such a time as the rest of the party's average level equal's the creature's CR. At that point you can start applying experience normally using the method above. This does create some imbalance when the party is brand new; at 1st level those special characters can really shine, but this gives the GM great opportunity to pick on those characters (they don't feel so special when they're getting beat down all the time). By 3rd level the playing field has evened out.
Normally I use templates for monsters.. which the cr increase is designed for. But was often pointed out that just because a monster might get a +2 CR that doesn't always equal 2 effective levels. I have a new player that is really excited about his half dragon mini he bought and can't wait to start playing his half dragon character.
So does anyone know how the templates interact with PCs are the ELs equal to the CRs? I'm mainly looking for the half-dragon one, but a general rule is fine too.
The rules guidelines do NOT cover templates at all. When it says to use CR as a guise it assumes you are looking at a HD monster, not a template, which can really mess things up should you treat it the same. You should probably let your player make the character, starting with 1 class level, and then add one level at a time until it seems to match up in power with the other characters. Compare it to other similar characters every few levels to keep it balanced. In other words, wing it.
A half dragons bonus' are effectively worth three character levels, thus ECL 3.
So in a first level party the half dragon character will be level one in a class and then receive three effective negative levels. This is a total penalty of -3 to everything. As the character gains levels they will buy out those negative levels. So at level two the penalty is -2 and at level three it's -1. By forth level the character will be caught up with the party, powerwise anyways. You might want to let the player gain an actual level at second just to keep ther hp up.
Sigh. I understand ECL's, but explaining them is kind of a pain.
A half dragons bonus' are effectively worth three character levels, thus ECL 3.
So in a first level party the half dragon character will be level one in a class and then receive three effective negative levels. This is a total penalty of -3 to everything. As the character gains levels they will buy out those negative levels. So at level two the penalty is -2 and at level three it's -1. By forth level the character will be caught up with the party, powerwise anyways. You might want to let the player gain an actual level at second just to keep ther hp up.
Sigh. I understand ECL's, but explaining them is kind of a pain.
That could be a workable house rule.