LA buyoff alternative?

[lunar2]

so, in this alternative to buyoff, LA isn't a thing. a monster character simply starts off X levels below the party, where X is the number of LA the monster should have. so, for example, a bugbear is a 3rd level character running around with a 4th level group, and gradually catches up on XP. how well would this work? for simplicity's sake, lets assume the characters start at the minimum level needed for the monster to be playable.

[docnessuno]

That's not an alternative, it's an huge improvement over LA buyoff.

I wouldn't call it balanced, but on the other hand also many LAs are not balanced, in one way or another.

[Story]

In otherwords, you're letting them buy off all their levels at the start.

[docnessuno]

In otherwords, you're letting them buy off all their levels at the start.

With no XP cost also.

[Kumori]

With no XP cost also.

The XP cost is essentially included. You just don't have to think about it.

Imagine it's a level 4 campaign and you have +2 LA. Ordinarilly you'd have 6000XP. Buying off a level would take 3000 XP (ECL-1 x1000). Your ECL is now 3 and buying off the second would cost 2000XP. You now have 1000XP and are a second level character.

[lunar2]

That's not an alternative, it's an huge improvement over LA buyoff.

I wouldn't call it balanced, but on the other hand also many LAs are not balanced, in one way or another.

well, it was meant to be an improvement. LA buyoff is generally seen as not good enough, from what i've read. so, is this too good?

[NeedsAnswersNao]

Its a high powered (full RHD free) version of PMBC's variant. Disallowing xp as a river helps balance tho

[Mithril Leaf]

Probably works for low LA. I'd use it but only take off up to 3 LA or so.