Holy crap!

[Paragon Badger]

Bugbears As Characters
Bugbear characters possess the following racial traits.

+4 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, -2 Charisma.
Medium size.
A bugbear’s base land speed is 30 feet.
Racial Hit Dice: A bugbear begins with three levels of humanoid, which provide 3d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +2, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +3, and Will +1.
Racial Skills: A bugbear’s humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 6 × (2 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Climb, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, and Spot.
Racial Feats: A bugbear’s humanoid levels give it two feats.
+3 natural armor bonus.
+4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks.
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., scent.
Automatic Languages: Common, Goblin. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Elven, Giant, Gnoll, Orc.
Favored Class: Rogue.
Level adjustment +1.

All that for an ECL 4, actual level 3!?

[Ikkitosen]

Bugbears As Characters
Bugbear characters possess the following racial traits.

+4 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, -2 Charisma.
Medium size.
A bugbear’s base land speed is 30 feet.
Racial Hit Dice: A bugbear begins with three levels of humanoid, which provide 3d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +2, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +3, and Will +1.
Racial Skills: A bugbear’s humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 6 × (2 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Climb, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, and Spot.
Racial Feats: A bugbear’s humanoid levels give it two feats.
+3 natural armor bonus.
+4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks.
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., scent.
Automatic Languages: Common, Goblin. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Elven, Giant, Gnoll, Orc.
Favored Class: Rogue.
Level adjustment +1.

Right, but a L3 "humanoid" is MUCH suckier than a L3 PC class. These obilgatory HD form a significant part of the stealth LA of the race.

[Dhavaer]

Right, but a L3 "humanoid" is MUCH suckier than a L3 PC class. These obilgatory HD form a significant part of the stealth LA of the race.

Agreed; I'd give bugbears a 'not a horrible as most' rating. They'd be good barbarians or warblades.

[banjo1985]

Fact - Bugbears make scary barbarians! We did an evil campaign not long ago and we had two of them in the party as the tanks and protection for the kobold sorceror, they really did batter the holy crap outta pretty much anything that stood near them.....scary stuff :smalleek:

[Tokiko Mima]

All that for an ECL 4, actual level 3!?

Compared to 4th level Fighter, they have some trade offs and some advantages.

Bugbear Con:
Loses 1d10 + 3 HP
Loses 2 + Int or more skill points
Loses 4 levels of good fortitude saves.
Loss of one Feat

Bugbear Pro:
+3 natural armor
+2 Dex +2 Con -2 Cha
3 levels of good reflex saves
+4 Move Silently
Scent ability
60' Darkvision

The bugbears +4 Str and the Fighters extra +2 BAB more or less balance out, but the BAB could be considered to be better since if can be used in Power Attack and to qualify for PrCs. If you equate the lost Feat with Toughness, I can see where that would count for the +2 Con bonus, too.

I'd say it's a very reasonable trade off, but not insanely/houserule-this-away good.