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View Full Version : Negative Level Adjustment?



kentma57
2007-12-30, 10:10 PM
What is the point of a -1 or -2 LA? You can't use them to gain class levels, the only thing I can think to do with them is to build half races(if your DM does not allow completely homebrew races).

nargbop
2007-12-30, 10:21 PM
Negative? I haven't seen one of those yet. Which creature have you seen it attached to?

Mind you, kobolds get a +0 and I never, ever want to play a kobold.

SurlySeraph
2007-12-30, 10:25 PM
I don't think negative level adjustment exists. With that said, it's a terrible idea.

Think about it. Say a race has a -2 LA. That means a wizard who takes that race can cast 9th-level spells at level 15. If the race's drawbacks don't include an Intelligence penalty, there is no disadvantage to taking it.

If you understand why races with LA are un-optimized choices for casters, you'll understand why races with negative LA would be insanely cheesy choices for them.

Kaelik
2007-12-30, 10:25 PM
Does no one actually read the XP rules? You'd get more XP then a +0 Race, and eventually gain a level over them. Or you could start with a level 5 Wizard in a ECL 4 game.

But seriously, the XP gain being different for different level characters is an essential part of game balance.

tyckspoon
2007-12-30, 10:39 PM
There's only one negative LA template/race I've ever seen mentioned, and that's the Incarnate Construct (or similar name..), which takes a construct and makes it alive, giving up all those nifty construct immunities in the process. Since you have to be a construct to use it in the first place, it's highly unlikely it's going to drop your LA below zero.

Armads
2007-12-31, 12:01 AM
Warforged Incarnate Construct, maybe?

ZeroNumerous
2007-12-31, 12:03 AM
Warforged Incarnate Construct, maybe?

I was entirely certain that Warforged are not Type: Construct. If so, then yes they would be eligible for Incarnate Construct.

Alternatively: Incarnated Warforged Juggernaut.

Armads
2007-12-31, 12:11 AM
They are constructs with the living construct subtype.

ZeroNumerous
2007-12-31, 12:24 AM
They are constructs with the living construct subtype.

Hmm.. Strange.

Ah well, looking over Incarnate Construct brings out one little line.


Level Adjustment: -2 (Minimum 0)

Armads
2007-12-31, 12:26 AM
Apply the Phrenic template before you apply the Incarnate Construct template, then. So he'll get huge mental stats.

Tempest Fennac
2007-12-31, 03:31 AM
There is 1 race with a negative LA names Xvarts: page 32 of http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Races.pdf .

Necromimesis
2007-12-31, 11:48 AM
And they are in no way WORTH a -2 LA.

Example: Wizard.

Yay. Strength and Con penalties for another 2 caster levels? YES PLEASE.

Example 2: Draconic Xvart.

+0 Str, +2 Dex, +0 Con, +2 Cha among other things for a net -1 LA? YES PLEASE.

The list goes on, and none of it is good. The Xvart is a horribly balanced -LA race used for cheesy purposes only...it should never see the light of day in an actual game.

nonsens
2007-12-31, 11:53 AM
I thought the -2 from Xvarts only aplied to NPC classes (commoner, adapt etc.)
So the Xvart is not -2 LA for class levels

F.L.
2007-12-31, 12:04 PM
Example 2: Draconic Xvart.

+0 Str, +2 Dex, +0 Con, +2 Cha among other things for a net -1 LA? YES PLEASE.


Hmm, would almost make a sorceror match a wizard in power. Though it'd be hard to get over being a smurf that thinks they're a dragon.

ZeroNumerous
2007-12-31, 04:03 PM
Guys. Thats a typo on Crystal Keep. They're LA+0.