Converting Monsters in PCs

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Okay, so here is my problem. How do I work out the ECL and Level Adjust of a monster?

The Monster is a Ghaele, a Medium-sized Outsider.

HD: 10d8 +20
CHallenge Rating: 13

How do I convert this into something that I can use as a PC?

 

The Savage Species Handbook is your friend. It was written for the creation of monster PCs.

 

A Ghaele has a level adjust of -- which means it's too powerful to be a PC race. Some how Astral Devas still manage to pull off being a player race with a +8 level adjust and an ECL of 21 on their first character level.

A Ghaele's Spell-like Ability: at will-Charm Monster, Hold Monster and Greater Invisibility are most likely what put them out to pasture.

Astral Devas, Hound Archons,Trumpet Archons, Dretchs, Hezrou, Succubuses, Vrocks, Bearded Devils (Barbazu for the old timers), Chain Devils (Kytons), Erinyeses and Bralani are the playable outsiders of the more commonly encountered extraplanar oustiders.

 

Yup and even most of those are to powerful to be much fun. Hound Archons could be fun.

These kind of characters would have worked nice in planescape, but other setttings just don thandle it that well.

That beeing said, i would never turn down anyone asking to play lantern archon barbarian!

 

What I do not understand is why the Mind Flayer is a PC race. At Will-Mind Blast, Charm Monster, Suggestion and racial modifiers of +2 str, +4 dex, +2 con, +8 int, +6 wis, +6 cha... all for a +7 racial modifier and 8 aberration hit dice, don't even need to bothering to level up with unlimited use of Mind Blast, Charm Monster and Suggestion.

 

Well, I shall use a Ghaele anyway. Hmm, can anyone work out this riddle for me? I have neother the Savage Species book, nor the funds to buy it.

 

A Ghaele is as follows:

+14 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +6 int, +6 wis, +6 cha

Size: Medium

Speed: 50 feet, fly 150 feet (perfect)

Darkvision 60 ft.

Low-light Vision

+14 natrual armor

Proficient with all simple and martial weapons

Outsider Hit Dice: 10d8, grants a +10 bab, +7 to Fort saves, +7 to Ref saves and +7 to Will saves (remember these racial levels don't count toward multi-classing)

Outsider skill points: (8+int modifier)x13, class skills are Concentration, Escape Artist, Handle Animal, Hide, Knowledge (Any), Listen, Move Silently, Ride, Sense Motive, Spot

A Ghaele does not get x4 for skills on her first class level.

Outsider feats: a Ghaele's racial hit dice grant her 4 feats, a typical Ghaele takes Combat Expertise, Improved Disarm, Improved Initiative and Improved Trip

Spell Resistance 28+Class level

Spell-like Abilities: at will-Aid, Charm Monster, Color Spray, Comprehend Languages, Continual Flame, Cure Light Wounds, Dancing Lights, Detect Evil, Detect Thoughts, Disguise Self, Dispel Magic, Hold Monster, Greater Invisibility (self only), Major Image, See Invisibility, Greater Teleport (self + 50 lbs of objects only) 1/day-Chain Lightening, Prismatic Spray, Wall of Force Caster level 12th, DC charisma based

Spells-in humanoid form a Ghaele can cast spells as if it where a 14th level cleric (two of the following domains-Air, Animal, Chaos, Good, Plant or it's deity)

Damage Reduction 10/evil and cold iron

Immunity to Electricity and Petrification

Resistances to Cold 10 and Fire 10

Tongues

Gaze: In Humanoid Form-slay evil creates with 5 or less HD, range 60 ft., Will DC-15+Cha modifier, still effected by fear for 2d10 rounds, non evil creatures and evil creatures with more then 5 HD must save Will DC-15+Cha modifier or suffer fear affect

Alternative Form-Can shift between humanoid and globe from as a standard action. Cannot fly or use light rays in humanoid form. Can not use spells or gaze attack in globe form. Incoporeal in globe form. Can remain in either form indefinately, remains in current form if slain, change cannot be dispelled, though true seeing can see both forms simultaneously

Light Rays: Range-300 feet Damage:2d12, bypasses any damage reduction target creature has.

Protective Aura: Provides +4 deflection and +4 restitance bonus to saving throws to the Ghaele and all creatures with in 20 feet against attacks and effects from evil creatures. Functions as Magic Circle against Evil and Lesser Globe of Invulnerability

Alignment is always Chaotic Good

Automatic Languages: Celestial, Infernal, Draconic

Average Height: 6 feet

Average Weight: 170 lbs

Level Adjust: ... the DM Handbook might help here, the calculation system the Aasimar and Tiefling handbook provides would put the Ghaele well above +10, leaving you with an epic level ECL on your first character level.

[ March 22, 2006, 22:57: Message edited by: Ilmater's Suffering ]

 

That was a very good summarisation on why playing high ECL races is a big pain. That character would have been superior to every other chracter in the game until they hit EPIC levels! Heck, why bother with class levels....

And the Level Adjustments in the books are not always similar. so they really need to be adapted a bit. They serve more as a guideline and starting point. The problem is that many creautes have such weird abilities that people just dont know how wila ffect teh gameplay until they play. (lets just say, dont be suprised if your DM tells you after a game that this and that was simply so powerfull he have to limit it for the sake of fun for everyone else).