In Unearthed Arcana, there is a section that talks about Level Adjustments. Strictly Mechanically speaking, templates, races, etc that have a level adjustment usually have the adjustment because they are powerful, granting extra powers, ability adjustments, and other bonuses of all sorts.

Since lower levels have a much smaller scale of power, and power expands in an extremely non-linear fashion, as characters grow in ability, their bonuses granted by level adjustment (that put them ahead of the curve initially), become more of a hinderance in later levels (causing them to potentially fall quite far behind). This system involves gradually adjusting the totals for level adjustment as the character grows in power, but does so in a way that scales with the potency of the initial bonuses.

Here's how it works (stated in a way that engineers can understand! ((woot)))

Class Level = C

Total Unpaid Level Adjustment = L

Effective Character Level = E

When C = 3L -> (L-1)

If L = 2:

(L-1) first happens at Class level 6

After the first (L-1) @ (C=6), the new (L=1) This means to reach your next (L-1), you have to gain 3L class levels. This means:

L = 1 now, so

3L = 3, so 3 MORE class levels must be gained to reduce L by 1 (fully pay it off)

TL;DR: It takes 9 class levels to pay off LA +2

Here's a chart progression of how it works:

E | C | L | Notes

1 | 0 | 1 | +1 Level adjustment From Race

2 | 0 | 2 | +1 Level adjustment From Mineral Warrior Template (taken before 1st Character Level)

3 | 1 | 2 | 1st level Fighter

4 | 2 | 2 | 2nd level Fighter

5 | 3 | 2 | 3rd level Fighter

6 | 4 | 2 | 4th level Fighter

7 | 5 | 2 | 5th level Fighter

8 | 6 | 2 | 6th level Fighter 1st LA reduction (C=3L -> L-1) New L=1

7 | 6 | 1 | New count after )L-1)

8 | 7 | 1 | 7th level Fighter

9 | 8 | 1 | 8th level Fighter

10| 9 | 1 | 9th level Fighter 2nd LA reduction (C=3L -> L-1) New L=0

9 | 9 | 0 | New count after 2nd (L-1) Level Adjustment Paid Off In Full

If the starting Level Adjustment is +3:

The first (L-1) would happen at C=9* ((3L when L=3)) (9*)

The Second (L-1) would happen at C = 15 (9+6**) ((3L when L=2 levels after last (L-1))) (6**)

The Last (L-1) would happen at C = 18 (9+6+3***) ((3L when L=1 levels after last (L-1))) (3***)

A character with a Level Adjustment of +3 would take 18 character levels to pay off the whole of the Level Adjustment.

Seeing as how this system works, Anything beyond a +3 requires epic level characters to entirely pay off the level adjustment. The more powerful the bonuses (the bigger advantage they grant at lower levels), the longer they take to pay off, since they take longer to scale to character levels in power.

Personally, I love the fact that it scales with power as a self-balancing mechanism. A character with the fiendish template (LA+2) with 18 class levels, though definitely a mighty foe, is not as powerful as many well thought out 20 level class builds.

Casters getting into level adjustments often risk losing access to their most powerful spells, so they never even consider it. Involving a level adjustment buyoff system allows for greater diversity (both in roleplay and mechanics) than would normally be allowed normally (since people very rarely want to significantly gimp their own abilities for the sake of roleplay)

Let me know what you guys think

-Z

I like this system.  A FUCKING LOT.  One factor in determining characters to try is the farked ECL bit.  I do think thatr before ANY template or Racial ECL gets approved for this, we need to take a look at it.

For Example:  Saint is a REALLY powerful template.  In a common RP based (non-Pug) setting, this can be attained, though it takes constant efforts, RP wise.  In pug, it could be picked up at a 2 level "freebee" at fairly low level.  Per our discussion two days ago, for PUG, saint is most likely a +4 to +5 template.  Also, I think we aught to have an innitial restriction against those pay-offs that require epic levels.  Keep things relatively level.