Hey guys... im kind of new to subraces so I was looking over the list and I was wondering what the level adjustment does? I read the description of what it was but I still don't quiet understand how it works and how it affects my character. Could someone go over it in depth for me? Thanks!

+1 ECL means your character is concidered to be one level higher than what it says on your character sheet. So, if you're a level 14 Earth Genasi fighter, for most purposes you are level 15.

This means, among other things, that you will reach max level at level 29.

The exceptions would be level reqs that are hardcoded. If you find an item that you need to be level 15 to equip, you won't be able to equip it until you're ECL level 16.

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To err is human; to forgive divine, but VENGEANCE IS MINE!

Level Adjustment means your character is treated as a different level to just the sum of their classes.

+5 LA would mean your character is treated as 5 levels higher than he normally would be (A +5 LA, fighter25 would be level 30)

This means that you reach your maximum level at a different time (Drow for example, with +2 LA, can only hit level 28), your XP is granted at different rates as though you were a higher level, and your ability to party with other individuals is modified.

This is to represent the weakness or strength of a race due to its statistical bonuses or penalties that make it 'worth' additional levels.

EDIT : I hate you, Kjetta.

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Mostly Retired

*Blows the gunsmoke away from his keyboard.* Gotta stay frosty, Ron.

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To err is human; to forgive divine, but VENGEANCE IS MINE!

alright so I know what it does now (thanks you guys!) but now this brings up another question cus im testing a build out in the campaign.

So if the ECL is +1 would that mean I would just have to make a build that goes up to 29? Cus I know for my build I need that least feat on lvl 30 so does that mean the feat gets moved to lvl 29 or would I have to skip it altogether because i cant get to lvl 30 literally?

Yes, you will miss out on the level 30 feat.

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If you have an ECL +1 PC you DO NOT get your level 30 feat. Your PC will max out at level 29.

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Tark Hammerfeast - Immovable Object
True Greenspan - Bendir's Boy Wonder

You have to skip it all together. ECL +1 means that you can only reach 29. The ECL (which stands for Effective Character Level) is in place because that particular race begins with enough stat bonuses/feats/whatever that it is roughly as powerful as a character one level higher, so in order to keep it balanced, a character with an ECL can never reach the level a character without one can reach, and so gains none of the benefits.

goootcha. thanks everyone! Back to the drawing board for me then.