Just some questions for discussion, thoughts? Balance?

Anyways was wondering if or if not an ECL character can get 20 levels in a PrC such as Pale Master, if not then why? That is to say isn't the ECL already in there and the base character should count towards getting those 20 if they want them? The other question concerning this idea is how items will say requires Level X, when your ECL hits Level X you still can't equip said item, you have to wait til the base level hits level X shouldn't this work where when your ECL hits the level of the item the character should be able to equip it? I ask this because it tends to be the case that when your ECL is at certain points you have to fight stronger mobs for xp but you're still stuck in lower gear due to ECL not counting towards being able to wear said gear. Anyways thoughts? Statements? Balance issues? Do I make any sense at all?

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Must I at length the Sword of Justice draw?
Oh curst Effects of necessary Law!
How ill my Fear they by my Mercy scan,
Beware the Fury of a Patient Man
-John Dryden, 1681

The reason why +ECL characters cannot take 20 levels in a PrC is because there is a max of 10 in pre-epic levels. This means that the most PrC levels you can take is 10 + however many character levels you get in epic (8-10 for ECL +2 - 0).

As for equipment, it's working as intended. Your base character stats for a +ECL character are better than those of a standard ECL class, hence the added difficulty/lower max level). So while your Effective Character Level is 11, your actual character level is still 9-10.

Basically, the increased base stats you get are meant to carry you through.

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Remember when I knew a boxer, baby