Character Concepts and Creation

[DM Vitkyng]

Which type of Cactacae did you choose?  Because regular Cactacae have have an LA +2.  Mountain Cactacae only have an LA+0.

Level Adjustment is something I'm still trying to wrap my head around.  So if I went with a regular Cactacae, as a level two character I would still functionally be level 1?  If i understand how it is supposed to work as explained here: https://dungeonsdragons.fandom.com/wiki/...r%20level.

Then functionally I am stuck at level 1 functionally until I have enough XP to hit level 4, at which point I would functionally advance to level 2? And from that point forward I would level normally although always 2 levels lower than my XP total would indicate?

Cactacae are LA+2 which means you add that onto your Class level to find out your Character Level.  So if you start at Level 1 you would be the equivalent of a 3rd level character.  So you need 3000xp but you only have 2,500xp.  

So we have a few options:

1. You could just choose a Mountain Cactacae. They have an LA+0 which is the same as a regular human, elf, dwarf, etc. 
   
2. I could bump both you and Kobo up 500xp's.  That really isn't much when the next lowest level character is 8000xp ahead of you.  Don't worry, in 3.5e lower level characters gain xp faster than the higher level characters so  the idea is you will eventually catch up.
   
3. Or I could 'Loan' you the 500xp's that you would pay back when you gain xp.  I have done this before when a player just needed a few more xp's to go up a level.  Everyone else was leveling up so I lent him the xp's so they could too.  
   

I'm leaning toward option 2.  Mountain Cactacae are just watered down versions of regular Cactacae and who wants to play a race that's basically the red headed step child to a true the Cactacae.  As for option #3, both of you are starting 3 levels lower than almost all group.  So i will bump you both up 500xp.  So you will have 3000xp but you're a first level character.  In order to get to 2nd level you will need to reach 6000xp.  There is a way to buy off those Level Adjustments but I have to look at the rules for that.  I seem to recall not being a fan of the buy off rules so I may need to do some research into other ideas.

Or you could borrow the LA = less ability points rule from my game