monster classes?

[darqueseid]

the rules in the savage species let you make a monster with LA into a class that you can take levels in and gradually gain benefits of being that race.  it uses the minotaur as an example, but if you start into the racial levels do you have to complete them?

That is, if I wanted to play a minotaur with only the level 0 benefits could I just take class levels instead of the monster levels?

[kitep]

You have to complete the monster levels before you can begin taking other classes.

Savage Species, p152, 2nd paragraph

A monster character may not multiclass until it completes
the full progression in its monster class. This rule
keeps characters from gaining the benefits of a monster’s
type and then quickly switching to a standard class.

Of course, your DM may allow you to play differently.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

The few exceptions:
Monster Template classes such as Ghost Template - see TML's guide

and everyone's fave PAO or Wish.
2hd dude PAO's into a 2hd "sucubus" "demon" equivalent.
or 2hd Vampire PAO's into a 2nd Vamp progression that
stops at 2hd.