How does Level Adjustment work?

[AugustusGloop]

I'm creating a Drow Spellthief for a FR Drow game, and although the character generation rules aren't decided on, I wanted to get jump on building.  Drow are +2 LA, according to the sourcebook, which I understand to mean that they don't get class levels for the first two HD of their lives.  What does this mean in a practical way?  How do I adjust their skill points/hp/xp etc?  Can you point me at a guide?

[sirpercival]

Don't do it!  LA do indeed mean that you'll be 2 levels behind everyone else in terms of class features and hit dice, and drow are +2 LA because the designers grossly overvalued spell resistance.

Now, if you can figure out some sort of Lesser Drow (using the rules in PGtF) which has no LA, then go for it.

[Ithamar]

...which I understand to mean that they don't get class levels for the first two HD of their lives.

This is incorrect.  What is means is that at level 1, when you have 1 class level, you add the +2 LA and so you are technically considered a level 3 character (ECL = Effective Character Level).  And, according to the designers at WotC, you should only be adventuring with other level 3 characters, even though you only have 1 HD / class level.

You will figure skill points, saves, hit points, etc. exacly as normal for a level 1 character.

When the DM starts handing out XP, you do not need only 1,000 XP to go from level 1 to level 2.  Sadly you need to amass the total amount of XP to hit ECL 4:  6,000.

Though, since you mentioned this is specifically a drow game, my hunch is that the DM will waive the +2 LA for everyone.  Does not make much sense to use LA when everyone in the group is the same race / power level.

[AugustusGloop]

Don't do it!  LA do indeed mean that you'll be 2 levels behind everyone else in terms of class features and hit dice, and drow are +2 LA because the designers grossly overvalued spell resistance.

Now, if you can figure out some sort of Lesser Drow (using the rules in PGtF) which has no LA, then go for it.

Everyone will be Drow, so I'll be at the same power level as the rest of them.

Though, since you mentioned this is specifically a drow game, my hunch is that the DM will waive the +2 LA for everyone.  Does not make much sense to use LA when everyone in the group is the same race / power level.

This is a definite possibility, but I wanted to have two versions of the character ready to go.

So essentially the only change I make is in a 5th level game, I create a 3rd level character with a heck of a long way to go to 4th.  At ECL 6th, I can buy down my LA, right?  Or do I need to be 6+2LA=ECL 8?

[Ithamar]

When you have 6 class levels you can buy off your first point of LA.  And it will cost:

Each time a character's level adjustment is eligible to be reduced, the character may pay an XP cost to take advantage of the reduction. The character must pay an amount of XP equal to (his current ECL -1) × 1,000.

With 6 class levels, you will be ECL 8.  So it will cost (ECL 8 -1) x 1,000 = 7,000 XP

[AugustusGloop]

It's a wonder Drow live long enough to get anything done.

[Prime32]

NPC drow rely on Challenge Rating, which is only +1.

[Jackinthegreen]

"How does level adjustment work?"

This is a question we've all been trying to answer.  Most here have come to the conclusion that it rarely DOES work for PC characters in the first place.  http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=342.0 has a list of various races with LA that can be worthwhile if played to the strengths of the race, and drow are on the list.

But Ilthamar went over it pretty well.  There might be a drow handbook floating around the web that goes over builds that can actually put the LA to use.