Why are ECLs associated with the scion templates?


Whether or not an actual ECL is applied to scions, the DM must invoke a virtual one to make up for their increased power as compared to other (non-blooded) characters. This is important when determining the appropriate CR for encounters. There are 3 things that contribute to the increased power of scions; (1) blood abilities, (2) increased hit points and (3) better starting equipment (e.g., starting magic items).

Individually none of these, except for higher power (great and some major) blood abilities, provide enough of an increase to warrant an ECL on their own. When combined, however, the effect is such that an ECL is necessary in order to maintain the correct balance. A scion with only the minor scion template (no actual template, but the scion must use his extra ability roll for this purpose) does not gain an ECL, but also doesn’t gain any blood abilities greater than minor nor do they gain better starting equipment or bonus hit points.

This concept was also used to help give non-blooded characters a bonus to make up for this. Players running non-blooded character get to roll 7 ability scores and assign the highest 6 to their chosen abilities. Between the 2 advantages, an extra ability score and the ECLs, non-blooded characters get to make up for their “loss” of the 10% experience bonus they had in 2nd edition BR.

To sum up the above are the reasons that ECLs were assigned to the various scion templates. Some other bonuses were added (such as a one time increase in the bloods score for the ECL templates) to help balance out the ECL rating.:)