DogBackward
First Post
Why don't you just leave LA as it is, then allow it to be bought off? Even if you start at first level, you can allow LA. If you have LA +1, you start as a 1st level NPC class (Warrior, Expert, Adept, Aristocrat, Magewright from ECS). Once you hit level two, you become a 1st level PC class with LA +1.
If you have LA +2, you start as a 1st level Commoner. Once you hit level two, you become a 1st level NPC class with LA +1. Once you hit level three, you become a 1st level PC class with +2 LA.
You could extend this to allow LA +1 and +2 to start as NPC classes, and allow LA +3 and +4 to start as Commoners.
Then, once you hit ECL 6, you can spend xp to reduce your LA. 4000xp, +100xp per LA to reduce it by one step. So, to take LA +4 to +3 (and thus gain your third character level) would cost 8000xp. Then to go from +3 to +2 costs 7000xp, and you then gain your fourth character level. And so on until you're at level six like everybody else. If you started with a high LA, you'll be behind your buddies by several feats, and still at a lower power level at low levels.
If you have LA +2, you start as a 1st level Commoner. Once you hit level two, you become a 1st level NPC class with LA +1. Once you hit level three, you become a 1st level PC class with +2 LA.
You could extend this to allow LA +1 and +2 to start as NPC classes, and allow LA +3 and +4 to start as Commoners.
Then, once you hit ECL 6, you can spend xp to reduce your LA. 4000xp, +100xp per LA to reduce it by one step. So, to take LA +4 to +3 (and thus gain your third character level) would cost 8000xp. Then to go from +3 to +2 costs 7000xp, and you then gain your fourth character level. And so on until you're at level six like everybody else. If you started with a high LA, you'll be behind your buddies by several feats, and still at a lower power level at low levels.