Q229: Some debate has arisen in our group. The DM has let a player add the saint template at 6th level--he's now a Paladin Saint. Anyway, the player would like to buy off the LA. We can't seem to come to consensus on just how to do that when the template and LA were added at level 6. Help.
Well, by strict RAW, you can buy it off right at that level, but strict RAW is kind of dumb on this one (since you could then get a ton of LA+1 templates,buy them off individually, and end up with stupidly large amounts of stuff.).
The way I houserule (to make them as non-broken as possible)
Step A: You gain a new level adjustment of value X at level Y
Step B: You gain XP until you are at level Y + 3X
Step C: Your new level adjustment is X-1
Step D: Go to step A, plugging in your new level adjustment.
So if you gain a LA+2 template at level six, your buyoff time is six levels (2*3). It's reduced to LA+1 at level 12, so your buyoff time is now three levels (1*3).
The assumption is, of course, that you're trying to optimize - and if you're willing to pick up a LA at a higher level, it has to be quite good to even bother with. The problem of the level adjustment counter resetting if your LA increases is a bit harsh, but it prevents shenanigans.
