Kobolds and Goblins have no LA and only 1 HD. When they take a class, their class level replaces their HD.

Catfolk have a +1 LA and only 1 HD. Like Kobolds, Goblins, and the PHB races, their class determines their HD, but there's a catch: they start a level lower. In the case of a 2nd-level game, the PHB races will all be level 2, but the Catfolk will be level 1 because its racial abilities are more powerful.

Gnolls have a +1 LA and 2 racial HD, so a plain gnoll is treated as a 3rd-level character. If a creature has more than 1 racial HD, you can't replace those HD with class levels, which means you're stuck with them. Racial HD beyond the first are generally a burden, in that they're inferior to class levels. Case in point: gnolls are CR 1 but they're treated as 3rd-level characters.

Kobold sorceror 2
Goblin cleric 2
Orc barbarian 2 (yes, that's a full-blooded orc)
Catfolk ranger 1

Edit: You could work out a progression for the Catfolk and Gnolls. Savage Species has a lot of examples (including a gnoll, I think); they essentially take "levels" in their "racial class", and have to finish it all the way until they're a full-grown version of the creature. Here's a sample progression, which I whipped up on the spot:

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRD entry for a full-grown gnoll Strength +4, Constitution +2, Intelligence -2, Charisma -2. Size Medium. A gnoll’s base land speed is 30 feet. Darkvision out to 60 feet. Racial Hit Dice: A gnoll begins with two levels of humanoid, which provide 2d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +1, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +3, Ref +0, and Will +0. Racial Skills: A gnoll’s humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 5 × (2 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Listen and Spot. Racial Feats: A gnoll’s humanoid levels give it one feat. +1 natural armor bonus. Automatic Languages: Gnoll. Bonus Languages: Common, Draconic, Elven, Goblin, Orc. Favored Class: Ranger. Level adjustment +1.

Gnoll Level 1:

Strength +2, Constitution +0, Intelligence -2, Charisma -2.
Size Medium.
A gnoll’s base land speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision out to 60 feet.
Racial Hit Dice: An ECL 1 gnoll begins with one level of humanoid, which provides 1d8 Hit Dice (maximized just like any other PC), a base attack bonus of +0, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +2, Ref +0, and Will +0.
Racial Skills: A gnoll’s humanoid level gives it skill points equal to 4 × (2 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Listen and Spot.
Racial Feats: A gnoll’s humanoid level gives it one feat.
No natural armor bonus.
Automatic Languages: Gnoll. Bonus Languages: Common, Draconic, Elven, Goblin, Orc.
Favored Class: Ranger.

Note that the racial abilities got toned down a little, and it only has one HD. It's very similar to a half-orc, except not as good... which is pretty much how it's going to be for the gnoll unless he can buy off his LA at ECL 9.

Gnoll Level 2: No HD increase, +2 Con, +1 natural armor. This is your "Level Adjustment" level, and it sucks.

Gnoll Level 3: +2 Str, +1 HD of Monstrous Humanoid; essentially, just use the MM entry about "gnolls as characters". Congratulations, you're now a full-grown gnoll, aka a CR 1 character in a 3rd-level party!

If their treated as 3rd level characters, can't I just bump the others to 3rd level?

You're potential party is fine and all but the whole story/plan is with gnolls lol.

Just to speed my constant questioning along..

Please just use this
Race Class
Gnoll ranger
Catfolk ranger
Kobold ranger
Goblin ranger

What levels do they all have to be, to be equal in power?

My guess would be gnoll-1, catfolk-2, goblin/kobold-3?

Gnoll ranger 1
Catfolk ranger 3
Kobold ranger 4
Goblin ranger 4

Yes, racial hit dice plus level adjustments really DO suck that bad. I've been wanting to play a gnoll for a while, but there's no getting around how ineffective they are.

See above for the gnoll progression that will let you play one starting at level 1 (or 2).

Tyvm

Edit: Why can't the race just be changed? like just..knock off one of the HD?

Because HD exist to show how tough something is. There are guidelines in the Monster Manual on creating your own creatures, and one of the things it mentions is that creatures of a certain size have a certain range of racial HD they're expected to have. Just as something the size of a rat generally won't have 40 racial HD, something the size of an elephant is gonna need more than one or two.

Gnolls, as described, are on the larger side of Medium (and just barely shy of Large, actually). Their racial HD are there to represent the fact that the average gnoll weighs more than an NFL linebacker and stands about half a foot taller than Shaq.

Wait I see a section in "Races of the Wild" about a gnoll monster class that is used for making a gnoll level 1....by calling it a monster class are they actually meaning race? if so this works fine now except, as D&D usually does....they did things half-way and didn't put the catfolk monster class.

Monster class = racial class, yep. For the catfolk, look at things you can trim down a bit to make it on par with the PHB races. I'd suggest reducing the speed to 30', dropping the Dex boost to +2, and dropping the Cha boost and natural armor altogether. That'd be about right, though the exact tweaking is up to you, of course.

Thanks..I was actually watching a youtube vid of a guy going through the monster manual giving suggestions about things.

Makes more sense for me to just edit the races up or down then to bother with understanding D&D's version of things lol
but you were a lot of help, thanks.

D&D 3.5 FR

Made a Favoured Soul that's just levelled up to level 7. Didn't have time to pick out spells and I'm not sure what to pick since my focus is currently on my studies. 1 orison, 1 level1 and 1 level 2 spell. Sourcebooks only. Sorry I don't have the char sheet to hand so can't tell you what I have already.

Thanks in advance.

Mutants and Masterminds:

For the Favored Opponent feat, would (Attackers of Charge) be reasonable for a bodyguard to have? Not whoever thinks about wacking the person they're protecting, but actually the person who landed an attack last.