Modified Races [Archive] - Wizards Community

Modified Races [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lord_of_the_Seven_Towers
02-25-07, 10:05 AM Hey all, just been looking for the right board to post this, hope its ok here, but if not then feel free to move it.

OK, I've taken a crack at modifying the standard Races from the PHB to make them a little different and hopefully more evenly appealing.

OK, everything about the races are the same, apart from the following:

+ General Point: Remove Racial favoured classes

Dwarves: HD: d10, -2 CHA
Elves: HD: d4, +2 CHA, + 2 DEX
Gnomes: HD: d8, Bonus Feat: Brew Potion*/Craft Wondrous Item*
Half-Elves: HD: d6, Bonus Feat: Iron Will/Lightning Reflexes
Halfings: HD: d6 +2 Int
Half-Orcs: HD: d10, -2 Int
Humans: HD: d8, ?

*Gnomes gain this feat at first level, defying the ordinary pre-requisites.

OK, so the most notable thing is the switch of Hit Dice from class to race based, so let me know how you feel about that.

I like this system for opening up new Race-Class combinations particularly Halfling Wizards and Half-Orc or Dwarven Sorcerers/Bards (right now I just see a lot of halfling rogues and Half-Orc Barbarians).

The Elves are pretty far out there, with huge stat bonuses, making them exceptional Bards. They're great Sorcerers too of course, but the Dwarven or Half-Orc variety is far more sturdy and possibly more appealing. They also take a hit in the capacity as melee combatants, but maybe this makes sense for the race? Im not sure, let me know.

Also what about the humans, any ideas for a cool ability for them (preferable not skills points or a bonus feat).

So let me hear your thoughts, do you like this version, does it look broken? Which of the races work and which ones dont?
Evil DM Mk3
02-25-07, 11:09 AM This is going to cause soem balance issues, as is.

+ General Point: Remove Racial favoured classesThis is not a real issue as far as I can see.

Dwarves: HD: d10, -2 CHA
Elves: HD: d4, +2 CHA, + 2 DEX
Gnomes: HD: d8, Bonus Feat: Brew Potion*/Craft Wondrous Item*
Half-Elves: HD: d6, Bonus Feat: Iron Will/Lightning Reflexes
Halfings: HD: d6 +2 Int
Half-Orcs: HD: d10, -2 Int
Humans: HD: d8, ?Ok, um, you are aware that this will mean, amoung other things, an overall downturn in swarven fortitude saves? (minour) The elination of elves. (No class justifies the d4 hit dice when a larger one is available. Dex and Cha are nice, but not nice enought) And all non-dwarven wizards and non-half orc sorcerours. (d10 hd as a primary archanist? Gimme!) As it stands the removal of class in the hp equation is a disaster. Also elves should, I have allways felt, have some the the finest fighters in the world (fighter as in combatants, not Fighter the class). Although they are famed for their magic in most literature it is their fighting men we see so much of. And not just archers either.

The best way forward whilst keeping the core premice? Pump the elf a bit, reduce ALL hd (exept the elf) and give all classes a default number of +hp per turn, say ranger rogue and bard get +1, Paladin monk and fighter get +2 and barb gets +3. That kind of thing, but that is a rough preliminary idea.
Lord_of_the_Seven_Towers
02-25-07, 11:43 AM Evil DM Mk3: Hey there, thanks for the feedback.

I agree that high hit-point spell-casters are very tempting, and it would be nice if that allowed spell-casters to come a little closer in to combat.

But, the best Spell-casting races in my list are still Elves and Halflings, even with lower HPs. A starting primary spell-casting attribute of 20 is also a "Gimme!" factor for a lot of people due to extra bonus spells and higher DCs.

So really you have 4 really strong spell-casting races: Elves, Dwarves, Half-Orcs, Halflings. Not forgeting Gnomes if you want to go with Item creation.

+2 Dex, +2 Cha makes Elves great traditional long-range spell-casters, due to enhanced initiative, AC, Ranged Touch Attacks and as I said bonus spell per day and enhanced DCs.

But you are absolutely right that they take a huge hit as front-line fighters, which is definitely a shame. What if they had d6 and the Half-Elves were bumped to d8? It might help to off-set what we've talked about and also show some love to the long over-looked half-elf.

Thanks for your comment, hope to get more feedback.
Evil DM Mk3
02-25-07, 11:56 AM Actaully I ave just thought of a human ability you might like, at level 1 they gain either their int bonus or wis bonus (whichever is higher) number of skills that the DM feels are justifiable that are allways class skills.

Also halfing have allways seemd more wis than int to me.
Lord_of_the_Seven_Towers
02-25-07, 02:36 PM Hey again, thanks for more constructive feedback.

I like the idea about getting a whole bunch of Class skills, I toyed with perhaps giving Humans the 'Able Learner' feat for free and perhaps another small ability. What do you think about that?

As far as halflings as concerned, the PHB says they are "Clever", and also describe them as being "notoriously curious" and "relying on their ability to survive or escape danger".

This just suggested a risk-taking (maybe even fool-hardy) race that likes the thrill of danger, and relying on quick wits to get them out of hot water. That was my interpretation anyway, which is why I went with an Int bonus.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lord_of_the_Seven_Towers 02-25-07, 10:05 AM	Hey all, just been looking for the right board to post this, hope its ok here, but if not then feel free to move it. OK, I've taken a crack at modifying the standard Races from the PHB to make them a little different and hopefully more evenly appealing. OK, everything about the races are the same, apart from the following: + General Point: Remove Racial favoured classes Dwarves: HD: d10, -2 CHA Elves: HD: d4, +2 CHA, + 2 DEX Gnomes: HD: d8, Bonus Feat: Brew Potion/Craft Wondrous Item Half-Elves: HD: d6, Bonus Feat: Iron Will/Lightning Reflexes Halfings: HD: d6 +2 Int Half-Orcs: HD: d10, -2 Int Humans: HD: d8, ? *Gnomes gain this feat at first level, defying the ordinary pre-requisites. OK, so the most notable thing is the switch of Hit Dice from class to race based, so let me know how you feel about that. I like this system for opening up new Race-Class combinations particularly Halfling Wizards and Half-Orc or Dwarven Sorcerers/Bards (right now I just see a lot of halfling rogues and Half-Orc Barbarians). The Elves are pretty far out there, with huge stat bonuses, making them exceptional Bards. They're great Sorcerers too of course, but the Dwarven or Half-Orc variety is far more sturdy and possibly more appealing. They also take a hit in the capacity as melee combatants, but maybe this makes sense for the race? Im not sure, let me know. Also what about the humans, any ideas for a cool ability for them (preferable not skills points or a bonus feat). So let me hear your thoughts, do you like this version, does it look broken? Which of the races work and which ones dont?
Evil DM Mk3 02-25-07, 11:09 AM	This is going to cause soem balance issues, as is. + General Point: Remove Racial favoured classesThis is not a real issue as far as I can see. Dwarves: HD: d10, -2 CHA Elves: HD: d4, +2 CHA, + 2 DEX Gnomes: HD: d8, Bonus Feat: Brew Potion/Craft Wondrous Item Half-Elves: HD: d6, Bonus Feat: Iron Will/Lightning Reflexes Halfings: HD: d6 +2 Int Half-Orcs: HD: d10, -2 Int Humans: HD: d8, ?Ok, um, you are aware that this will mean, amoung other things, an overall downturn in swarven fortitude saves? (minour) The elination of elves. (No class justifies the d4 hit dice when a larger one is available. Dex and Cha are nice, but not nice enought) And all non-dwarven wizards and non-half orc sorcerours. (d10 hd as a primary archanist? Gimme!) As it stands the removal of class in the hp equation is a disaster. Also elves should, I have allways felt, have some the the finest fighters in the world (fighter as in combatants, not Fighter the class). Although they are famed for their magic in most literature it is their fighting men we see so much of. And not just archers either. The best way forward whilst keeping the core premice? Pump the elf a bit, reduce ALL hd (exept the elf) and give all classes a default number of +hp per turn, say ranger rogue and bard get +1, Paladin monk and fighter get +2 and barb gets +3. That kind of thing, but that is a rough preliminary idea.
Lord_of_the_Seven_Towers 02-25-07, 11:43 AM	Evil DM Mk3: Hey there, thanks for the feedback. I agree that high hit-point spell-casters are very tempting, and it would be nice if that allowed spell-casters to come a little closer in to combat. But, the best Spell-casting races in my list are still Elves and Halflings, even with lower HPs. A starting primary spell-casting attribute of 20 is also a "Gimme!" factor for a lot of people due to extra bonus spells and higher DCs. So really you have 4 really strong spell-casting races: Elves, Dwarves, Half-Orcs, Halflings. Not forgeting Gnomes if you want to go with Item creation. +2 Dex, +2 Cha makes Elves great traditional long-range spell-casters, due to enhanced initiative, AC, Ranged Touch Attacks and as I said bonus spell per day and enhanced DCs. But you are absolutely right that they take a huge hit as front-line fighters, which is definitely a shame. What if they had d6 and the Half-Elves were bumped to d8? It might help to off-set what we've talked about and also show some love to the long over-looked half-elf. Thanks for your comment, hope to get more feedback.
Evil DM Mk3 02-25-07, 11:56 AM	Actaully I ave just thought of a human ability you might like, at level 1 they gain either their int bonus or wis bonus (whichever is higher) number of skills that the DM feels are justifiable that are allways class skills. Also halfing have allways seemd more wis than int to me.
Lord_of_the_Seven_Towers 02-25-07, 02:36 PM	Hey again, thanks for more constructive feedback. I like the idea about getting a whole bunch of Class skills, I toyed with perhaps giving Humans the 'Able Learner' feat for free and perhaps another small ability. What do you think about that? As far as halflings as concerned, the PHB says they are "Clever", and also describe them as being "notoriously curious" and "relying on their ability to survive or escape danger". This just suggested a risk-taking (maybe even fool-hardy) race that likes the thrill of danger, and relying on quick wits to get them out of hot water. That was my interpretation anyway, which is why I went with an Int bonus.