Adding Character Templates? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Adding Character Templates? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
bassmickster
05-27-07, 06:50 AM As a new DM (only 5 sessions to date), I have a player (12 year old) who often knows more than I do (45 year old). He wants to add a half dragon template to his Elf-Ranger character. Can this be done? The monster manual says one can add these templates to "corporeal creatures", but does this cover Elves? I'm having enough challenge just keeping up with the starter game rules, much less these advanced twists. Suggestions?

Bassmickster
Mysteria
05-27-07, 09:24 AM Let's see:

“Half-dragon” is an inherited template that can be added to any living, corporeal creature (referred to hereafter as the base creature).

- Elves are corporeal creatures, so yes you can have a half-dragon elf.

- It's an inherited template, so you can't just say in the middle of things: "Oh, yes, and now I'm a half-dragon." You have to start as one.

Then there is this line:

Level Adjustment: Same as base creature +3.

Now, what is Level Adjustment? Basically, a creature that has more abilities than one of the normal player races is stronger than those and thus has a level adjustement which basically means that it counts as higher level than its class levels for power level.

Example:
You have a part of 5th level characters.
Bob a halfling rogue 5th lvl.
Joe a human cleric 5th lvl.
Tom a gnome wizard 5th lvl.
And then you have Scales, the half-dragon/half-elf 2nd lvl fighter equivalent to a 5th lvl character in power.
That's because he has a level adjustement of 3, which means that his extra abilities given through being a half-dragon count as 3 class levels.

Now, this is a bit overly simplified. Here's more on the topic of monster races as characters: monsters as races (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersAsRaces.html)

Especially this:
Level Adjustment and Effective Character Level: To determine the effective character level (ECL) of a monster character, add its level adjustment to its racial Hit Dice and character class levels.

In my example of Scales, he would have:
- a level adjustement of +3
- 0 racial hit dice
- 2 character class levels
= effective character level 5.

This puts him at the same power as a normal character (e.g. Joe) who has
- no level adjustement
- no racial hit dice
- 5 character classe levels
= effective character level 5.

Now, I hope this helps and I'd advise against meddling with templates until you get a better understanding of the basic rules. :)

Cheers, Mysteria
ranewen
05-27-07, 11:25 AM I'm having enough challenge just keeping up with the starter game rules, much less these advanced twists. Suggestions?

based on this alone, I wouldn't allow it.

And as it's been said, it's something the 12-yo would have to start with. if you decided to allow it, he'd have to scrap his character and start over with the ECL (effective character level). If in the game he doesn't have sufficient levels to eat this ECL cost, and you are still thinking of allowing, there is a half-dragon paragon in Unearthed Arcana on page 37, you might look at. However, I feel it's weaker compared to the template found in the monster manual, but it does allow a character to begin play at 1st level as a half dragon. i have an adjustment i've made that kinda merges the two, if you're interested, pm me, and i'll pass it on to you.
Marcus Majarra
05-28-07, 10:18 PM Another way to acquire the template would be for his ranger to take 10 levels in Dragon Disciple (a prestige class from the DMG).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
bassmickster 05-27-07, 06:50 AM	As a new DM (only 5 sessions to date), I have a player (12 year old) who often knows more than I do (45 year old). He wants to add a half dragon template to his Elf-Ranger character. Can this be done? The monster manual says one can add these templates to "corporeal creatures", but does this cover Elves? I'm having enough challenge just keeping up with the starter game rules, much less these advanced twists. Suggestions? Bassmickster
Mysteria 05-27-07, 09:24 AM	Let's see: “Half-dragon” is an inherited template that can be added to any living, corporeal creature (referred to hereafter as the base creature). - Elves are corporeal creatures, so yes you can have a half-dragon elf. - It's an inherited template, so you can't just say in the middle of things: "Oh, yes, and now I'm a half-dragon." You have to start as one. Then there is this line: Level Adjustment: Same as base creature +3. Now, what is Level Adjustment? Basically, a creature that has more abilities than one of the normal player races is stronger than those and thus has a level adjustement which basically means that it counts as higher level than its class levels for power level. Example: You have a part of 5th level characters. Bob a halfling rogue 5th lvl. Joe a human cleric 5th lvl. Tom a gnome wizard 5th lvl. And then you have Scales, the half-dragon/half-elf 2nd lvl fighter equivalent to a 5th lvl character in power. That's because he has a level adjustement of 3, which means that his extra abilities given through being a half-dragon count as 3 class levels. Now, this is a bit overly simplified. Here's more on the topic of monster races as characters: monsters as races (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersAsRaces.html) Especially this: Level Adjustment and Effective Character Level: To determine the effective character level (ECL) of a monster character, add its level adjustment to its racial Hit Dice and character class levels. In my example of Scales, he would have: - a level adjustement of +3 - 0 racial hit dice - 2 character class levels = effective character level 5. This puts him at the same power as a normal character (e.g. Joe) who has - no level adjustement - no racial hit dice - 5 character classe levels = effective character level 5. Now, I hope this helps and I'd advise against meddling with templates until you get a better understanding of the basic rules. :) Cheers, Mysteria
ranewen 05-27-07, 11:25 AM	I'm having enough challenge just keeping up with the starter game rules, much less these advanced twists. Suggestions? based on this alone, I wouldn't allow it. And as it's been said, it's something the 12-yo would have to start with. if you decided to allow it, he'd have to scrap his character and start over with the ECL (effective character level). If in the game he doesn't have sufficient levels to eat this ECL cost, and you are still thinking of allowing, there is a half-dragon paragon in Unearthed Arcana on page 37, you might look at. However, I feel it's weaker compared to the template found in the monster manual, but it does allow a character to begin play at 1st level as a half dragon. i have an adjustment i've made that kinda merges the two, if you're interested, pm me, and i'll pass it on to you.
Marcus Majarra 05-28-07, 10:18 PM	Another way to acquire the template would be for his ranger to take 10 levels in Dragon Disciple (a prestige class from the DMG).