Mineral Warrior in Eberron [Archive] - Wizards Community

Mineral Warrior in Eberron [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
sharkpower
03-20-08, 07:07 PM I am DMing a game where a player of mine is planning on using this template along with some other minor variants. I don't own the Underdark book and I am assuming it is still considered legit by 3.5e standards since I haven't found anything to the contrary. What I am wondering is if this template is restricted to another campaign setting aside from Eberron.

I know that as DM I have the power to decide myself but I want to be as fair as possible in my decision making. On a personal note, the mineral warrior strikes me as being far overpowered for it's tiny +1 level adjustment. I wouldn't at all be surprised if, after this current campaign ends, I didn't find myself staring across the screen at a group full of Mineral Warrior characters. Under those circumstances I feel I could justify denying it to my players but I imagine some might cry foul as it will have been used it in the past.

I would love some insight into this problem and also would like to make a request of any DM's who have had players run this template in their campaigns before. On paper it looks grossly overpowered and when coupled with certain variants and classes it only gets moreso. I want my players to have fun but I really just worry about having one of these played in every campaign I run for the rest of my DMing days.
wonlee76
03-20-08, 08:17 PM Depends on your own rules and beliefs.

Mineral Warrior is in the Forgotten Realms Underdark book. If you're the type who doesn't allow any material from a FR book in an Eberron campaign, simply don't allow Mineral Warrior template.

On the other hand, if you're more open minded and willing to consider any outside sources from the main Eberron books, let it in or modify it at your own leisure.

My personal opinion. Mineral Warrior is very close to being a +2 LA template. I wouldn't necessarily say overpowered at +1 LA but definitely very close to being overpowered. One change I've made to make it a more appropriate +1 LA is negating several of the special abilities when the Mineral Warrior is flying. So no DR when flying basically. Its a minor restriction but at least negates one of its more powerful abilities.
sharkpower
03-21-08, 01:11 AM I like your idea of not allowing it while in flight. I don't expect that to be an issue for my campaign on this go around because I don't believe the player plans to make a character capable of flying.

I'm considering just allowing it to be used this one time and then not allowing it in any future campaigns. I just wanted to be sure that this was not an out of date template that had been revised/changed/removed, and also that it wasn't specific to another realm. I sounds like it may indeed be a realm thing but I'm probably going to allow it this time as I've already devised an interesting idea for incorporating the character into the story (since the player's last character was killed in our last session).

Perhaps the incredible survivability that his new character has won't prove too game breaking... either way I don't think I'll allow them to play another character with this template for only a +1 LA.
celloshane
03-21-08, 02:48 PM There are several variables to consider in your decision. What level is your campaign starting at? What kind of characters will the other players be playing? Will you be allowing other templates? ect.
It's been a while since I've looked at that particular template, but I recall it being a bit overpowered for +1. I would consider taking Wonlee's suggestion one step further and say that certain abilities are negated when the character is not standing on earth or stone. (I.E walk inside a wooden building, ride a horse, try to swim - no DR and such)
I would also suggest that you get the player to agree to using the template on a "trial" basis. Tell him that you would like the option of eliminating the template with a plot device if it proves more powerful than you want to allow. Then you have the option of allowing the player to quest for a way to restore his character's nature and re-introduce the template at a higher level when it will make less of a difference. If the player agrees to this beforehand, you shouldn't have any problems.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
sharkpower 03-20-08, 07:07 PM	I am DMing a game where a player of mine is planning on using this template along with some other minor variants. I don't own the Underdark book and I am assuming it is still considered legit by 3.5e standards since I haven't found anything to the contrary. What I am wondering is if this template is restricted to another campaign setting aside from Eberron. I know that as DM I have the power to decide myself but I want to be as fair as possible in my decision making. On a personal note, the mineral warrior strikes me as being far overpowered for it's tiny +1 level adjustment. I wouldn't at all be surprised if, after this current campaign ends, I didn't find myself staring across the screen at a group full of Mineral Warrior characters. Under those circumstances I feel I could justify denying it to my players but I imagine some might cry foul as it will have been used it in the past. I would love some insight into this problem and also would like to make a request of any DM's who have had players run this template in their campaigns before. On paper it looks grossly overpowered and when coupled with certain variants and classes it only gets moreso. I want my players to have fun but I really just worry about having one of these played in every campaign I run for the rest of my DMing days.
wonlee76 03-20-08, 08:17 PM	Depends on your own rules and beliefs. Mineral Warrior is in the Forgotten Realms Underdark book. If you're the type who doesn't allow any material from a FR book in an Eberron campaign, simply don't allow Mineral Warrior template. On the other hand, if you're more open minded and willing to consider any outside sources from the main Eberron books, let it in or modify it at your own leisure. My personal opinion. Mineral Warrior is very close to being a +2 LA template. I wouldn't necessarily say overpowered at +1 LA but definitely very close to being overpowered. One change I've made to make it a more appropriate +1 LA is negating several of the special abilities when the Mineral Warrior is flying. So no DR when flying basically. Its a minor restriction but at least negates one of its more powerful abilities.
sharkpower 03-21-08, 01:11 AM	I like your idea of not allowing it while in flight. I don't expect that to be an issue for my campaign on this go around because I don't believe the player plans to make a character capable of flying. I'm considering just allowing it to be used this one time and then not allowing it in any future campaigns. I just wanted to be sure that this was not an out of date template that had been revised/changed/removed, and also that it wasn't specific to another realm. I sounds like it may indeed be a realm thing but I'm probably going to allow it this time as I've already devised an interesting idea for incorporating the character into the story (since the player's last character was killed in our last session). Perhaps the incredible survivability that his new character has won't prove too game breaking... either way I don't think I'll allow them to play another character with this template for only a +1 LA.
celloshane 03-21-08, 02:48 PM	There are several variables to consider in your decision. What level is your campaign starting at? What kind of characters will the other players be playing? Will you be allowing other templates? ect. It's been a while since I've looked at that particular template, but I recall it being a bit overpowered for +1. I would consider taking Wonlee's suggestion one step further and say that certain abilities are negated when the character is not standing on earth or stone. (I.E walk inside a wooden building, ride a horse, try to swim - no DR and such) I would also suggest that you get the player to agree to using the template on a "trial" basis. Tell him that you would like the option of eliminating the template with a plot device if it proves more powerful than you want to allow. Then you have the option of allowing the player to quest for a way to restore his character's nature and re-introduce the template at a higher level when it will make less of a difference. If the player agrees to this beforehand, you shouldn't have any problems.