Alternate Racial for Humans [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alternate Racial for Humans [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Full_Metal_Samurai
03-03-07, 03:24 PM I'm trying to come up with an alternate racial trait for humans to make them more appealing for the campaign I want to start but so far the only thing I can think of is giving them Exotic Weapon Proficiency Firearms as a free feat (like how elves have the proficiency with all true bows). I just don't want to mess with their attribute score. Any suggestions?
Imsolost
03-03-07, 04:47 PM I was thinking humans seemed kind of bland, especially when any of the elven subraces can do whatever a human wants to do, but better. Maybe letting them choose one of three options:
1) Choose any attribute it gets +1 and choose another it gets -1
2) They gain able learner as a free bonus feat (human's after all are supposed to be very adept at learning and right now a grey elf has them beat)
3) Choose a particular class as a specialized class at first level. For every five levels they possess of this class they gain one bonus feat (maybe limit feat selection to feats that directly affect their chosen class). Encourages going straight with one class instead of dipping.
JarionSilverblades
03-03-07, 06:08 PM 1) Choose any attribute it gets +1 and choose another it gets -1.

As a rule ability score adjustments are +/-2, +/-4, +/-6 and so on. With +/-1 you only gain a benefit or penalty half the time, with +/-2 you gain or lose something every time. The +/-1 makes it easy for someone to gain something without losing any thing, (ex. Str 11 (+0 mod), Dex 11 (+0 mod): Str 11 +1=12 (+1 mod, gain), Dex 11 -1=10 (+0 mod, no change).

If you want to check out a human "sub-race", check out my
Amazon (PEACH).
Imsolost
03-03-07, 07:05 PM I know a +1/-1 does allow for a gain without a loss at first level. But at 20th level its worse off than a +2/-2 in most cases. +5 inherent +5 from levels +2 from racial gives a +6bonus while +5 inherent +5 from levels +1 racial only gives you a +5 bonus. And you are going to put your minus in a stat you don't care about anyway in most cases so a -0 or a -1 penalty makes little difference. It is even worse if you are using point buy. A 16 can be boosted to an 18 for 12 points with a race that has a +2 mod and a 12 reduced to 10 costs another 4 for a total of 16 points. A 17 boosted to an 18 and an 11 dropped to a 10 costs 15+3 =18 points. I know these are specific examples and I am sure there are ways to take advantage of a +1/-1 but usually it is better to specialize in D&D and a +2 helps you specialize much more than a +1.
AMGriffin
03-03-07, 09:10 PM I was thinking humans seemed kind of bland, especially when any of the elven subraces can do whatever a human wants to do, but better. Maybe letting them choose one of three options:

Well, when you're a race that can do ANYTHING and is basically built for diversity, blandness may be expected partially. Also I seriously question the statement there's an elven subrace better at everything then humans elves have weaknesses, humans don't. Besides this can be easily fixed by removing most elven subraces from your games.

1) Choose any attribute it gets +1 and choose another it gets -1

Not only is that overpowering, but the +1 thing is a no-no, because they don't always matter, the +2 ALWAYS matters. You also gotta consider how this would throw off half-humans. Assume a half-orc's human parent had a +1 to charisma and -1 to strength.

2) They gain able learner as a free bonus feat (human's after all are supposed to be very adept at learning and right now a grey elf has them beat)

I don't see how the gray elf has them beat... At all they gain the EXACT same amount of bonus points when you consider the 4 extra skill points and 1 extra skill point at first level as basically the same as +2 intelligence skill wise. Gray elves are scrawny and weak anyway.

3) Choose a particular class as a specialized class at first level. For every five levels they possess of this class they gain one bonus feat (maybe limit feat selection to feats that directly affect their chosen class). Encourages going straight with one class instead of dipping.

Overpowered. Overpowered. Overpowered.

Humans are PERFECTLY fine as they are. They're the race by which all other races are measured, have an easy time accessing prestige classes, and can be customized and built with that extra feat and bonus skills to make them very effective at any single availble role in the game.

The only thing funnier then saying a human is underpowered is saying a half-elf is balanced. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Full_Metal_Samurai 03-03-07, 03:24 PM	I'm trying to come up with an alternate racial trait for humans to make them more appealing for the campaign I want to start but so far the only thing I can think of is giving them Exotic Weapon Proficiency Firearms as a free feat (like how elves have the proficiency with all true bows). I just don't want to mess with their attribute score. Any suggestions?
Imsolost 03-03-07, 04:47 PM	I was thinking humans seemed kind of bland, especially when any of the elven subraces can do whatever a human wants to do, but better. Maybe letting them choose one of three options: 1) Choose any attribute it gets +1 and choose another it gets -1 2) They gain able learner as a free bonus feat (human's after all are supposed to be very adept at learning and right now a grey elf has them beat) 3) Choose a particular class as a specialized class at first level. For every five levels they possess of this class they gain one bonus feat (maybe limit feat selection to feats that directly affect their chosen class). Encourages going straight with one class instead of dipping.
JarionSilverblades 03-03-07, 06:08 PM	1) Choose any attribute it gets +1 and choose another it gets -1. As a rule ability score adjustments are +/-2, +/-4, +/-6 and so on. With +/-1 you only gain a benefit or penalty half the time, with +/-2 you gain or lose something every time. The +/-1 makes it easy for someone to gain something without losing any thing, (ex. Str 11 (+0 mod), Dex 11 (+0 mod): Str 11 +1=12 (+1 mod, gain), Dex 11 -1=10 (+0 mod, no change). If you want to check out a human "sub-race", check out my Amazon (PEACH).
Imsolost 03-03-07, 07:05 PM	I know a +1/-1 does allow for a gain without a loss at first level. But at 20th level its worse off than a +2/-2 in most cases. +5 inherent +5 from levels +2 from racial gives a +6bonus while +5 inherent +5 from levels +1 racial only gives you a +5 bonus. And you are going to put your minus in a stat you don't care about anyway in most cases so a -0 or a -1 penalty makes little difference. It is even worse if you are using point buy. A 16 can be boosted to an 18 for 12 points with a race that has a +2 mod and a 12 reduced to 10 costs another 4 for a total of 16 points. A 17 boosted to an 18 and an 11 dropped to a 10 costs 15+3 =18 points. I know these are specific examples and I am sure there are ways to take advantage of a +1/-1 but usually it is better to specialize in D&D and a +2 helps you specialize much more than a +1.
AMGriffin 03-03-07, 09:10 PM	I was thinking humans seemed kind of bland, especially when any of the elven subraces can do whatever a human wants to do, but better. Maybe letting them choose one of three options: Well, when you're a race that can do ANYTHING and is basically built for diversity, blandness may be expected partially. Also I seriously question the statement there's an elven subrace better at everything then humans elves have weaknesses, humans don't. Besides this can be easily fixed by removing most elven subraces from your games. 1) Choose any attribute it gets +1 and choose another it gets -1 Not only is that overpowering, but the +1 thing is a no-no, because they don't always matter, the +2 ALWAYS matters. You also gotta consider how this would throw off half-humans. Assume a half-orc's human parent had a +1 to charisma and -1 to strength. 2) They gain able learner as a free bonus feat (human's after all are supposed to be very adept at learning and right now a grey elf has them beat) I don't see how the gray elf has them beat... At all they gain the EXACT same amount of bonus points when you consider the 4 extra skill points and 1 extra skill point at first level as basically the same as +2 intelligence skill wise. Gray elves are scrawny and weak anyway. 3) Choose a particular class as a specialized class at first level. For every five levels they possess of this class they gain one bonus feat (maybe limit feat selection to feats that directly affect their chosen class). Encourages going straight with one class instead of dipping. Overpowered. Overpowered. Overpowered. Humans are PERFECTLY fine as they are. They're the race by which all other races are measured, have an easy time accessing prestige classes, and can be customized and built with that extra feat and bonus skills to make them very effective at any single availble role in the game. The only thing funnier then saying a human is underpowered is saying a half-elf is balanced. :)