Best +1 Level Adjustment Race? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best +1 Level Adjustment Race? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
CroupandVandemar
07-02-07, 02:17 AM Just like the title says: What +1 LA race do you think is the best and why; and in that subject, the worst?

:D
Salla
07-02-07, 02:24 AM Best: Catfolk. +6 total stat bonus, movement bonus, two skill bonuses. And they're freakin' cats, which makes 'em cool.

Worst: Blues. Gaining 1 power point over a normal goblin is not worht a +1 LA.
runestar
07-02-07, 02:30 AM Goliath - powerful build, +4str, great racial sub class that is a no-brainer to take. Pimp slaps the gnoll any time of the day.

Worse - planetouched. Nice abilities, but ultimately too weak for their LA.
DrakaraGM
07-02-07, 02:38 AM Depends -- what do you want the character to be? Melee type? Skill monkey? Spellcaster, and if so, what sort? If you want an arcane caster, Goliath probably not your best choice, but certainly rocks for a STR-based melee type...
Razieliffied
07-02-07, 02:48 AM Feral [savage species].
White Dragonspawn [Dragonlance].
Mineral Warrior [Underdark].
Duergar [Monster Manual].
Ghedan [Dragon Magazine].
Half Minotaur [Dragon Magazine].
Poisondusk Lizardfolk [Monster Manual 3].
Shadow Walker [Unapproachable East [?]].

I've played each of them over the last few months, and they are some of the most powerfull +1 LA races and/or templates.

I think that hobgoblin alongside blue are two of the least powerfull LA +1 races, alongside most of the planetouched.
CroupandVandemar
07-02-07, 03:21 AM Wow, Razieliffied, that was wicked crazy. I never thought of many of those sources. My hat goes off to you.
Empirate
07-02-07, 07:41 AM Best:
Shadar-Kai from FF. Fantastic abilities (+6 Dex, +2 Con, -2 Cha), EWP(Spiked Chain) as a bonus feat, HiPS (!), superior low-light vision, SA +1d6 damage, racial bonus +10 to Hide in non-bright conditions. Very good flavor to their balancing factor, the shadow curse, and a cool signature item (Gal-Ralan) to top it off. Very good art, too. The only drawback are the three racial HD that come with the package, so talk your DM into dropping these!

Worst:
Hobgoblin! They must be joking! It would be good for a +0, but I'd take a Human over it any day of the week!
The_Shaman
07-02-07, 07:56 AM The Draconic template (Draconomicon) deserves at least a honorary mention here imo. For many melee characters it is a very solid +1, and imo paladins can't go wrong with it. Not like the dreaded feral, perhaps, but still good. The Shadowwalker template is nice, but mostly for the PrC it allows :) I have heard people compare it unfavorably with the Dark creature, iirc from ToMagic
EvilVegan
07-02-07, 07:58 AM Best
For a barbarian you can't beat a Feral Wood Elf - +8 str +2 wis -6 int
low-light vision, darkvision, claws, improved grab, fast healing, natural armor, increased movement.
snakeman830
07-02-07, 12:01 PM Best: Catfolk (for the same reasons mentioned above) + Dark creatures.

The Dark template is often bashed, but it is a freaking AWESOME template, especially for your stealthy type characters. I think the reason so many people hate it is that it doesn't increase your damage output at all. SO WHAT??? That's not what it was designed for! For stealth, I doubt any other LA+1 template will beat it.

Worst: Blues, as they can easily be considered to be below NORMAL goblins (yet I still have a Blue character, I just rule it to be LA+0).
DwarfPcfan
07-02-07, 04:49 PM The best: Duegar, seriously, they get all the added sugar of being dwarves from every aspect plus look at the rest immnuities, psy-like abilities, extra power points. If you ask me duegar should have been written in cannon as the most widespread and successful race of the underdark definetly not drow

The worst: I'd put my vote for hobgoblin they work just fine as a La+0 race as I've field tested them on many occasions in fact, if you ask they are on equal footing to dwarves, humans and gnomes. but loosing an entire level...
TheCobra
07-02-07, 04:56 PM Mineral warrior when everyone else is level 2 would be stupidly powerful. And it's pretty good at higher levels as well.
Malchius
07-02-07, 07:38 PM Probably not the best but one of my favourite LA+1 races recently has to be chaos gnomes, immunity to confusion affects if handy and I like the part about them changing their names every couple of years but there abilities are okay, goo stat mods, dex, con and cha if I can remember right, also a free reroll and weapon familiarity, pretty decent in my opinion
ArchMagik
07-02-07, 08:20 PM In my opinion i think the Half-Giant from the Expanded Psionics Handbook is the best. With its bonus to str and con, its powerful build feature and their psionic abilities. Plus their just badass. On the other end i think the weakest would have to be the Blue. I mean come on its just a slightly smarter goblin with an extra power point.:rolleyes:So not worth a +1LA.
CroupandVandemar
07-02-07, 10:15 PM Some dnd games run from 1st level to 20th with a span of two years or so. Lets say you can somehow survive this game, are you willing to roleplay this race for that long or do you just like it for the +something it gives you? Reason I ask this is that some races are really crazy, and some are just silly. But fantasy is fantasy... right?
Dnarris
07-02-07, 10:21 PM I'd have to say half-ogre from Savage Species. +1 you have +6 str, +2 con, -2 dex, -2 int. You get reach 10', and are counted as a large creature, natural armor +4, and darkvision.

Since you don't get racial HD your total ECL at level 1 is just 2.

I have a half-ogre Fighter/Hulking Hurler/War Hulk at level 15 currently and it's a hell of a lot of fun.
CroupandVandemar
07-02-07, 10:23 PM Sounds like fun :D
calronmoonflower
07-03-07, 03:19 AM The Draconic template (Draconomicon) deserves at least a honorary mention here imo.

I second the honorable mention.

If you use reducing level adjustment rules from Unearthed Arcana is works well for Charisma based spell casters.

Paladins, warlocks, and battle sorcerers both can benefit from practically every racial ability.
Dnarris
07-03-07, 03:24 AM Sounds like fun :D

Oh it is! At level 15 I have a 36 base strength and I'm at 41 because of a tome.

With fling enemy and the really throw anything ability I can pick up some of the biggest monsters and throw them around. I love picking up something like an ogre and throwing it ontop of a couple of goblins :P.

The throw ally feat is a lot of fun to. If I win the initiative I'll usually pick up my gnome rogue friend and hurl him closer towards the enemies so he can get his sneak attack in on the first round if he isn't close enough.
Steely_Dan
07-03-07, 08:10 AM Feytouched are nice - +2 to Dex and Cha and complete immunity to mind affecting effects and some other goodies.
Sengir lacky
07-03-07, 08:13 AM two words people: Chaos Gnome
+8 stat perks, a free reroll, spellike abilities, immune to confussion and oh yeah mood eyes
The Livewire
07-03-07, 08:29 AM I second the honorable mention.

If you use reducing level adjustment rules from Unearthed Arcana is works well for Charisma based spell casters.

Paladins, warlocks, and battle sorcerers both can benefit from practically every racial ability.

Thirded. I'm playing a draconic battle sorcerer now. with a 25 point buy a 16 or 17 cha at 1st level is easy, 28 point by, that should be an 18.
Majick
07-03-07, 08:30 AM Catfolk and Goliath are probably my favourites, mainly because they are not only powerful but have decent racial fluff :P

Shadow/Dark Creature template from the ToM is kinda cool for a sneaky character, but i also do quite enjoy the old Aasimar and Tiefling simply because of the bloodline thing
Warforged Goblin
07-03-07, 08:43 AM There are a lot of really nice +1 LA races, most of which have been mentioned, so I won't rehash those. However, in terms of some of the worst +1 LA races I suggest taking a look at the Snow Goblins from Frostburn. They get a +4 bonus to Intimidate. That's it. They're not worth a level of anything in my opinion...
snakeman830
07-03-07, 10:23 AM I had forgotten about them. Wait, don't they get a climb speed? that can be rather useful (though not worth +1 LA)
Werebat
07-03-07, 10:37 AM Best: Duergar or Draconic Human

Duergar has been explained already, Draconic has been mentioned but you don't typically see just how good it really is until you stack it with the abilities of one of the +0 LA races, which is how it always works.

Worst: Blues

I think they just added the +1 LA because they seemed better than goblins and didn't want to step on the goblins' toes. I "fixed" them IMC by giving them +2 to Dex in addition to Int, and a bonus psionic feat of their choice at 1st level.

- Ron ^*^
RealSorceror
07-03-07, 10:51 AM The Empty Vessels from Ebberron. They get all the benefits of being human (the skills and feats), plus several Kalashtar abilities (including the mad 1 power point per lvl) and a bonus to Charisma (and I think Int also).

As for worst, I'd say the Genasi. Cool flavor, but those abilties just aren't worth 1 LA. Maybe if they actually had resistance to their element. (why do Aasimar and Tieflings get resistances and the Genasi don't?)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CroupandVandemar 07-02-07, 02:17 AM	Just like the title says: What +1 LA race do you think is the best and why; and in that subject, the worst? :D
Salla 07-02-07, 02:24 AM	Best: Catfolk. +6 total stat bonus, movement bonus, two skill bonuses. And they're freakin' cats, which makes 'em cool. Worst: Blues. Gaining 1 power point over a normal goblin is not worht a +1 LA.
runestar 07-02-07, 02:30 AM	Goliath - powerful build, +4str, great racial sub class that is a no-brainer to take. Pimp slaps the gnoll any time of the day. Worse - planetouched. Nice abilities, but ultimately too weak for their LA.
DrakaraGM 07-02-07, 02:38 AM	Depends -- what do you want the character to be? Melee type? Skill monkey? Spellcaster, and if so, what sort? If you want an arcane caster, Goliath probably not your best choice, but certainly rocks for a STR-based melee type...
Razieliffied 07-02-07, 02:48 AM	Feral [savage species]. White Dragonspawn [Dragonlance]. Mineral Warrior [Underdark]. Duergar [Monster Manual]. Ghedan [Dragon Magazine]. Half Minotaur [Dragon Magazine]. Poisondusk Lizardfolk [Monster Manual 3]. Shadow Walker [Unapproachable East [?]]. I've played each of them over the last few months, and they are some of the most powerfull +1 LA races and/or templates. I think that hobgoblin alongside blue are two of the least powerfull LA +1 races, alongside most of the planetouched.
CroupandVandemar 07-02-07, 03:21 AM	Wow, Razieliffied, that was wicked crazy. I never thought of many of those sources. My hat goes off to you.
Empirate 07-02-07, 07:41 AM	Best: Shadar-Kai from FF. Fantastic abilities (+6 Dex, +2 Con, -2 Cha), EWP(Spiked Chain) as a bonus feat, HiPS (!), superior low-light vision, SA +1d6 damage, racial bonus +10 to Hide in non-bright conditions. Very good flavor to their balancing factor, the shadow curse, and a cool signature item (Gal-Ralan) to top it off. Very good art, too. The only drawback are the three racial HD that come with the package, so talk your DM into dropping these! Worst: Hobgoblin! They must be joking! It would be good for a +0, but I'd take a Human over it any day of the week!
The_Shaman 07-02-07, 07:56 AM	The Draconic template (Draconomicon) deserves at least a honorary mention here imo. For many melee characters it is a very solid +1, and imo paladins can't go wrong with it. Not like the dreaded feral, perhaps, but still good. The Shadowwalker template is nice, but mostly for the PrC it allows :) I have heard people compare it unfavorably with the Dark creature, iirc from ToMagic
EvilVegan 07-02-07, 07:58 AM	Best For a barbarian you can't beat a Feral Wood Elf - +8 str +2 wis -6 int low-light vision, darkvision, claws, improved grab, fast healing, natural armor, increased movement.
snakeman830 07-02-07, 12:01 PM	Best: Catfolk (for the same reasons mentioned above) + Dark creatures. The Dark template is often bashed, but it is a freaking AWESOME template, especially for your stealthy type characters. I think the reason so many people hate it is that it doesn't increase your damage output at all. SO WHAT??? That's not what it was designed for! For stealth, I doubt any other LA+1 template will beat it. Worst: Blues, as they can easily be considered to be below NORMAL goblins (yet I still have a Blue character, I just rule it to be LA+0).
DwarfPcfan 07-02-07, 04:49 PM	The best: Duegar, seriously, they get all the added sugar of being dwarves from every aspect plus look at the rest immnuities, psy-like abilities, extra power points. If you ask me duegar should have been written in cannon as the most widespread and successful race of the underdark definetly not drow The worst: I'd put my vote for hobgoblin they work just fine as a La+0 race as I've field tested them on many occasions in fact, if you ask they are on equal footing to dwarves, humans and gnomes. but loosing an entire level...
TheCobra 07-02-07, 04:56 PM	Mineral warrior when everyone else is level 2 would be stupidly powerful. And it's pretty good at higher levels as well.
Malchius 07-02-07, 07:38 PM	Probably not the best but one of my favourite LA+1 races recently has to be chaos gnomes, immunity to confusion affects if handy and I like the part about them changing their names every couple of years but there abilities are okay, goo stat mods, dex, con and cha if I can remember right, also a free reroll and weapon familiarity, pretty decent in my opinion
ArchMagik 07-02-07, 08:20 PM	In my opinion i think the Half-Giant from the Expanded Psionics Handbook is the best. With its bonus to str and con, its powerful build feature and their psionic abilities. Plus their just badass. On the other end i think the weakest would have to be the Blue. I mean come on its just a slightly smarter goblin with an extra power point.:rolleyes:So not worth a +1LA.
CroupandVandemar 07-02-07, 10:15 PM	Some dnd games run from 1st level to 20th with a span of two years or so. Lets say you can somehow survive this game, are you willing to roleplay this race for that long or do you just like it for the +something it gives you? Reason I ask this is that some races are really crazy, and some are just silly. But fantasy is fantasy... right?
Dnarris 07-02-07, 10:21 PM	I'd have to say half-ogre from Savage Species. +1 you have +6 str, +2 con, -2 dex, -2 int. You get reach 10', and are counted as a large creature, natural armor +4, and darkvision. Since you don't get racial HD your total ECL at level 1 is just 2. I have a half-ogre Fighter/Hulking Hurler/War Hulk at level 15 currently and it's a hell of a lot of fun.
CroupandVandemar 07-02-07, 10:23 PM	Sounds like fun :D
calronmoonflower 07-03-07, 03:19 AM	The Draconic template (Draconomicon) deserves at least a honorary mention here imo. I second the honorable mention. If you use reducing level adjustment rules from Unearthed Arcana is works well for Charisma based spell casters. Paladins, warlocks, and battle sorcerers both can benefit from practically every racial ability.
Dnarris 07-03-07, 03:24 AM	Sounds like fun :D Oh it is! At level 15 I have a 36 base strength and I'm at 41 because of a tome. With fling enemy and the really throw anything ability I can pick up some of the biggest monsters and throw them around. I love picking up something like an ogre and throwing it ontop of a couple of goblins :P. The throw ally feat is a lot of fun to. If I win the initiative I'll usually pick up my gnome rogue friend and hurl him closer towards the enemies so he can get his sneak attack in on the first round if he isn't close enough.
Steely_Dan 07-03-07, 08:10 AM	Feytouched are nice - +2 to Dex and Cha and complete immunity to mind affecting effects and some other goodies.
Sengir lacky 07-03-07, 08:13 AM	two words people: Chaos Gnome +8 stat perks, a free reroll, spellike abilities, immune to confussion and oh yeah mood eyes
The Livewire 07-03-07, 08:29 AM	I second the honorable mention. If you use reducing level adjustment rules from Unearthed Arcana is works well for Charisma based spell casters. Paladins, warlocks, and battle sorcerers both can benefit from practically every racial ability. Thirded. I'm playing a draconic battle sorcerer now. with a 25 point buy a 16 or 17 cha at 1st level is easy, 28 point by, that should be an 18.
Majick 07-03-07, 08:30 AM	Catfolk and Goliath are probably my favourites, mainly because they are not only powerful but have decent racial fluff :P Shadow/Dark Creature template from the ToM is kinda cool for a sneaky character, but i also do quite enjoy the old Aasimar and Tiefling simply because of the bloodline thing
Warforged Goblin 07-03-07, 08:43 AM	There are a lot of really nice +1 LA races, most of which have been mentioned, so I won't rehash those. However, in terms of some of the worst +1 LA races I suggest taking a look at the Snow Goblins from Frostburn. They get a +4 bonus to Intimidate. That's it. They're not worth a level of anything in my opinion...
snakeman830 07-03-07, 10:23 AM	I had forgotten about them. Wait, don't they get a climb speed? that can be rather useful (though not worth +1 LA)
Werebat 07-03-07, 10:37 AM	Best: Duergar or Draconic Human Duergar has been explained already, Draconic has been mentioned but you don't typically see just how good it really is until you stack it with the abilities of one of the +0 LA races, which is how it always works. Worst: Blues I think they just added the +1 LA because they seemed better than goblins and didn't want to step on the goblins' toes. I "fixed" them IMC by giving them +2 to Dex in addition to Int, and a bonus psionic feat of their choice at 1st level. - Ron ^*^
RealSorceror 07-03-07, 10:51 AM	The Empty Vessels from Ebberron. They get all the benefits of being human (the skills and feats), plus several Kalashtar abilities (including the mad 1 power point per lvl) and a bonus to Charisma (and I think Int also). As for worst, I'd say the Genasi. Cool flavor, but those abilties just aren't worth 1 LA. Maybe if they actually had resistance to their element. (why do Aasimar and Tieflings get resistances and the Genasi don't?)