Best Favored Soul race? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best Favored Soul race? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Aleolus
07-16-07, 11:56 PM I'm getting a favored Soul started, and I'm wondering what would be a good race to play as one. I'm thinking Satyr, since they get bonuses to just about everything, and their biggest bonus is Cha, which Favored Souls really need.
Thomar_of_Uointer
07-17-07, 12:09 AM Human. You don't suffer from LA (this is a big one for primary spellcasters), and the bonus feat can go towards metamagic or feat prerequisites. Also, the skill points help round out your skill selection.
Borris
07-17-07, 12:20 AM Forget about the satyr. As a primary spellcaster, you don't want anything with racial hit dice or a level adjustment (or no more than +1).

Now, you'd technically depend on both high Charisma and Wisdom scores, but since you get a limted number of known spells, and Wisdom is only used to deterine your spells' DCs, you can get around the problem by choosing only spells that you can on yourself or your allies (cures and buffs), spells that aren't cast on anyone (like detections) or just offensive spells that don't allow saving throws.

You'll likely be be the party's secondary melee fighter, as well as healer, so you want to be able to survive. You also don't want to be smaller than medium if you want to deal any real damage. Humans are always good, Desert Half-Orcs, with +2 Con and -2 Int, are nice as well. Since you're likley going to be medium-armor, Dex isn't extremely important. A Dex of 16 is usually enough. Thus, Dream Dwarf or Gold Dwarf (+2 Con, -2 Dex), or anything with the Dragonborn of Bahamut template (yet another +2 Con, -2 Dex) can be pretty effective.
Tytalus
07-17-07, 01:15 AM Stick to races with no LA or racial hit dice for a primary caster.

Humans are great for the bonus feat, and another prime choice is Lesser Aasimar [PGtF], with WIS and CHA +2 (along with a few other minor powers). Sun elves can make decent archer-FSs.
DM Zoc
07-17-07, 01:27 AM Kobold works out really well. Since you're limited to medium armor, the +3 AC can keep you alive.
Aleolus
07-17-07, 02:06 AM Stick to races with no LA or racial hit dice for a primary caster.

Humans are great for the bonus feat, and another prime choice is Lesser Aasimar [PGtF], with WIS and CHA +2 (along with a few other minor powers). Sun elves can make decent archer-FSs.

...Where are Sun Elves from? Closest I can find are Fire Elves, which are no better than normal elves when it comes to archery.
Elemental_Elf
07-17-07, 02:12 AM ...Where are Sun Elves from? Closest I can find are Fire Elves, which are no better than normal elves when it comes to archery.

Their from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. They get +2 INT, which is nice... I guess.

I'd say Wild Elves would be a better choice than Sun because INT doesn't really matter to a Fav Soul, where as CON does.

Personally, you can't go wrong with a Gold Dwarf (FRCS), a Human, Lesser Aasimar, Gnome (you'll have a high CHA, so you get some cool bonuses) or Halfling.

Really, it depends on what type of Fav Soul you're making, what campaign setting you're in and your own personal style.
Tytalus
07-17-07, 03:00 AM Their from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. They get +2 INT, which is nice... I guess.

Ugh, I meant Star Elves, which get CHA+2. Not as good a choice as Human and Lesser Aasimar, but it's easy to find an elven god with a bow as a favored weapon.
bobothechimp
07-17-07, 03:23 AM Human.
penchant
07-17-07, 06:14 PM Illumian (Races of Destiny) because their sigils can fit nearly any class and make it better.

Aasimar because it gets bonus to Wis and Cha, Some related SLA's for a good Favored Soul and you can round out the FS energy resistance. How about ER for every type?

Also, consider going with a ranged build. You are limited with armor to begin with, you have a D8 hit die and really great saves. The spell load out can include many buffing spells and the spontaneous metamagic casting can allow you to make better use of the spells you do have. Forgoing all the feats necessary to survive on the front lines will allow you to be a better caster with a minimum investment needed to be a good archer.

The focus on melee Favored Souls comes from the fact that none of the core deities has a ranged weapon as its favored weapon. So you have to take what you are offered, right? See what gods are allowed and see what your DM will let you take. A FS of Artemis could have the longbow.

Just my unsolicited opinion.
Alexeduardo
07-17-07, 06:57 PM Go for the ******* satyr, dammit!
If you want it, do it!
DM Zoc
07-17-07, 07:01 PM The best part of a Satyr favored soul is the patron deity being Bacchus.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Aleolus 07-16-07, 11:56 PM	I'm getting a favored Soul started, and I'm wondering what would be a good race to play as one. I'm thinking Satyr, since they get bonuses to just about everything, and their biggest bonus is Cha, which Favored Souls really need.
Thomar_of_Uointer 07-17-07, 12:09 AM	Human. You don't suffer from LA (this is a big one for primary spellcasters), and the bonus feat can go towards metamagic or feat prerequisites. Also, the skill points help round out your skill selection.
Borris 07-17-07, 12:20 AM	Forget about the satyr. As a primary spellcaster, you don't want anything with racial hit dice or a level adjustment (or no more than +1). Now, you'd technically depend on both high Charisma and Wisdom scores, but since you get a limted number of known spells, and Wisdom is only used to deterine your spells' DCs, you can get around the problem by choosing only spells that you can on yourself or your allies (cures and buffs), spells that aren't cast on anyone (like detections) or just offensive spells that don't allow saving throws. You'll likely be be the party's secondary melee fighter, as well as healer, so you want to be able to survive. You also don't want to be smaller than medium if you want to deal any real damage. Humans are always good, Desert Half-Orcs, with +2 Con and -2 Int, are nice as well. Since you're likley going to be medium-armor, Dex isn't extremely important. A Dex of 16 is usually enough. Thus, Dream Dwarf or Gold Dwarf (+2 Con, -2 Dex), or anything with the Dragonborn of Bahamut template (yet another +2 Con, -2 Dex) can be pretty effective.
Tytalus 07-17-07, 01:15 AM	Stick to races with no LA or racial hit dice for a primary caster. Humans are great for the bonus feat, and another prime choice is Lesser Aasimar [PGtF], with WIS and CHA +2 (along with a few other minor powers). Sun elves can make decent archer-FSs.
DM Zoc 07-17-07, 01:27 AM	Kobold works out really well. Since you're limited to medium armor, the +3 AC can keep you alive.
Aleolus 07-17-07, 02:06 AM	Stick to races with no LA or racial hit dice for a primary caster. Humans are great for the bonus feat, and another prime choice is Lesser Aasimar [PGtF], with WIS and CHA +2 (along with a few other minor powers). Sun elves can make decent archer-FSs. ...Where are Sun Elves from? Closest I can find are Fire Elves, which are no better than normal elves when it comes to archery.
Elemental_Elf 07-17-07, 02:12 AM	...Where are Sun Elves from? Closest I can find are Fire Elves, which are no better than normal elves when it comes to archery. Their from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. They get +2 INT, which is nice... I guess. I'd say Wild Elves would be a better choice than Sun because INT doesn't really matter to a Fav Soul, where as CON does. Personally, you can't go wrong with a Gold Dwarf (FRCS), a Human, Lesser Aasimar, Gnome (you'll have a high CHA, so you get some cool bonuses) or Halfling. Really, it depends on what type of Fav Soul you're making, what campaign setting you're in and your own personal style.
Tytalus 07-17-07, 03:00 AM	Their from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. They get +2 INT, which is nice... I guess. Ugh, I meant Star Elves, which get CHA+2. Not as good a choice as Human and Lesser Aasimar, but it's easy to find an elven god with a bow as a favored weapon.
bobothechimp 07-17-07, 03:23 AM	Human.
penchant 07-17-07, 06:14 PM	Illumian (Races of Destiny) because their sigils can fit nearly any class and make it better. Aasimar because it gets bonus to Wis and Cha, Some related SLA's for a good Favored Soul and you can round out the FS energy resistance. How about ER for every type? Also, consider going with a ranged build. You are limited with armor to begin with, you have a D8 hit die and really great saves. The spell load out can include many buffing spells and the spontaneous metamagic casting can allow you to make better use of the spells you do have. Forgoing all the feats necessary to survive on the front lines will allow you to be a better caster with a minimum investment needed to be a good archer. The focus on melee Favored Souls comes from the fact that none of the core deities has a ranged weapon as its favored weapon. So you have to take what you are offered, right? See what gods are allowed and see what your DM will let you take. A FS of Artemis could have the longbow. Just my unsolicited opinion.
Alexeduardo 07-17-07, 06:57 PM	Go for the ******* satyr, dammit! If you want it, do it!
DM Zoc 07-17-07, 07:01 PM	The best part of a Satyr favored soul is the patron deity being Bacchus.