Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Karidil 08-17-07, 12:14 AM	So this is my first attempt at a creating a race. For a campaign world I'm dreaming up Gnolls aren't evil, slobbery creatures, instead they are a proud and ancient race that is deeply connected to the earth. More fluff to come later, cause right now I just want to know if the crunch is balanced. +2 Con ,+2 Wis, -2 Int, -2 Cha Medium Size Base Land Speed 30ft Darkvision out to 60ft +1 Natural Armor +2 Racial bonus to Listen, Spot and Search +2 to Move silently and Hide when in plains or forest Automatic Languages: Gnollic, Common. Bonus Languages: Goblin, Orc, Sylvan, Giant Favored Class: Druid +0 lvl adjustment
Neutronium_Dragon 08-17-07, 12:39 AM	This would probably be okay if you dropped some of the skill bonuses. There's too much of an overload of those as it stands, and basic +2 skill bonuses are one of the least interesting things to give a race to begin with. The other potential wrinkle is that +2 Con/+2 Wis is a very good combination for a druid, and -2 Int/-2 Cha isn't much of a hindrance for a druid. (The lost skill points hurt, but the -2 Cha doesn't bother them much.) I would suggest simply having +2 Con and -2 Int, with no Wis or Cha modifiers. (This also opens up Cha-based spellcasting to them, so they're not locked into being divine casters or bust.) Start with this... +2 Con, -2 Int Darkvision 60' +1 Natural Armor +1 to Listen and Spot checks This leaves you some room to add a couple of racial abilities which play to their theme of having a bond with the earth; something more defining than just +2 to a skill, such as a dwarf's ability to move at full speed in heavy armor is for them.
Karidil 08-17-07, 01:33 AM	Thanks for your input Neutronium_Dragon. I'll definitely consider your advice, expect an updated version soon!
nlentz88 08-17-07, 01:51 AM	More fluff to come later, cause right now I just want to know if the crunch is balanced. Yup. Seems pretty balanced to me. Maybe a tad weak, but just about right. May I suggest some more flavor? How about adding automatic illiteracy in exchange for +1 STR?
Naderion 08-17-07, 06:42 AM	I would remove the wis-bonus, too. With it, it's just too good for LA +0. Without it, it isn't that bad.
usemagicdevice 08-20-07, 03:38 AM	If you leave both -2int -2cha, but still drop the wisdom bonus, you have great room to meddle around with +2 Con , -2 Int, -2 Cha Medium Size Base Land Speed 30ft Darkvision out to 60ft +1 Natural Armor +2 Racial bonus to Listen, Spot and Search +2 to Move silently and Hide when in plains or forest Automatic Languages: Gnollic, Common. Bonus Languages: Goblin, Orc, Sylvan, Giant Favored Class: Druid +0 lvl adjustment
HeyJoe 08-20-07, 12:48 PM	I just wanted to add that I love gnolls... and I like the idea of a playable gnoll race.:cool:
Neutronium_Dragon 08-20-07, 02:30 PM	As another example, here's a gnoll race (or subrace) which I created. The background for these fellows is one of being nomadic herdsmen throughout most of their history, though in more recent times they've become semi-settled (some maintain the nomadic life, others have taken up agriculture). Their racial traits are intended to reflect the speed and hardiness that this background would give them. Their assumed alignment would be "Often Neutral", similar to humans. ----- Plainsrunner Gnoll Medium Humanoid (Gnoll) Base Speed 30' Low Light Vision +1 Natural Armor +1 Racial bonus to Fortitude saves +2 Racial bonus to Fortitude saves vs Disease and Poison (this stacks with their general Fortitude save bonus) Plainsrunner Gnolls have the Tireless feat Plainsrunner Gnolls gain a 5' bonus to their movement rate when carrying no more than a light load and not wearing medium or heavy armor. Favored Class: Ranger Automatic Languages: Common, Gnoll Level Adjustment: +0
baby_kamikaize_kobold 08-20-07, 02:51 PM	I like playing gnolls but the monstrous levels made my DM disallow them but the wisdom bonus and cha penalties so they could make at least average casters. otherwise good work. and the plainsrunners look cool as well.