How does this work? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How does this work? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Peregrine_Wolf
05-27-07, 05:52 PM How exactly do templates work? If I was, say, Elf with teh Halfdragon template would I then be Half-Elf?

What about Orc with Half-fiend template? Would that make it half-orc?
Seldriss
05-27-07, 05:58 PM Not exactly.
Templates are given to creatures to change their type or subtype, giving them a special origin or alteration.
They are more specific than a half-breed like half-elf or half-orc (which are actually generally considered to be the result of a crossbreed with a human).
Templates deal usually with more powerful parentage like dragons, demons, devils, dark smurfs, undead and so on, or a major transformation of the creature due to something important (magic, afterlife, gods, planes).

So if your character is and elf from start and you give him a half-dragon template, well, he is much more than an half-elf, he is a half elf/dragon.

It is also possible to mix some different races (as long it is possible in terms of morphology, compatibility, logic and common sense), but that requires more work from the DM.
There is even a book about crossbreeds.
Peregrine_Wolf
05-27-07, 06:02 PM OK, so even though it's technically still half Elf, half Dragon, it still get all the benefits of being a full Elf?

That's what I thought, but it's jsut been bugging me for a while... Thnx
Seldriss
05-27-07, 06:06 PM Oh yes, you keep the basics benefits of the elf, plus the ones of the template (half-dragon).
The abilities + and - are cumulative.
But some things might change, like the hit dice.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Peregrine_Wolf 05-27-07, 05:52 PM	How exactly do templates work? If I was, say, Elf with teh Halfdragon template would I then be Half-Elf? What about Orc with Half-fiend template? Would that make it half-orc?
Seldriss 05-27-07, 05:58 PM	Not exactly. Templates are given to creatures to change their type or subtype, giving them a special origin or alteration. They are more specific than a half-breed like half-elf or half-orc (which are actually generally considered to be the result of a crossbreed with a human). Templates deal usually with more powerful parentage like dragons, demons, devils, dark smurfs, undead and so on, or a major transformation of the creature due to something important (magic, afterlife, gods, planes). So if your character is and elf from start and you give him a half-dragon template, well, he is much more than an half-elf, he is a half elf/dragon. It is also possible to mix some different races (as long it is possible in terms of morphology, compatibility, logic and common sense), but that requires more work from the DM. There is even a book about crossbreeds.
Peregrine_Wolf 05-27-07, 06:02 PM	OK, so even though it's technically still half Elf, half Dragon, it still get all the benefits of being a full Elf? That's what I thought, but it's jsut been bugging me for a while... Thnx
Seldriss 05-27-07, 06:06 PM	Oh yes, you keep the basics benefits of the elf, plus the ones of the template (half-dragon). The abilities + and - are cumulative. But some things might change, like the hit dice.