Post/Author/DateTime	Post
claypigeons 04-19-07, 03:55 AM	As the title says, what would be the (+1 LA) race or template with the best/most goodies for a melee-based (probably warblade) character? In an upcoming game, the DM is allowing us the ignore a bit of the LA of creatures/templates. I plan to take full advantage, as it looks to be a very tough and deadly game. Only requirements is that it has to be from a 3.5 book. Savage species is out, so no feral.
calronmoonflower 04-19-07, 04:33 AM	The draconic template provides a wide variety of bonuses.
Ieniemienie 04-19-07, 04:42 AM	Catfolk (RotW) > +4Dex, +2Cha, +1NA, 40ft Goliath (RoS) > +4Str, -2Dex, +2 Con, Powerful Build!!!
Chimaera2000 04-19-07, 04:49 AM	1) Lloth-touched template (Monster Manual 4): +6 Str and Con plus fear immunity and stealth bonuses for +1 LA. What. The. Hell?!? :eek: 2) Feral template (Savage Species): +4 Str and other mods, natural armor & attacks, fast healing, various special attack forms that increase with HD (including Pounce, Improved Grab and Rend!). They probably get other things too, knowing that template. Where's a vomiting smilie when you need one? 3) Dark template (Tome of Magic): Unlike the other two, this one isn't particularly overpowered. However, it provides a number of awesome bonuses for any stealth-based character and the darkvision and speed bonus can be useful for even those who aren't.
Caylin 04-19-07, 07:10 AM	Mineral Warrior. I think its from underdark and the template can be found online in a preview. Gives stat boosts and dr 8/adamantine amoung other minor stuff.
Argaud 04-19-07, 07:13 AM	Mineral Warrior, Underdark page 96: +3 Natural Armor, Burrowing speed, DR8/adamantine, +2 Str, +4 Con, -2 Int, -2 Wis, -2 Cha and a couple minor bunuses more.
Disciple_of_Juiblex 04-19-07, 08:17 AM	Seconding some other peaple 1. Mineral Warrior- great Barbarian race 2. Dark- why yes, i would love the ability to hide in plain sight at first level. 3. Catfolk- A nice race for LA +1, just... i hate them soo :mad: 4. Lloth-touched- must be chaotic evil, so if allowed it is nice ... but might not be allowed
Spikes01k 04-19-07, 02:06 PM	Seconding some other peaple 1. Mineral Warrior- great Barbarian race 2. Dark- why yes, i would love the ability to hide in plain sight at first level. 3. Catfolk- A nice race for LA +1, just... i hate them soo :mad: 4. Lloth-touched- must be chaotic evil, so if allowed it is nice ... but might not be allowed Sorry to pry, but why do you hate Catfolk?
Armoracia Rusticana 04-19-07, 02:07 PM	Dark Whisper Gnome, no brainer for Shadow Hand Swordsage. Believe me, it works wonders outside full daylight. With Weapon Finesse and Shadow Blade (not quite sure about name - that feat that allows to add Dex bonus to damage rolls with Shadow Hand weapons) you can have Str as full dump stat. By ECL 4, that is.
j3st3r 04-19-07, 03:58 PM	I second Goliath, great race! Other good races for melee types with +1 LA that aren't mentioned here yet: 1) Gargun (Races of Stone) > +4 Str, +2 Dex, +4 Con, –2 Int, –2 Cha, Darkvision 60’, Resist Cold 5, +2 Natural Armor bonus to AC, Powerful Build, and other goodies. 2) Frost Folk (Frostburn) > +4 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Con, –2 Cha, Darkvision 60’, +2 Natural Armor bonus to AC, and many others. 3) Goatfolk (Monster Manual 3) > +4 Str, +2 Con, –2 Int, –2 Wis, Darkvision 60’, + other goodies.
The_Shaman 04-19-07, 05:27 PM	Feral (Savage Species) is not that great if you, like most warblades, want a decent intelligence, but can be quite useful. Great if you want to build an "unarmed" combatant - Superior unarmed strike + specialization + mastery are your friends. I always have a soft spot for a character who can tear a monster to pieces, or bash in the face of a spellcaster. Half-Giant (XPH): Powerful build, psionic, bonus to strength and con, penalty to dexterity, some minor goodies. Nice, especially with a psi-feat or two. BTW, if you're into psionics, duergars can also make dangerous warblades, especially when they get the manifester level high enough to make their expansion power give them 2 size categories instead of one. Draconic races are also nice. A draconic dwarf or even wood elf can be quite powerful, especially with the right weapons.
Serpensortia 04-19-07, 07:08 PM	Exiled Modron! From this month's Dragon Magazine, issue 354. Just because they're so cool. *+2CON, +2INT, -2DEX, -2CHA *+2 Natural Armor *acid, cold, and fire resistance 2 *+2 vs illusions and mind-affecting effects *+2 spot and listen *immunity to poison, sleep, paralysis, disease, nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, and energy drain!!!! *no need to eat, sleep, or breath
Pangeon 04-20-07, 12:34 AM	I'm a fan of Dark creatures, Draconic creatures, and Goliaths. Most of the other mentioned races are pretty good, too, but those are my favorites.
Ogrebear 04-20-07, 08:40 AM	See if you can blag your GM to let you have an LA +1 Half Ogre as originally appeared in Savage Species.. The stats are: +6 str, -2 dex, +2 con, -2 int, +0 wis, -2 cha. Natural armor of +4; Large-size, and Darkvision as I recall! Also I believe Savage Species is 3.25 - some of the stats and tables are for 3.5 even though it was technically released before the 3.5 main books.... if you dig around on the Wizards site you can find evidence to support this.
Disciple_of_Juiblex 04-20-07, 03:22 PM	Sorry to pry, but why do you hate Catfolk? I hate them becuse there are literally like 30 catfolk races created/posted every month, how common they are in fantasy, and Everyyyyyyyyyyy one likes them. same reason i hate drow .... all elves for that matter ..... Also i would stay away from Frost Folk, monsterous levels if i remember right.
Razorgrin 04-20-07, 05:16 PM	I hate them becuse there are literally like 30 catfolk races created/posted every month, how common they are in fantasy, and Everyyyyyyyyyyy one likes them. same reason i hate drow .... all elves for that matter ..... Also i would stay away from Frost Folk, monsterous levels if i remember right. Furries. ::shudders:: Change the picture. Make 'em look different, give 'em a different name, and you've got yourself a non-kitty race with great benefits.
AMGriffin 04-20-07, 08:44 PM	An Orc with the Half-minotaur template has a whooping +8 Strength at LA+1.
Crimson_Concerto 04-20-07, 09:08 PM	Without considering templates (I never do, honestly), I'd say that Goliath is pretty good. Bonus to STR and CON is great for Melee characters, as is the almighty Powerful Build. Also, Mountain Movement lets you treat all jumps as running jumps, if I recall correctly, which I hear combos very well with some Tiger Claw maneuvers.