Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Deluxe 247 G 04-02-05, 01:30 PM	So I've been thinking... there are half elves and half orcs, both of these assuming the other 'half' is human. However, there are no more 'halves' besides for things along the lines of half celestials, half dragons, and half fiends (as far as I know, those are at least the usual, if you can call them usual). So if what Wizards meant to do was say that humans and halflings (and all the other races, for that matter) can't produce offspring because their organs are different, shouldn't at least elves be able to produce offspring with orcs? However, maybe wizards just didn't address half orcish half elvish humanoids because it's such a ridiculous idea. But in a world where some of the stereotypical behaviors of the general humanoids have been abolished, it makes it much more plausible. Maybe it'd be a good idea to have all humanoids be able to have 'halves' with each other, but then that brings up the point that celestials, dragons and fiends are certainly not your average humanoid. And the rest of the 'usual' PCs are humanoids, and Wizards never addressed that. As for my other idea, I was thinking if all humanoids could have a half template, that would make some things easier. But then the non-humanoid monster manual halves come in to play and it gets sticky. And also, for instance if a small humanoid produced offspring with a medium, what would the offspring's size be? Half half? I was thinking possibly -2 grapple, +2 hide, and then a choice of +1 to AC or +1 to hit with weapons. That choice of +1 is kinda out there, and I might just get rid of that altogether. But then more things come up, as with a dragon's snatch, and then special attacks, such as trip, where you make opposed rolls or when it's just set. Maybe where you make an opposed roll you always get -2 if size affects, and then for things that are set, such as snatch, you always use the value that's worse for the half half, as to minimize power gamers taking it for that reason. As for how I'd deal with it, something like biology. For instance, a human would have two human genes, and a half human half elf would have one human gene, and one elven gene. So that would mean that the offspring has a half chance of being human, and half chance of being half elven half human. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm not going to explain biology to you. But then that has discrepancies. If a half elf half human mated with another half elf half human, it could produce either a true elf, a half elf half human, or a true human. Problem? Maybe.. Any ideas on how we could balance this? Or should we just not mess around with the biology of DND (definitely NOT the answer I'm looking for...) Thanks, Eli PS, let's keep this clean so it doesn't get moved to the mature boards, as it's verging on it already.
Plastik 04-02-05, 01:43 PM	As it stands I think that: Dwarves are so incredibly close to human that a half-dwarf would adopt the racial traits of the community that brought it up. Halflings are just a subcommunity of small humans. If they get together, the offspring is human or halfling depending on siz, and they naturally attune to the appropriate parent's way of life. Gnomes are (IMHO) most likely the result of a Dwarf and a Halfling doing the nasty. Half-Gnomes would just be ugly humans or strong gnomes. Elf-Orcs. Ooooh, that's tough. I suppose they could mate, but the result would be pretty much human. I mean, Elves are ultra-civilized and Orcs are ultra-barbaric. It should pretty much even out.
Lord Ian Stark 04-02-05, 01:50 PM	As it stands I think that: Dwarves are so incredibly close to human that a half-dwarf would adopt the racial traits of the community that brought it up. Halflings are just a subcommunity of small humans. If they get together, the offspring is human or halfling depending on siz, and they naturally attune to the appropriate parent's way of life. Gnomes are (IMHO) most likely the result of a Dwarf and a Halfling doing the nasty. Half-Gnomes would just be ugly humans or strong gnomes. Elf-Orcs. Ooooh, that's tough. I suppose they could mate, but the result would be pretty much human. I mean, Elves are ultra-civilized and Orcs are ultra-barbaric. It should pretty much even out. Yes but what about abilities? Would the Racial traits like a typical half Orc or Half-Elf have both of the abilities or versions thereof? Half-Dwarf/Half-Elf Half-Orc/Half-Drow Half-Gnome/Half-Halfling And on and on... Where does it state what parts of each race are transfered to the finished product?
Deluxe 247 G 04-02-05, 01:59 PM	I don't know, I was thinking about making a template for each half. Such as: Humans: +1 Skill point at every level (This is multiplied by four at first level) either that or, Bonus Feat at first level Favored Class: Any Elves: Immunity to sleep and similar magical effects, and a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells or effects. Elven Blood Low Light vision +1 Listen, Search and Spot Favored Class: Wizard And so on, I'm not sure what the exact templates would be, but it'd be hard work. I think I wouldn't give any ability modifiers because it's more of a blend overall, and then just look at the base abilities, and try your best to cut those in half. Favored classes I think you would get to choose which of the two you wanted to use, representing the branch of different lifestyles one could take. Each template would also have to have a LA, if it's overpowered, so for instance, a drow has +2, so a half drow should probably have +1, and have it about half as powerful. Or maybe that's just getting rid of the racial modifiers, because those are pretty good. I don't know, there are a lot of problems with the system, but I think it could really enhance and modernize a DnD city. Eli