+4 single stat races - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

+4 single stat races

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Nekoazu
Mar 05, 2010 7:26:38 Is there any way that a race with a +4 to a single ability score could be balanced? I know that they wouldn't have much in the way of other racial traits and/or a weak/useless racial power.

But would that be enough with the +5 or +6 modifier (at 1st lvl) on the (possibly) primary ability score used by a class?

I'm contemplating to write up a few races which might have the option of having +4 to a single ability score (having constitution in mind for them).
#2
Qube
Mar 05, 2010 7:42:26 not extremely broken.
- attack & damage wize, obviously they are very powerfull
- I don't frosee problems skill wize. (so, granting two skills that don't use the main stat would be OK)

so as far as I'm concerned, its quite possible (difficult, but possible).
#3
Janx_14
Mar 05, 2010 9:30:56 Problem is the race gets waaaaay too pigeonholed into particular classes.
#4
Nekoazu
Mar 05, 2010 11:21:50
Problem is the race gets waaaaay too pigeonholed into particular classes.

True, true. Although it would be less the case with shifterish race I think. Part of the race would indeed be pigeonholed into particular classes (and with +4 con, not many classes at it).
#5
Crimson_Concerto
Mar 05, 2010 16:10:18 I have to say that this idea sounds horrifically broken to me.
#6
samuraichicken
Mar 05, 2010 16:24:56 I think this largely depends on which ability score the +4 goes to:

+4 Strength would increase your melee basic attack, however +4 Dexterity would improve both AC and ranged attacks (instead of just melee attacks). +4 Constitution might be the most powerful, as it would contribute to HP. +4 Intelligence also helps AC, but unlike Dex Intelligence isn't used elsewhere very much (save for some skills and class powers). +4 Wisdom helps passive Insight and Perception (always a good thing to have), while +4 Charisma would only really apply to the social skills.

I've ignored Fortitude, Reflex, and Will in the list above because they don't play that big of a part in the game (typically only in combat, and only the occoasional attack that dosen't target AC). I have also left out class powers and abilities, because you can assume that whoever has a +4 in a single ability score is going to take the best class for that score. The list above primarily focuses on what other aspects of the game each ability score contributes to, and as you can see, some ability scores contribute to more things than others do.

In the end, I think it could be balanced. I'd have to see a complete write-up of the race in order to make any final decisions, but the idea of a +4 to a single stat seems plausable.

(In a 3e homebrew that gave every race +2/+2, I pondered giving humans four +1 bonuses that could be divided amongst any number of ability scores. These bonuses could stack, so a character could have +2/+2, or +3/+1, or a single +4, or possibly +1/+1/+1/+1. This was never playtested, so I don't know if it would have worked out very well).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Nekoazu Mar 05, 2010 7:26:38	Is there any way that a race with a +4 to a single ability score could be balanced? I know that they wouldn't have much in the way of other racial traits and/or a weak/useless racial power. But would that be enough with the +5 or +6 modifier (at 1st lvl) on the (possibly) primary ability score used by a class? I'm contemplating to write up a few races which might have the option of having +4 to a single ability score (having constitution in mind for them).
#2 Qube Mar 05, 2010 7:42:26	not extremely broken. - attack & damage wize, obviously they are very powerfull - I don't frosee problems skill wize. (so, granting two skills that don't use the main stat would be OK) so as far as I'm concerned, its quite possible (difficult, but possible).
#3 Janx_14 Mar 05, 2010 9:30:56	Problem is the race gets waaaaay too pigeonholed into particular classes.
#4 Nekoazu Mar 05, 2010 11:21:50	Problem is the race gets waaaaay too pigeonholed into particular classes. True, true. Although it would be less the case with shifterish race I think. Part of the race would indeed be pigeonholed into particular classes (and with +4 con, not many classes at it).
#5 Crimson_Concerto Mar 05, 2010 16:10:18	I have to say that this idea sounds horrifically broken to me.
#6 samuraichicken Mar 05, 2010 16:24:56	I think this largely depends on which ability score the +4 goes to: +4 Strength would increase your melee basic attack, however +4 Dexterity would improve both AC and ranged attacks (instead of just melee attacks). +4 Constitution might be the most powerful, as it would contribute to HP. +4 Intelligence also helps AC, but unlike Dex Intelligence isn't used elsewhere very much (save for some skills and class powers). +4 Wisdom helps passive Insight and Perception (always a good thing to have), while +4 Charisma would only really apply to the social skills. I've ignored Fortitude, Reflex, and Will in the list above because they don't play that big of a part in the game (typically only in combat, and only the occoasional attack that dosen't target AC). I have also left out class powers and abilities, because you can assume that whoever has a +4 in a single ability score is going to take the best class for that score. The list above primarily focuses on what other aspects of the game each ability score contributes to, and as you can see, some ability scores contribute to more things than others do. In the end, I think it could be balanced. I'd have to see a complete write-up of the race in order to make any final decisions, but the idea of a +4 to a single stat seems plausable. (In a 3e homebrew that gave every race +2/+2, I pondered giving humans four +1 bonuses that could be divided amongst any number of ability scores. These bonuses could stack, so a character could have +2/+2, or +3/+1, or a single +4, or possibly +1/+1/+1/+1. This was never playtested, so I don't know if it would have worked out very well).