Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (
More info?)
"Jasin Zujovic" <jzujovic@inet.hr> wrote in message
news:MPG.1d9b6a4dc89c90839897fc@news.iskon.hr...
> In article <Qs%Xe.814$0E5.334@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
> mhacdebhandia@yahoo.invalid says...
>
>> > Warforged I wouldn't even think about listing as one of the weird
>> > races
>> > I don't like.
>>
>> Haha, because they don't serve droids in the Mos Eisley cantina?
>
>
>
>> > Dromites are probably on the wrong side, by just a bit: I'd can
>> > see
>> > using them in a campaign, but if I could pick 10 races to be in
>> > the 4E
>> > PHB, they wouldn't be it.
>>
>> That's an interesting exercise. I'm not sure I could come up with
>> ten, because I
>> doubt I'd include any of the ones that are in there now except for
>> humans.
>
> I'm not sure I could either, really, unless each type of
> planetouched
> counts separately.
>
>> Luckily for the fanbase, I'm not in charge of it.
>
> So, what would be your top choices? You don't have to give ten, just
> a
> couple of WotC races that you like best.
>
>
> --
> Jasin Zujovic
> jzujovic@inet.hr
10 races to include in 4th Edition PHB, my take.
1. Human
2. Dwarf
3. Elf
4. Halfling (Or Halfling like races, Kender)
5. Goblin
6. Orc
7. Half-races (A single template, that produces a pairing of any two
standard PHB races). Making Half Orc/Goblins a reality
8. Lizardfolk
9. Sahuagin (Koa-toa, Bullywug, although this race should probably be
both a air and water breather for simplicity)
10. Gnolls
Okay brief explanation for each.
1. Humans. Yes, humans are important in my fantasy settings as they
are probably the race we as "players" will most identify ourselves
with.
Many people, at least in the groups I've played in both before 3 and
after 3rd edition, picked human as their first character since they
figured
it would be easier to play a human.
2. Dwarves, well because they are one of my all time favorite races.
3. Elves, for standard Fantasy settings, not including elves would be
like saying for now on Wizards will not have magic missile, fireball,
lightning bolt, haste
or for that fact any other iconic spells. Elves like humans, and
Dwarves are probably the 3 core races that I would suggest never leave
the system. They should
be more or less the "basic" races, and the other 7 races should be
open to more creativity.
4. Halflings have become a major thing in the latest game I'm been
playing in, and my Halfling fighter/rogue/master thrower/invisible
blade has been a blast. I probably included them right now
since I'm playing one. Next week my opinion might be different.
5. Goblins, seem like a logical exchange for Gnomes, to not only
introduce a new "Iconic race" as a PC race, but to introduce a race
with few if any "extras" to complicate the creation
of new characters for new players.
6. Orcs, never made sense that if Half-orcs were a common choice, why
there was no option for Orcs.
7. Half-races: This should be a slightly complicated, but not overly
so, formula for creating a Half-race with a pairing of any of the
standard PHB races. The exception might be Orc and Elf
due to past racial hostility. Although, I'd be happy to even forget
that exception, playing an Eorc (Half elf/orc) or whatever you'd want
to call it might open an interesting series of encounters
with both parent races. Elves seeing a half-orc with elven blood might
be disgusted, but still show a bit of pity for the half-breed, while
Orcs in standard setting right now would give the Eorc
a very hard time, so where does this Eorc turn to in time of need?
Adventure!!!
8. Lizardfolk, need I say more? Why the hell can't I play a level 1
Lizardman Barbarian? Over all the other suggestions above, lizardfolk
seem like a race with some adjustments that should have been
considered a long time ago.
9. I listed Sahuagin, Koa-toa, Bullywug, but what I'm hinting at
mostly is an Amphibious race, but one with few overt bonuses as the
ability to breath both water/air is a big bonus in some campaign
settings.
10. Gnolls, another race I've always wondered why they weren't thought
about for a standard race. Love the Hyena people.
Okay, now some of these races have racial HD, Level adjustments, etc
or are of slightly higher power compared to the Standard, Dwarf, Elf,
Human races. This can easily be fixed by using the idea
of racial levels that has been used in a few recent products, but take
it one more step. All races begin as Race/Class level 1. At any time
they gain their 2nd level they could take a racial level, or a class
level.
Racial levels make you more like a normal example of your race, class
levels (well we know the drill there). Racial levels should include a
single HD, addition to BAB, saves etc based upon the type of creature.
Most Racial levels should max at 5 levels perhaps, allowing for 15
class levels. Half-breeds might be allowed to take two different
Racial levels (based upon their half-half races) but should be limited
to 5 levels of racial levels too.
For Player characters, Level adjustments should be removed, and racial
levels should be created. Use a system that makes those racial levels
for overly powerful races, unable to be taken until higher total level
has been reached. Ogre characters wouldn't be able to take their 2nd
level of Ogre Racial (until they are at least level 3). The system
would need a lot of testing, and balancing but I think with the a new
system that uses Racial levels you can still have people who play
things like Half-dragons, Mindflayers, Ogres, Ogre Mage, Flinds, but
they are not typical of their race. This makes some sense to me, as
how often are these races accompanying a standard party on
"adventures", and if they do how often do they conform to the "Ideal"
image of their race?
I think the 4th edition should also use either Point buy (not sure
which level), or 4d6 drop the lowest 1 roll six times, arrange as
desired, for standard generation methods. Point buy might be the
better choice.
It doesn't include the randomness of die rolls, but after you
understand how the system works, I think it is a bit faster to create
a character using Point buy, and the DM can assign whatever Point Buy
value he wants, and know that most of the characters at level 1 will
be around the same starting power (Ability score wise at least)
Also a few other thoughts, Feats are nice, Skill points are nice,
Flaws and Weapon groups are nice as well from Unearthed Arcana. If I
had a choice 4th edition would use a feat system that grante feats
every other level, skill points based upon the type of class, Meleee
2/per level, Caster 4/level, Expert (Rogues/bards, people who deal in
information, etc) 6/level Hybird classes (Paladin, Ranger, Monk)
would be based on a class combination, for instance Paladin considered
Fighter/Cleric (not really but close) would be 2+4/2=3/level of course
that doesn't count ability modifies. Ranger = Barbarian/Druid (Okay
not really but the idea is a melee class, and a nature Caster) so like
the Paladin would be 3/level. Monk seems to be (Melee + expert) 6 + 2
= 8/2 = 4 per level.
If that doesn't float well, maybe a skill point system based upon
level might be good. A large base pool (standard 3.5 PHB type, (Class
value + ability mod) x 4 to begin with, include human bonus of more
skills, or not your choice, for level 1.
So most players could start with (2+ 0) x 4 =8 to (2+5) x 4 28 skill
points for melee based characters
(4+0) x 4 =16 to
(4+5) x 4 36 caster based
(6+0) x 4 = 24 to
(6+5) x 4 44 expert
THere is no need to fill out the formula for hybird classes as the
information above should be enough.
8-28
16-36
24-44
Maybe for simplicity sake, Hybird classes are assigned one of the
three decided skill levels 2, 4 or 6 so characters will get anywhere
form 8-44 skill points in the beginning. That is assuming that with
racial adjustments to ability scores, most characters have a score of
10 -11 min, 19-20 max for intelligence at level 1.
Wow, long post. Perhaps, I should pull all this information apart, and
post a new thread, with my thoughts on the subject. Yeah, I think I'll
stop right there, and complete my thoughts offline, and post in a new
thread, as I've hijacked this thread. My apologizes.
DA
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