Are ELADRIN attribute bonuses the MOST USELESS?

[Maximillian]

Its a significant ELEVEN points in a 22 point-buy system ....

That's a much better point, but a canny player is going to choose a class that requires either INT or DEX and still get an advantage. The designers clearly took this into account with the non-stat bonuses.

Somewhat unrelatedly, I still wish INT gave you some bonus that wasn't related to skills or powers.

 

[bardolph]

That's a much better point, but a canny player is going to choose a class that requires either INT or DEX and still get an advantage. The designers clearly took this into account with the non-stat bonuses.

Somewhat unrelatedly, I still wish INT gave you some bonus that wasn't related to skills or powers.

It does. Reflex and AC. There ya go!

 

[NorthSaber]

Of course it depends on your class choice, but I'd say Eladrin do have the worst stat bonuses. There are many situations where the other bonus isn't completely useless - a warlord who specializes in a spear, a wand-specialist wizard, any dex-based character who also has to be the ritual caster of group... But usually the Eladrin is the worst choice stat-wise.

The initiative bonus was a good point I hadn't originally considered either. Fey Step is really solid, too. Eladrin get one of the better racial feats (Eladrin Soldier) that has synergy with the Dex bonus. Just random thoughts on the subject...

 

[blargney the second]

I'm playing an eladrin tactical warlord, and he's rocking the house so far. The Dex bonus will be handy down the road for meeting paragon feat prereqs.
-blarg

 

[Cadfan]

Second here's WHY youre wrong - Yes, in the absolute sense, were talking about a TINY +2 attribute difference (or +1 bonus difference). But the question is NOT of the absolute difference ... E.g. The difference between a 16 INT Eladrin and a 18 INT ELF is NOT a tiny +2 to attributes. Its a significant ELEVEN points in a 22 point-buy system .... Your race and class choice is effecting 50% of your point-buy .... would you call that TINY?

Yes. Its still a +2 to a stat. It could cost fifty billion point buy points to raise a stat from a 16 to an 18, and it would still be a +2 with respect to the power of your character.

Second, your math is wrong. It doesn't cost 11 points to go from 16 to 18. It costs 7.

Third, assuming that you take a race/class combination that gives you a bonus to your primary ability score, at most what we're talking about is a missing +2 to your secondary stat.

Further, once youve created your character, for the same reason as above, the +1 to two attributes, which you get on every 4ish levels, SENSE would demand you allocate them to your highest two stats.

Not necessarily. You would probably allocate the bonuses to your most important two scores, but depending on your class and the nature of your secondary ability score(s), these won't necessarily be your highest two scores. In any case, EVEN IF THIS IS SO, it doesn't change things. If your Elf Ranger has a Wisdom of 20 at a high level because you optimized dex and int, and my Eladrin Ranger has a Wisdom of 18, we're STILL dealing with just +2.

Hence, once a class/race is selected, your two important stats are going to define your character's efficiency for MOST of your adventure lifetime. Now ofcourse, Role-playing sub-optimal builds is not exactly a crime, so this isnt to say that NO ONE should play Eladrins as anything but Wizards!

And what I'm saying is that 1) the eladrin's other abilities are useful, and may contribute as much or more than +2 to your secondary ability score, and 2) the degree to which a missing +2 to an ability score renders your build "sub-optimal" is trivial.

 

[Mistwell]

I think an Eladrin Ranger could be quite effective.

I think you are forgetting some feats that require the other stat, but which ordinarily wouldn't be high enough for most classes. Eladrins also make some of the best multi-class characters.

 

[keterys]

Now I'm tempted to play an Eladrin spear-using Tactical Warlord / Wizard with Thunderwave.

 

[Solodan]

Indeed, Eladrin are probably my top choice for the PC tactical warlord. Trying to choose between Human and Eladrin.

However, Eladrin are only really solid for Tact warlords and Wizards. That's a rather small piece of the pie, since they are pretty much outclassed by the other dex races for Ranger and Rogue.

 

[Jeven]

I think an Eladrin Ranger could be quite effective.

I think you are forgetting some feats that require the other stat, but which ordinarily wouldn't be high enough for most classes. Eladrins also make some of the best multi-class characters.

I think you are also correct. I am currently playing an Eladrin two-bladed ranger and not only do I deal out the smack down but being able to teleport once an encounter lets me better able to do my "alpha strike" - teleport to boss bad guy, unleash with encounter power, then action point and unleash with daily power. Usually means end of boss bad guy. And quite fun too.

 

[DracoSuave]

Indeed, Eladrin are probably my top choice for the PC tactical warlord. Trying to choose between Human and Eladrin.

However, Eladrin are only really solid for Tact warlords and Wizards. That's a rather small piece of the pie, since they are pretty much outclassed by the other dex races for Ranger and Rogue.

When your Rogue can simply appear in flanking position with no attacks of opportunity, then we'll talk outclassed.