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Are high ECL races worth it?
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<blockquote data-quote="mmu1" data-source="post: 3104" data-attributes="member: 319"><p>It depends on the race.</p><p></p><p>The FR Genasi, for example, are pathetic - their stat adjustments add up to zero, they have darkvision, minor resistance to one of the elements, a couple of skill bonuses, maybe a save bonus, and generally a spell-like ability of some kind, but nothing especially good. ECL+1? They're barely as good as some of the better PHB races, if that.</p><p></p><p>The Tiefling and the Aasimar , also +1 ECL, are actually a much better deal - the Aasimar, with +2 WIS +2 CHA might actually be worth it for a cleric... maybe. They're at least worth consideration if you're starting off in a higher-level game.</p><p></p><p>The Drow? Hah. -2 CON and two hit dice behind everyone else? Completely hopeless outside of a high-level game - on the other hand, if you are starting a level 10 game, spell resistance 19 might actually be quite nice, and worth the level hit. Even if you play a wizard, but have a good score to spare for CON, take a toad familiar (or just get a CON boosting item) and Spellcasting Prodigy, you'll actually be pretty well off. </p><p></p><p>Things start to get different once you actually get into the multiple hit-die monster races. Ogres are, what, ECL +5? A 1st level Ogre fighter will wipe the floor with pretty much any PHB 6th level fighter with equivalent stats without breaking a sweat. He'll also be dumb as a brick and about as charismatic, but he's definitely viable in terms of game mechanics... </p><p></p><p>Basically, the problem area are the races like drow, druegar, and other single hit-die creatures that have so many bonus abilities they clearly can't be ECL+0 or +1, but they're so fragile the +2 or +3 ECL adjustment isn't really worth it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="mmu1, post: 3104, member: 319"] It depends on the race. The FR Genasi, for example, are pathetic - their stat adjustments add up to zero, they have darkvision, minor resistance to one of the elements, a couple of skill bonuses, maybe a save bonus, and generally a spell-like ability of some kind, but nothing especially good. ECL+1? They're barely as good as some of the better PHB races, if that. The Tiefling and the Aasimar , also +1 ECL, are actually a much better deal - the Aasimar, with +2 WIS +2 CHA might actually be worth it for a cleric... maybe. They're at least worth consideration if you're starting off in a higher-level game. The Drow? Hah. -2 CON and two hit dice behind everyone else? Completely hopeless outside of a high-level game - on the other hand, if you are starting a level 10 game, spell resistance 19 might actually be quite nice, and worth the level hit. Even if you play a wizard, but have a good score to spare for CON, take a toad familiar (or just get a CON boosting item) and Spellcasting Prodigy, you'll actually be pretty well off. Things start to get different once you actually get into the multiple hit-die monster races. Ogres are, what, ECL +5? A 1st level Ogre fighter will wipe the floor with pretty much any PHB 6th level fighter with equivalent stats without breaking a sweat. He'll also be dumb as a brick and about as charismatic, but he's definitely viable in terms of game mechanics... Basically, the problem area are the races like drow, druegar, and other single hit-die creatures that have so many bonus abilities they clearly can't be ECL+0 or +1, but they're so fragile the +2 or +3 ECL adjustment isn't really worth it. [/QUOTE]
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