Best bang for the buck for a level-adjusted race?

[aboyd]

I rarely play level-adjusted anything, because I don't like not being able to gain a level when I expect it. However, I'm sure there are a few races out there that are probably no-brainers if they're allowed as playable characters.

So, what do you guys think? Is there a race out there that has a very minor level adjustment (perhaps just 1 level, or 2) yet provides excellent advantages for the tradeoff? Educate me.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

While I usually play PCs without LAs and get as quirky as I wanna be, when I do play a PC with a LA race, I nearly always try to play to that race's strengths.

For instance, I recently played a Monk/PsiWar who was a +2LA Race- Githzerai (for the record, I had also considered an Anthropomorphic Ape, which has similar stat adjustments). With a +6 to Dex, a +2 to Wis and Inertial Armor as a spell-like ability, starting off as a Monk was simply a no-brainer. Using a Feat to become proficient in a polearm as a Monk weapon (from DCv1), the PC was next to impossible to hit- AC 21 before using Inertial Armor- and had AoOs for miles. He did almost as much combat damage as the single classed Human barbarian.

The aforementioned Anthros can be fun- nice stat mods for most of them, though several have HD you'd have to account for.

I'd also play just about any of the Planetouched- as I recall, none of them have a LA above +2.

Scouring the MMs and some of the campaign books, you can find all kinds of critters that can be fun to play- various goblinoids and orcs, Lizardfolk, Mephlings, and so on.

Most of the ones in the XPH can be very nice as well- Half-Giants and Thri-Kreen spring to mind immediately.

In addition, some Templates will give you LAs, and are still worth it. "Feral," from Savage Species, is one of my personal favorites, and is only +1LA. Many consider it underpriced, but even at +2, it would be worth it. "Winged" is another template in that price range.

But it boils down to your playstyle- how you play will really determine whether you'd find a particular...really any...LA race fun to play.

What, if any, preferences do you have in your PC designs?

 

[Herzog]

I'd personally look for LA assigned primarily for stat boosts or for abilities that scale with level.
The Drow spell resistance, for instance, increases with every level, so will still be usefull at higher levels.
It's spell like abilities, on the other hand, are nice, but although the caster level scales with level, they're still 0 or first lvl spells, and can be cast only once each, so won't be that interesting at lvl 10.

stat bonusses from ANY source are good, since they increase your character no matter what. The question remains whether they still justify the same LA at higher levels.
As discussed elsewhere, LA buy-off reverses this problem, as it allows (after buy-off) some characters to have better stats (or additional abilities) without anything to account for it.

 

[aboyd]

What, if any, preferences do you have in your PC designs?

Well, I believe strongly in the "never give up caster levels" idea, so I would never use a race that had a +3 or more level adjustment. It's just too much delay in gaining levels. But I'm thinking about some +1 or +2 races. Also, I rarely play beyond level 14 or 15, so I don't really care if the level adjusted race starts to seem like a poor trade at very high levels.

I also have a very hard time wrapping my brain around stat trades that are net-negative. In other words, +2 to str, -2 dex, -2 wis. That's not worth it to me at all, unless there is a whopper of a different kind of bonus (a host of free spells or multiple extra feats or... you get the idea).

Other than that, no real preferences. I think I'd like to make an enemy using a LA race, and throw it at my players (7 are level 4, 1 is level 3). But I'm also curious about something that is a dead-obvious good race to play for a campaign that I'm a player in. I have no pre-set class for that campaign, so I might be able to go with something that just seems really well done, regardless of class.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Well, I stand by most of what I've already said.

When you say

But I'm also curious about something that is a dead-obvious good race to play for a campaign that I'm a player in.

Do you mean you're trying to design a PC for a new campaign? If so, a little info about the campaign and/or the other PCs would be helpful. After all, there's not much point in discussing the further merits of Githzerai Monk builds if you don't need or can't play a Monk (for whatever reason).

For spellcasters, I'd go for something size S or smaller- size doesn't affect magical potency, after all, and its a free AC adjustment in your favor- and there are a few of those in the Anthropomorphic Animal section of Savage Species. Again, many of those will have good Dex bonuses, and perhaps even superior movement capabilities, and RP opportunities abound: "I am Puss...in Boots of Speed!"

Again, the Planetouched and some of the goblinoid races are ideal for warriors and rogues.

Aasimar characters possess the following racial traits.
* +2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma.
* Medium size.
* An aasimar’s base land speed is 30 feet.
* Darkvision: Aasimars can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
* Racial Skills: Aasimars have a +2 racial bonus on Spot and Listen checks.
* Racial Feats: An aasimar gains feats according to its class levels.
* Special Attacks (see above): Daylight.
* Special Qualities (see above): Resistance to acid 5, cold 5, and electricity 5.
* Automatic Languages: Common, Celestial. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Halfling, Sylvan.
* Favored Class: Paladin.
* Level adjustment +1.

Tiefling characters possess the following racial traits.
* +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma.
* Medium size.
* A tiefling’s base land speed is 30 feet.
* Darkvision out to 60 feet.
* Racial Skills: Tieflings have a +2 racial bonus on Bluff and Hide checks.
* Racial Feats: A tiefling gains feats according to its class levels.
* Special Attacks (see above): Darkness.
* Special Qualities (see above): Resistance to cold 5, electricity 5, and fire 5.
* Automatic Languages: Common, Infernal. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Orc.
* Favored Class: Rogue.
* Level adjustment +1.

Hobgoblin characters possess the following racial traits.

* +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution.
* A hobgoblin’s base land speed is 30 feet.
* Darkvision out to 60 feet.
* +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks.
* Automatic Languages: Common, Goblin. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Dwarven, Infernal, Giant, Orc.
* Favored Class: Fighter.
* Level adjustment +1.

 

[Runestar]

I find the planetouched and hobgoblin woefully underpowered for their LA. You are better off using the LA+0 planetouched variant in PGTF.

Savage species has the anthropomorphic baleen whale...

 

[irdeggman]

I echo the "what kind of character are you looking for?" question.

For a melee type - the goliath barbarian (using racial substitution levels) from Races of Stone is very enticing. Big physical stat bumps, monstrous humanoid (so all of those benefits) and essentially powerful build. So use larger sized weapons for a huge bump in damage output.

Combine a large sized great axe with a barbarian's rage and power attack - whoa baby watch out for the damage.

 

[aboyd]

Do you mean you're trying to design a PC for a new campaign? If so, a little info about the campaign and/or the other PCs would be helpful.

Sure, both the campaign I play in and the campaign I DM are core + Complete books only. Technically, I also have all the En World "Critters" monster books, although I don't know much about the playable races in there except for a rainbow-winged race that looks very unfun to play, unless I were into Smurfs and Care Bears.

I'd be looking for something plausible for a group of characters using core races. So no towering giants wandering around with a party of 4 humans. This race should be roughly the same size, and able to get into & out of a normal-sized dungeon, and able to walk a town street without having a crowd with pitchforks chasing after. However, some racism or raised eyebrows would be all right. For example, I'd play a drow if I didn't find them uninteresting. They're OK.

All of what I just wrote is for a build I'd like to try as a player.

Now, I'd also like to try something level-adjusted an an enemy to throw at the players in my own campaign. This could be more outrageous -- anything from MM1, MM2, En World Critters, Denizens of Avadnu, Tome of Horrors Revised. I'd just like to have a level-equivalent battle and see how they hold up before dying (if they do). Never tried it before. What makes a fun villain in this regard?

 

[Onyx]

The absolute best melee addition that I can think of is the Mineral Warrior (follow link, half way down the page) from the Underdark book.

For a minor +1 LA you receive +2 Str, +4 Con, -2 Int, -2 Wis, -2 Cha as well as +3 Natural Armor, a burrow speed equal to one-half your base speed, Earth Strike (like smite evil against anything touching the ground), Darkvision 60ft, and DR 8/adamantine.

While the loss of two to each mental attribute might be considered a bit of a loss, for your run of the mill barbarians or your Power Attack line fighters it's really a no brainer.

 

[Jhaelen]

Has anyone tried to play an Aranea sorcerer?

Sure, they're EL+4 but they also start with three sorcerer levels...