D&D 4E 4E Races, Post-Essentials: Flexibility, You Say?

[malcolm_n]

I prefer the flexibility personally.

But, now down to serious business. If we know about the dwarf, and on another thread someone said Halflings get CON. Here someone suggests elves get INT. But the big question is... what do humans get? If the box is in stores, someone must know. And if the answer is nothing (which I fear it is)... is that fair?

They get no extra stat bonus, but they still get +1 and, arguably, an incredibly strong encounter racial. +4 to an attack or save you failed is pretty good and reason enough for me to still play a human. Especially since it means I will RARELY miss with a daily unless it's my second one in the encounter.

 

[Herschel]

Day-um! That makes a Human Warlord (or almost any other leader that has some nifty riders on their daily powers) really nifty.

 

[jbear]

yeah, that is pretty cool. But I was reading on another thread that the essentials human doesnt get +1 to his NADs. The addition of a cool theme-like racial power instead of a third at-will totally makes sense for essentials characters that are likely to not have at-wills. But it still leaves them out in the cold for non-essential humans. Every other race got an upgrade in flexibilty, arguably human territory. The human got a choice of a racial power (albeit a good one) but at a cost, a very high cost. Having 3 at wills is one of the reasons I prefer humans, not to mention the bonus to NADs. So I'm going to have to house rule humans in my game... +2 CON and +2 in any stat you choose. I think that is pretty much inline with the other races.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I don´t think human lost their +1 to all NADs. That would just be stupid to do. (except if you trade it together with your third at will)

 

[jbear]

Yeah, I agree. That seems strange. I understand the exchange of the At Will for a racial power. The additional loss of the NADs bonus...? Seems like a mistake.

 

[mneme]

Um, yeah. Losing the at will is a fine exchange for the racial power (either way), but the defensive bonus is the trade for not having a second stat -- isntead of getting +2 to a stat, they get +1 to 3 defenses. This is similar to Eladrin getting +1 t o a defense (and an extra skill?) in exchange for having their stats double up.

Actualy, that's a good question--do eladrin who don't double up still get +1 to will?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Um, yeah. Losing the at will is a fine exchange for the racial power (either way), but the defensive bonus is the trade for not having a second stat -- isntead of getting +2 to a stat, they get +1 to 3 defenses. This is similar to Eladrin getting +1 t o a defense (and an extra skill?) in exchange for having their stats double up.

Actualy, that's a good question--do eladrin who don't double up still get +1 to will?

I can´t believe that humans lose that bonus. I guess eladrins won´t lose that bonus too, although it was meant as the compensation...

It would be more work than its worth to errata it out.

question is, what the second stat of eladrins will be... going with the trend it would be strength. Actually it would fit quite well with eladrins... hmmh...

 

[mneme]

I don't see that it would be a problem for Eladrin to lose the bonus if they go Int/Cha (but only if).

Which is my prediction for what the Eladrin alternative to Dex will be (stolen from someone, but obvious). Str and Con make no sense; 4e Eladrin == 3e "Grey Elves", who got a penalty to Str and Con; Wis would make them identical to elves with a different primary (and doesn't make much sense), and Cha is the primary Fey stat. This does risk making them identical to drow (but with a different primary stat) if Drow, as seems most likely, get to swap Dex for Int, but that's probably acceptable. If not Cha, I'm guessing that it will be Str, yes; this will make Eladrin excellent fighters and let them compete with Dwarves for the "best defender" race.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I don't see that it would be a problem for Eladrin to lose the bonus if they go Int/Cha (but only if).

Which is my prediction for what the Eladrin alternative to Dex will be (stolen from someone, but obvious). Str and Con make no sense; 4e Eladrin == 3e "Grey Elves", who got a penalty to Str and Con; Wis would make them identical to elves with a different primary (and doesn't make much sense), and Cha is the primary Fey stat. This does risk making them identical to drow (but with a different primary stat) if Drow, as seems most likely, get to swap Dex for Int, but that's probably acceptable. If not Cha, I'm guessing that it will be Str, yes; this will make Eladrin excellent fighters and let them compete with Dwarves for the "best defender" race.

If you look at eladrin from the "lord of the ring point of view" They make formidable fighters and could do well with strength.

I could however see them gettng the choice of charisma instead of dexterity

 

[Lord_Blacksteel]

As far as major changes to stats I think +2 to a fixed stat per race with a floating +2 to any other stat would keep flavor while retaining flexibility.

Example: Dwarf = +2 Con then a +2 to anything else, so you can play the Smart Dwarf or the Strong Dwarf or the Graceful Dwarf or the Like-able Dwarf etc.

I would like to see the final word on essentials humans though. Since flexibility was kind of their thing it would be nice to sort it out before panic and revolt sets in.