1/2 Orc vs. Skarn

[Thurbane]

Is the Skarn (MoI) balanced against the 1/2 orc?

I keep hearing that the reason the 1/2 Orc gets two stat penalties is because Strength is such an important stat to boost.

Yet the Skarn get +2 STR, and only -2 DEX, not to mention racial skill bonuses and natural weapons. The only thing the 1/2 Orc gets is Darkvision...

 

[KingCrab]

Str is an important stat to boost for meele and the half-orc gets its boost at the price of two non physical stats. The Skarn gets its boost at the price of one physical stat making it in my opinion less desireable for a pure meele character.

 

[Drowbane]

Don't underestimate the value of Darkvision.

I'd say they're balanced against each other. Not that I'd allow either in my game.

 

[Arkhandus]

Strength for Dex is a fair trade. They're equally important stats as far as the MDG is concerned. And Dex matters for a melee guy too, just in different ways from Str.

 

[Thurbane]

Is Dex really that important to a melee tank running around in full plate and heavy shield? Or should I say, 1 point of Dex modifier?

...I can't help but feel that 1/2 Orcs get the royal screwjob of the "core" races...IMG, I use a houserules variant who only takes a hit to Int, and has racial bonuses and penalties to skills...

 

[Arkhandus]

Lower Dex means lower Reflex saves, lower Initiative, lower touch AC, lower ranged attack rolls, lower Ride checks for mounted combat, lower Balance checks (like when dealing with a Grease spell or icy ground), less chance of being sneaky, and such. So while it doesn't hurt an armored-tank-guy's normal AC much, nor his attack rolls since he's unlikely to waste a feat on Weapon Finesse, it's still hurting him in other areas.

Strength is less generally-useful than Dexterity, anyway. Taking a hit to Dexterity hurts about as many (and the same) character types as a hit to Intelligence and Charisma. It just means the race is less disinclined towards arcane magic, and has less difficulty acquiring Combat Expertise or being a good leader. Instead they have more difficulty with ranged weapons, ranged attack feats like Point Blank Shot/Rapid Shot/etc., more difficulty with acquiring Dodge etc., and so on and so forth.

 

[Sejs]

Is Dex really that important to a melee tank running around in full plate and heavy shield? Or should I say, 1 point of Dex modifier?

+1 to hit w/ melee.
+1 to damage.
+1 to Str based skills (generally athletic).
Increased carrying capacity.

-vs-

-1 to AC.
-1 to reflex saves.
-1 to initiative.
-1 to hit w/ ranged.
-1 to Dex based skills (and there are lots).

Honestly, I'd say that yeah.. losing out on that dex does indeed matter to the warrior in full plate and heavy shield. It means that armor isn't worth as much. It means you have a harder time getting out of the way of that incoming fireball against which your armor does jack. It means you don't react as quickly at the start of a fight, which means you might not be able to interpose your big, metally wholesomeness in between the onrushing violence and the squishy hand-jivers at the back of the party before it's too late.

 

[milo]

I don't know what the skarn race consists of, but they are better for paladins. Not as good for barbarians though. I think it just depends on the build of the character. All stats have a use in the right build.