+1 LA for humans & other core races

[Roman]

I am partial to starting campaigns at 2nd effective level, but making one of the levels only for Level Adjustments, which would not count towards XP and ECL (so that characters can still progress all the way from level 1 to 20 without the need for epic rules). This would enable players to also choose from races that have an LA of +1, but since the core races should remain valid options and not be disadvantaged, they would need a boost (which would only apply to the PCs - normal NPCs would be, well, normal, though at DMs option some important NPCs could get the boost too). I would like this boost to be in character for each respective race. Remember, this is an LA, so no extra hit dice, which also means no skillpoints per level and not counting as a level for feat purposes and stat raises.

How about the following? I would greatly appreciate and comments and suggestions. The biggest problem is that I am not very good at balancing, so I am pretty much guessing as to what would be worth an LA, but creative help is also appreciated.


Humans:
Well Rounded

Well Rounded: Humans have a knack for everything and thus get +1 to all ability scores (keeps with the spirit of versatility and avoids giving them yet another feat, but is it too much or too little for a +1 LA or is it just right?)


Dwarves:
1) Choose one of: Improved Darkvision or Know Worth
2) Choose one of: Burly and Tough or Valuables Sense
3) Choose one of: Strong Roots or In the Hands of he Earth

Improved Darkvision/Darksight: The Dakvision of the dwarf increases in range from 60' to 90'.
Know Worth: Dwarves are natural hagglers and their frequent work with valuables grants them a +5 bonus to the Appraise skill.
Burly and Tough: Dwarven bodies are tough and dense giving them a damage reduction of 1 against bludgeoning weapons (and only bludgeoning weapons).
Valuables Sense: Dwarves have an instinctual sense of precious metals and gems. Whenever a dwarf comes within 30' of an object made from or a deposit of a precious metal or a gem he automatically knows its location.
Strong Roots: Dwarves are tough and have a bond to the earth that enables them to cling to life when most would perish. Dwarves die at -15hp instead of at -10hp.
In the Hands of the Earth: Mother earth take care of its own. Dwarves are therefore in little danger of dying. While underground dwarves get to reroll any failed survival checks or checks to avoid underground hazards, such as collapsing ceilings, pit falls and so on and gain a +5 bonus to survival: underground checks. A dwarf can always find enough edible food and clean water for himself while underground.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

If you have access to Unearthed Arcana, simply give each core race the first level in their Paragon class. They'd actually have two HD and class skills and such, but it would keep well to the theme you're going for.

 

[Roman]

If you have access to Unearthed Arcana, simply give each core race the first level in their Paragon class. They'd actually have two HD and class skills and such, but it would keep well to the theme you're going for.

Regretfully I do not have access to the Unearthed Arcana, but thanks for the suggestion anyway.

 

[Turanil]

Humans: instead of a +1 to all ability scores, I propose one from either:

-- a +1 bonus to all saving throws like halflings.
-- +2 to any one ability score.
-- gain two core skills of character's choice. That is, the character choose any two skills that from now will ever be considered class skills, even though the character gets levels in a class that doesn't have these skills as class skills.

 

[Roman]

Humans: instead of a +1 to all ability scores, I propose one from either:

-- a +1 bonus to all saving throws like halflings.
-- +2 to any one ability score.
-- gain two core skills of character's choice. That is, the character choose any two skills that from now will ever be considered class skills, even though the character gets levels in a class that doesn't have these skills as class skills.

Not bad at all - I like the idea of a choice of abilities that mesh with the spirit of each race. However, I do think that any of those you listed on its own is not worth +1 LA - maybe all of them combined would be, though. Than again, I am not good at balancing...

 

[skippy_the_witch]

Another thing to do is use some of the rules listed in the Dragon magazine article for a 3.5ed Dark Sun campaign. ALL of the base races listed in that were +1 LA. Even if you don't want the psionics which such templates add, it will give you a general idea of how to pump up a character's race to +1.

I also run what I call a "legendary" campaign (NOT EPIC), which basically means that all the PCs are destined for greatness if they survive. Thus, I have pumped up the base races in various ways (those that I allow), and -1 to the LA of all non base race PCs. But I also add in a racial weakness of some sort to each race to both encourage better roleplaying and character developement. Similar to the flaws from Unearthed Arcana, but on a racial rather than individual level.

skippy
GM of the Cursed Earth Campaign

 

[Roman]

Another thing to do is use some of the rules listed in the Dragon magazine article for a 3.5ed Dark Sun campaign. ALL of the base races listed in that were +1 LA. Even if you don't want the psionics which such templates add, it will give you a general idea of how to pump up a character's race to +1.

Unfortunately, I do not have the Dragon magazine either, but it is a nice idea.

I also run what I call a "legendary" campaign (NOT EPIC), which basically means that all the PCs are destined for greatness if they survive.

Yes, that is the kind of campaign I like to run too, but I do not like epic rules (not in principle, but I dislike the way they work in the epic handbook).

Thus, I have pumped up the base races in various ways (those that I allow), and -1 to the LA of all non base race PCs.

That is pretty much what I am trying to do.

But I also add in a racial weakness of some sort to each race to both encourage better roleplaying and character developement. Similar to the flaws from Unearthed Arcana, but on a racial rather than individual level.

I try to avoid that, since the campaigns I run over the summer tend to have only 3 PCs (and sometimes only 2 PCs), so I don't really want to weaken them any further, but I do encourage them to decide on a flaw for their character and then give them an extra benefit to compensate (for example, if they choose a flaw that the character is an alcoholic, I might give the character +1 to fortitude saves against drugs and poisons).

 

[Verequus]

According to UK's CR system, a human has with the base traits ( a +0.3 CR and one point for an ability score is +0.1 CR worth. If you would add a +2 bonus for every ability score, then a human would have a +1.5 CR, not counting hit dice or anything what you get from a class.

 

[Roman]

According to UK's CR system, a human has with the base traits ( a +0.3 CR and one point for an ability score is +0.1 CR worth. If you would add a +2 bonus for every ability score, then a human would have a +1.5 CR, not counting hit dice or anything what you get from a class.

+1.5 ECL is perfect - right in the middle between 1 and 2, but does not +2 to every ability score sound to you like more of a power boost than a level in a normal class would give you?

Also, what do you think about my proposed benefits for a dwarf? Also, do you have any suggestions as to the other races?

 

[Psychic Warrior]

Monte Cook has some Racial Level classes available for download on his site here. my group has been using these for some time and they are a very nice addition to the game.