-1 LA race?

[Pyrex]

To balance something with a negative LA, I think you would need to have at least four or five racial hit dice to start off with. A 2HD monster with a -2 LA seems like a bad idea, but a 4HD moster with a -1 LA sounds like it could be balanced with the proper penalties.

Given that 1HD monsters trade out their racial HD for a class level, and that 2HD with -2LA is next to impossible to balance, I would say that any combination where -LA is <= 0.5*HD is probably balancable.

 

[Whimsical]

This WotC article on the kobold determines that kobolds are LA -1 and proposes some extra racial ability to bring them up to LA +0.

 

[frankthedm]

This WotC article on the kobold determines that kobolds are LA -1 and proposes some extra racial ability to bring them up to LA +0.

That article's writer is way off the mark with one of those upgrades. Giving anything multiple natural weapons makes it LA+1 at least due to sneak attack potential. Then the author tries to back up the claim of balance by using a STR based build and citing that the upgrade won't have them compare with the poison dusk lizard folk [arguably a LA+2 in LA+1's clothing]

 

[Thurbane]

The PHB half-orc comes pretty close.

Yep, the poor old 1/2 Orc gets hosed compared to most of the other PHB standard races. Under "Yabbathewhat's" racial point system, they are roughly half the point value of the other standard races. I think 1/2 Elves were the next lowest.

I'm seriously considering giving the 1/2 Orcs in my capaign some kind of boost - either an extra skill point per level like human, or maybe drop the Int penalty and just take a hit to Cha. It's not like +2 to Str is a real gamebreaker, any moreso than +2 Con or +2 Dex.

 

[Wolfwood2]

That article's writer is way off the mark with one of those upgrades. Giving anything multiple natural weapons makes it LA+1 at least due to sneak attack potential. Then the author tries to back up the claim of balance by using a STR based build and citing that the upgrade won't have them compare with the poison dusk lizard folk [arguably a LA+2 in LA+1's clothing]

Whether you agree with the exact mechanics proposed or not, I think the general principle is correct.

If a race seems too weak, then the solution is to give that particular PC enough benefits to boost him to +0 LA, not to try to balance a negative level adjustment.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Does that mean you have to pay XP every time you kill one?

If you defeat them individually, of course. They are worth positive XP in groups.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Yep, the poor old 1/2 Orc gets hosed compared to most of the other PHB standard races. Under "Yabbathewhat's" racial point system, they are roughly half the point value of the other standard races. I think 1/2 Elves were the next lowest.

I'm seriously considering giving the 1/2 Orcs in my capaign some kind of boost - either an extra skill point per level like human, or maybe drop the Int penalty and just take a hit to Cha. It's not like +2 to Str is a real gamebreaker, any moreso than +2 Con or +2 Dex.

I would just drop the Cha penalty, not the INT penalty. Int penalties always hurt a bit, since it reduces your flexibility outside of combat, but nobody except Bards, Paladins and Sorcerers suffer strong consequences if they reduce Charisma. Charisma Penalties can be mostly negated by spending skill points, if you really find a charisma-based skill worthwhile.

Flavourwise, Orcs and or Half-Orcs are supposed to be intimidating and often live in poorly organized hordes. They need to work together without an explicit hierarchry and organisation, meaning that they need a "instinctive" ability to build implicit social networks, just as much as Humans, Gnomes or Halflings do...

 

[Whimsical]

I give half orcs the Toughness feat and +2 to Intimidate checks.

 

[Deset Gled]

I find the problem with half-orcs has less to do with the fact they are underpowered, and more to do with the fact that the dwarf is hideously overpowered, making the half orc look teh suck by comparison.

 

[frankthedm]

I find the problem with half-orcs has less to do with the fact they are underpowered, and more to do with the fact that the dwarf is hideously overpowered, making the half orc look teh suck by comparison.

While the dwarf is given far too much, the core half orc gets very little because it was assumed the half orc would only be taken by heavy weapon melee types and rogue who really wanted darkvision without a speed hit.

As it happens because orcs encompass hobgoblins and are highly mutative in my game, I allow half orcs can assign the +2 to any physical stat and can choose to take the two -2’s to any two separate stats. They can also choose if they are disciplined [favored class fighter] or degenerate [favored class barbarian].

For dwarves I say ditch the free war axe proficiency and let every dwarf chose proficiency with a one handed martial axe, pick or hammer & saddle them with -2 to ride [Flavor/phobia] and swim checks [unboyant dwarven body mass].