3.5e Hypothetical

[maransreth]

I meant to ask this question to Ed Stark during the recent Mortality.net radio show and simply forgot on the day. So was wondering what people think would happen with this hypothetical.

Does a person, reared in a different culture (in this case race) learn any or all of the racial abilities of the adopted race?

The main thing I am wondering is the Weapon Familiarities. Does a human raised as a child in elven lands, gain any elven weapon familiarities? Or in dwarven land do they learn Weapon Familiarity Dwarven War-axe?

Or does a dwarf reared in human lands gain Weapon Familiarity Dwarven Waraxe or the other racial abilities, like racial bonus to stonecutting?

If not, why not? Is it due to the race using that weapon for centuries that it gains the racial ability? Or is it learnt and obtained during childhood?

Would like to hear your thoughts on the matter.

 

[s/LaSH]

As a people, I think the answer could vary.

Consider the dwarf. Is the dwarf good at axe fighting because her stocky arms and well-braced natural stance give her an automatic advantage with those weapons? Or is the dwarf good at axe fighting because everyone around her thinks axes are cool?

See my point? I think it could go either way with every single ability. Stonecunning? Is that training or some weird sixth sense? Poison save bonus? Is that because dwarves have sturdy constitutions, or because they grow up in caves and eat enough fungus on their bread to give their immune systems a kick-start?

Not official, of course. But at least this way you get to mix and match...

 

[Lela]

In the case of WFs, I don't think it would hurt "The Balance" to trade them around.

Offically, I think WotC would just say to stick with them as written. That way you avoid all-out strangness and possible balance issues.

I also think s/LaSH has a good point though. Even an Elf's keen senses could be biological or environmental. It's the age-old toss-up rearing it's ugly head yet again.

You should just (oh CRAP!, I'm going to say it!) go with what works in your campaign.

I need a shower now. . .

 

[Tonguez]

You should just (oh CRAP!, I'm going to say it!) go with what works in your campaign.

I need a shower now. . .

or you could use open heritage feats to cover all those little quirks

including obsessive-compulsive washing

 

[Lela]

or you could use open heritage feats to cover all those little quirks

including obsessive-compulsive washing

I'll stick with tracing lines on floorboards, thanks.

 

[Mark]

I'll stick with tracing lines on floorboards, thanks.

...you didn't have to draw me a picture...

 

[Lela]

...you didn't have to draw me a picture...

With my eyes. One eye closed until the other gets tired, then switch.

 

[Gez]

Well, you need to decide what is "innate" and what is "acquired". It's also important for what you lose, what you keep, and what you gain when you're reincarnated into something else.

Human bonus feat and skills are probably acquired. Dwarven stonecunning is innate. Gnome and dwarven combat training against giants, goblinoids and orcs or kobolds is acquired. Bonuses to Listen, Spot, Search and Alchemy are innate, since they comes from keen senses. Low-light vision and darkvision are innate. Etc.

So, a human raised by dwarves would get Weapon Familiarity and Dwarven Combat Training instead of bonus feat and skill points IMC. An elf raised by dwarves would get the same, but would lose elven proficiencies with swords and bows (not too much a hassle, since the logic behind going out of one's way to get weapon familiarity is becoming a fighter), but also trance (IMC, it's a learned thing) and the immunity to sleep (acquired with the trance techniques).

 

[hong]

With my eyes. One eye closed until the other gets tired, then switch.

You guys need to speak up. Can't hear a word you're saying!

 

[alsih2o]

You guys need to speak up. Can't hear a word you're saying!

where did i put that stick??.....