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A design goal: making different races FEEL different.
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<blockquote data-quote="KidSnide" data-source="post: 5763132" data-attributes="member: 54710"><p>Mechanically speaking, I think that recent rules design work with backgrounds is probably the right design direction, at least if you're starting with 4e. As a default, you want a combination of level 1 abilities, more powerful abilities gained at higher levels and some special powers that are only available to members of that race. I would add two twists to this:</p><p></p><p>First, I would make the inherent abilities as generically useful as possible and use the racial-only powers as the primary way of connecting races to favored classes. For example, Eladrin could have a number of Arcane powers that would give Eladrins with the Arcane power source access to the "special faerie magic of the Eladrin." Dwarves might have a combination of Martial and Divine powers for special military training and divine devotion of the dwarves.</p><p></p><p>Second, I would design Backgrounds with this in mind. Each race would have a few abilities (all at the same level) that would be designated as "cultural teachings" in the minds of the designers. If a character uses the Backgrounds advanced rules, they lose the "cultural teachings" part of their race and get to replace it with the special benefits of the Background. Backgrounds would also come with a small set of powers to which characters would gain access.</p><p></p><p>Notably, you could easily generate a collection of backgrounds along the lines of "raised by elves" in which you get some Elven cultural abilities (and access to Elven powers that aren't dependent on biology).</p><p></p><p>-KS</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="KidSnide, post: 5763132, member: 54710"] Mechanically speaking, I think that recent rules design work with backgrounds is probably the right design direction, at least if you're starting with 4e. As a default, you want a combination of level 1 abilities, more powerful abilities gained at higher levels and some special powers that are only available to members of that race. I would add two twists to this: First, I would make the inherent abilities as generically useful as possible and use the racial-only powers as the primary way of connecting races to favored classes. For example, Eladrin could have a number of Arcane powers that would give Eladrins with the Arcane power source access to the "special faerie magic of the Eladrin." Dwarves might have a combination of Martial and Divine powers for special military training and divine devotion of the dwarves. Second, I would design Backgrounds with this in mind. Each race would have a few abilities (all at the same level) that would be designated as "cultural teachings" in the minds of the designers. If a character uses the Backgrounds advanced rules, they lose the "cultural teachings" part of their race and get to replace it with the special benefits of the Background. Backgrounds would also come with a small set of powers to which characters would gain access. Notably, you could easily generate a collection of backgrounds along the lines of "raised by elves" in which you get some Elven cultural abilities (and access to Elven powers that aren't dependent on biology). -KS [/QUOTE]
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