Can half-elves be fixed?

[Azure Trance]

That's a really interesting way to do it of making it a feat instead of a race.

 

[Grim]

how about half elves getting either the Human Feat, or elven skill bonuses and proficiency with any ONE of longsword, rapier, Longbow, or Shortbow

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Nooo, don't "fix" the half-elf! Its current state of suckiness keeps adventuring parties from being packed to the gills with these supposedly rare hybrids like they used to be in the 1e and 2e days.

rarity of the different races is entirely up to the setting. There's no real reason for many worlds not to be brimming with half elves, half orcs and plenty of other "halfs".

What within the rules or default setting makes you think half elves should be rare? and even if they were rare in the world at large, why wouldn't they be overrepresented in adventuring parties? (the D&D version of the frontiers town where you go when the civilized folk don't want you around.)

Kahuna Burger

 

[Sanackranib]

1/2 elves

Stat bonuses shouldn't come in odd numbers.

The only thing I would change is perhaps the skill bonus that humans get, but that might be too much.

I don't think that the skill bonus is too powerfull, but I feel giving them an extra feat would be .

 

[Fenes 2]

I don't see anything wrong with half-elves, and I play a half-elven bard in one campaign, but then I always like to play the underdog.

 

[Technik4]

This is my "fix".

Half Elf
- Medium Sized
- Base Speed is 30 feet
- 1 extra "racial"* feat at first level
- Lowlight Vision 60ft
- Immunity to Sleep and +2 racial saving throw against Enchantment
- +1 racial bonus Listen, Search, and Spot
- Elven Blood
- Automatic Languages: Common and Elven
- Bonus Languages: Any (except special)
- Favored Class: Any


*- This feat must have some application to the character's persona and may not be anything combat or magic related. Good examples are Alertness, Skill Focus, or Endurance.

Additionally, one of their racial feats "Elven Upbringing" gives +1 to Listen, Search, and Spot. Another is "The Human Way" which gives 4 skills points to place wherever they want. They still are a unique roleplaying experience, they just dont suck as bad.

Technik

 

[Crothian]

I'll support the half elves are perfectle fine. My half elf ranger is one of the more powerful party members.

 

[LostSoul]

New Feat:

Elven Blood [Initial]

That's a really good idea.

 

[Al]

In my campaigns, they will allowed either the Elven Weapon Proficiencies or one extra feat (i.e. as per humans). The PCs, when choosing, have usually plumped for the latter; and NPCs will almost invariably go for the latter.

Incidentally, I gave the bard six + Int skill points, but that's a different discussion altogether...

 

[Jim DelRosso]

That's a really good idea.

Thanks!