Changing core races to LA +1?

[Nellisir]

I'm considering adding a +1 LA "package" to the core races; essentially players will chose a +0 LA race (dwarf, elf, gnome, human, etc) and then a lineage (mountain dwarf, hill dwarf, forest gnome, aasimar, scion [Dorandin], etc) that effectively adds +1 LA.

Since everyone starts out the same, there won't be any XP change.

Planetouched and the existing +1 LA races give a starting point, but how would you make the existing races +1 LA?

Thanks,
Nell.

 

[Nellisir]

Existing LA races (no racial HD)
+0
Asheratis (SS)
Aventi (SW)
Azurin (Inc)
Bhuka (SS)
Buomman (PlH)
Darfellan (SW)
Duskling (Inc)
Dwarf
Dwarf, Dream (RoS)
Elan (Psi)
Elf
Elf, Aquatic (SW)
Gnome
Gnome, Whisper (RoS)
Goblin
Hadozee (SW)
Half-Elf
Half-Orc
Halfling
Illumian (RoD)
Killoren (RoW)
Kobold
Korobokuru (OA)
Maenad (Psi)
Mongrelfolk (RoD)
Neanderthal (FB)
Neraph (PlH)
Nezumi (OA)
Orc
Raptorian (RoW)
Rilkan (Inc)
Sea Kin (RoD)
Skarn (Inc)
Spiker (PlH)
Spirit Folk (OA)
Underfolk (RoD)
Vanara (OA)
Xeph (Psi)

+1
Bariaur (PlH)
Catfolk (RoW)
Dromite (Psi)
Duergar (Psi)
Gnome, Chaos (RoS)
Goliath (RoS)
Half-giant (Psi)
Hengeyokai (OA)
Hobgoblin
Mephling (PlH)
Merfolk
Planetouched (aasimar, tiefling) (PlH, RoD)
Shadowswyft (PlH)
Sharakim (RoD)
Uldra (FB)
Wildren (PlH)

+2
Drow
Githyanki (PlH)
Githzerai (PlH)
Half-Ogre (RoD)

+3
Svirfneblin

 

[Bayushi Seikuro]

Wow, that's a tough one. I think I see where you're going -- adding lineage as another flavor for the world, with a mechanical bonus?

I guess if I were in that situation, I'd start by looking at the Racial Paragons from UA. Now, admittedly, they're three-level classes, but... Duno

 

[Nellisir]

Wow, that's a tough one. I think I see where you're going -- adding lineage as another flavor for the world, with a mechanical bonus?

That's it exactly.

 

[wolff96]

I'd look at the Midnight races and Bloodlines.

The races in Midnight are all about LA +1 versus the standard races (IMO) and the bloodlines there are pretty interesting.

You'd have to eyeball some of them for balance, but that would be a decent starting point.

 

[Nellisir]

I'd look at the Midnight races and Bloodlines.

The races in Midnight are all about LA +1 versus the standard races (IMO) and the bloodlines there are pretty interesting.

You'd have to eyeball some of them for balance, but that would be a decent starting point.

Yeah, I'm looking at Midnight (though many of the additional bonuses are very specific) and the assorted paths; the UA material; Dawnforge and the racial talents and transformations; Morningstar and its racial classes; and the Race Creation Cookbook. What I'll probably do is go through alot of the WotC +1 races (several more in the planar handbook) and break them down via the Race Creation book (I think some of the numbers are a little off, but it's a good starting point), and then go from there.

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has done something similar, or seen something similar (outside of Midnight, though I don't mind the referral) - perhaps on the boards?
Thanks!

 

[HolyGrenadeFrenzy]

Wow, that's a tough one. I think I see where you're going -- adding lineage as another flavor for the world, with a mechanical bonus?

I guess if I were in that situation, I'd start by looking at the Racial Paragons from UA. Now, admittedly, they're three-level classes, but... Duno

This is a consideration for anyone regardless of the lineage issue, so I agree that it is a good choice for any campaign.

It would be nice if a few links to the Midnight Products were listed so the reference points were a little clearer. I will do it if no one else does yet the thread starter is the manager of the thread so..........It should be up to them, first. Otherwise someone else could add it. I will edit if it is done by someone else or myself. So, what do ya sa Nellisir? Post a link?

 

[Nellisir]

This is a consideration for anyone regardless of the lineage issue, so I agree that it is a good choice for any campaign.

It would be nice if a few links to the Midnight Products were listed so the reference points were a little clearer. I will do it if no one else does yet the thread starter is the manager of the thread so..........It should be up to them, first. Otherwise someone else could add it. I will edit if it is done by someone else or myself. So, what do ya sa Nellisir? Post a link?

Hrm. What sort of links would you like? Midnight (and Dawnforge) is a print book (probably available in pdf also; I suppose I can check RPGNow and the FFG website).

Although, now that I think about, I think there's a Midnight OGC wiki that has alot of the rules. I'll see about posting some links to that later.

 

[sirwmholder]

IMHO, the PHB Dwarf is about as balanced as the MM Planetouched without any additional enhancements. I've been doing a very similar thing for my game were I bump all races up to LA +1 and went from there. The long and short of it is... there are no right answers on what is balanced without making everything the exact same. The only rule I try to adhere to is being sure to divide racial abilities into roleplaying opportunities verses mechanical advantages. Roleplay is generally flavor wereas mechanical can be the difference in a life or death situation.

Elves secret door sense - Roleplay
Elves immunity to sleep - Mechanical

Hope this helps,
William Holder