Elphilm
Explorer
Hi there!
The poll about half-races at the 4E board made me think of a simple alternative to some of the most common half-races in 3E. I wrote up a few feats that characters can only take at 1st level. I'm sure others have done something similar before, but any comments are appreciated nevertheless!
Dwarven Blood [General]
Prerequisite: Character may not be a dwarf.
Benefits: For all effects related to race, you are considered a dwarf. In addition, you gain a +1 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, and a +1 racial bonus on Appraise and Craft checks that are related to stone or metal.
Add Dwarven to the list of bonus languages available to you because of your race.
Special: You may only take this feat as a 1st level character.
Elven Blood [General]
Prerequisite: Character may not be an elf.
Benefits: For all effects related to race, you are considered an elf. In addition, you gain a +1 racial bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells or effects, and a +1 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.
Add Elven to the list of bonus languages available to you because of your race.
Special: You may only take this feat as a 1st level character.
What immediately appealed to me in these feats was the thought of elves with dwarven ancestry. I might simply make the drow (or a similar race of black elves) dwarf-blooded elves in my campaign. This would also tie in nicely with the mythological roots of dark elves; the Svartálfar seem to be often taken for dwarves and vice versa.
The following feat is pretty much the same as the Powerful Build racial feature of half-giants and a few other races. I'm not entirely sure if it is suitable for a general feat, even if you could only take it at 1st level and the ability score requirements are steep.
Blood of Giants [General]
Prerequisites: Strength 17, Constitution 15.
Benefit: Whenever you are subject to a size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), you are treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to you. You are also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature's special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect you. You can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, your space and reach remain those of a creature of your actual size.
Add Giant to the list of bonus languages available to you because of your race.
Special: You may only take this feat as a 1st level character.
Any thoughts?
The poll about half-races at the 4E board made me think of a simple alternative to some of the most common half-races in 3E. I wrote up a few feats that characters can only take at 1st level. I'm sure others have done something similar before, but any comments are appreciated nevertheless!
Dwarven Blood [General]
Prerequisite: Character may not be a dwarf.
Benefits: For all effects related to race, you are considered a dwarf. In addition, you gain a +1 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, and a +1 racial bonus on Appraise and Craft checks that are related to stone or metal.
Add Dwarven to the list of bonus languages available to you because of your race.
Special: You may only take this feat as a 1st level character.
Elven Blood [General]
Prerequisite: Character may not be an elf.
Benefits: For all effects related to race, you are considered an elf. In addition, you gain a +1 racial bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells or effects, and a +1 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.
Add Elven to the list of bonus languages available to you because of your race.
Special: You may only take this feat as a 1st level character.
What immediately appealed to me in these feats was the thought of elves with dwarven ancestry. I might simply make the drow (or a similar race of black elves) dwarf-blooded elves in my campaign. This would also tie in nicely with the mythological roots of dark elves; the Svartálfar seem to be often taken for dwarves and vice versa.
The following feat is pretty much the same as the Powerful Build racial feature of half-giants and a few other races. I'm not entirely sure if it is suitable for a general feat, even if you could only take it at 1st level and the ability score requirements are steep.
Blood of Giants [General]
Prerequisites: Strength 17, Constitution 15.
Benefit: Whenever you are subject to a size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), you are treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to you. You are also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature's special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect you. You can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, your space and reach remain those of a creature of your actual size.
Add Giant to the list of bonus languages available to you because of your race.
Special: You may only take this feat as a 1st level character.
Any thoughts?
