Does this still have a +0 LA?

[Conaill]

Since this is a custom build for one specific PC, a lot would depend on how you imagine this PC's background. Was he brought up by dwarves? By elves? Or perhaps by some other race as an outcast? Did he grow up in the forest? In the city? In caves deep underground?

All of these issues can affect the range of abilities he has, including things like Stonecunning, racial weapons, even vision.

So Tofu-man... tell us some more about this PC of yours!

 

[welby]

I don't think adding to dex and lowing cha in a 1:1 ratio is balanced. Kind of munchkiny when you add in a plus to save against spells, darkvision, listen, search, and spot.

Those benefits alone add up to be too beneficial for a +0 LA imo.

 

[Neo]

I don't think adding to dex and lowing cha in a 1:1 ratio is balanced. Kind of munchkiny when you add in a plus to save against spells, darkvision, listen, search, and spot.

Those benefits alone add up to be too beneficial for a +0 LA imo.

Theres a little known about table in the 3.5 DMG that is helpful in situations like these. The Ability Score Equivalences table on page 173, it tells you what stats equate toa 1:1 penalty if you give one a bonus.

A bonus to Dexterity according to that can be balanced by Str OR Con OR Int AND Wis OR it can be balanced with a penatly to Wis AND Cha.

 

[Conaill]

I don't think adding to dex and lowing cha in a 1:1 ratio is balanced. Kind of munchkiny when you add in a plus to save against spells, darkvision, listen, search, and spot.

Those benefits alone add up to be too beneficial for a +0 LA imo.

It's only as munchkiny as +2Con, -2Cha for the Dwarf!

My proposed "Dwelf" should be pretty well balanced against the Dwarf. Dwarf gets slower movement, but also has better Darkvision and Stonecunning, +2 against poison, +1 against orcs and goblinoids, +4 Dodge AC vs giants, +2 stone/metal Appraise and Craft. In comparison, the "Dwelf" only gets the extra +10' speed, +2 agains magical sleep effects, and weapon proficiencies. Seems like the Dwarf, if anything, comes out ahead...

 

[DonaldRumsfeldsTofu]

Conaill, I really like your version of the Dwelf a lot, and I'll probably use it. Thanks for the help.

As for the character, he probably grew up in a community consisting of equal members of dwarf and elf, and has one parent of each race. I figure studied Dwarven masonry as well as the Elvan martial arts. I wanted to make a half-breed character with that sort of background to combat the cliché of the "child of rape who abandoned one race and grew up among the other" associated with halfbreed races. I figure Elves and Dwarves may have cultural differences and hangups, but philosophically speaking, they're similar enough to get along really well. The character will currently live in a community, though, and essentially be a highly-eccentric and completely destitute Fighter/Wizard.

 

[Conaill]

BTW, are you the DM of this campaign? If not, what does you DM think of this. It seems liek you're making a lot of assumptions about the existence of mixed communities, etc.

Also, it may be reasonable to remove some additional abilities from the "Dwelf". Non-core races are typically slightly underpowered compared to core races, in order to preserve the assumed demographics of the world. If you consider "Dwelves" to be a core race in this world (as much as, say half-elves are), go with the statistics above. If "Dwelves" should be rare in this world, drop one of their benefits to make playing a Dwelf character less attractive. (Alternatively, give them some *more* benefits, but a +1 LA. Hybrid vigor and all that...)