Dwarves and other races

[Darklone]

You could as well give halforcs that bonus feat that allows you to use your strength modifier instead of charisma for intimidate checks... wherever that feat was from.

 

[reapersaurus]

You could as well give halforcs that bonus feat that allows you to use your strength modifier instead of charisma for intimidate checks... wherever that feat was from.

I'm pretty sure that's just a variant rule, as far as WotC material goes.

Isn't that an optional rule in 3.5? Wasn't it mentioned somewhere in the 3.5 core books?

And the +4 is just Skill Focus in one skill (+3) with a +1 to offset the CHA penalty. Unfortunately, the +1 offset is kind of required, unless you use an alternate Intimidation mechanic (and that's been discussed many times thru the years). Many races get +2 to 2 skills (or more), which is a typical skill focus, so +3 doesn't seem out of whack to me at all.
The last +1 is just basically having the orc's CHA penalty not apply to Intimidate. You could have that as a benefit, but it's more clunky than simply giving them +4.

 

[Beholder Bob]

You could as well give halforcs that bonus feat that allows you to use your strength modifier instead of charisma for intimidate checks... wherever that feat was from.

I think it was the quint fighter, but as an optional new skill, Bully. It functioned as per intimidate, used STR instead of CHA, and required physical looming, potential threat (i.e. Bully can only be used while in a position of potential threat, not while you are helpless or obviously much weaker). I like this idea, as it makes sense, but would rather not add a new skill. What if intimidate received a bonus to its roll per: subtle threats or non-physical threats use CHA, looming uses STR, and weapon display your BA.

 

[Thels]

As for intimidate, how about having anyone who is intimidating someone else and is shown to be rather muscled or otherwise dangerous receive a +2 circumstance bonus, while someone who displayed he will actually take force into own hands (this includes placing an axe against one's throad, or kill someone's compiniong, should get a +4 circumstance bonus. No need for feats. Of course the creature's muscles need to be revealed for this to work, but hey, ain't that the way it's in real life too? A Half-Orc would have a hard time intimidating someone else if that other person couldn't see the Half-Orcs sheer muscles (assuming he has those).

Beholder Bob, a big error in your calculations is that for Dwarves, practically all bonuses are usefull for mostly the same classes, unlike the gnome. Would a gnome use both his familiarity and the +1 spell DC for illusions?

 

[Beholder Bob]

...Beholder Bob, a big error in your calculations is that for Dwarves, practically all bonuses are usefull for mostly the same classes, unlike the gnome. Would a gnome use both his familiarity and the +1 spell DC for illusions?

Err, what? Big error? They gain it as a martial weapon, which I count as 1/2 a feat. The +1 illusion DC is equal to spell focus, so again 1 feat. Some characters will not take advantage of all the basics of their race, but it doesn't mean to ignore them either. My friend has a bard 1/2 orc, so suffers due to race rather then benefits (and it is still a very cool character). It doesn't change the strength and weakness of the race. A 1/2 elf character played by a hack n' slash player and so never uses the diplomacy or gather info ability is not gaining the full benefits either, but the bonus is still there, hence counted. You seem to be under the impression that this is only for what you benefit from with a straight (single class) build, but I'm sure you could figure out a few ways a gnome could benefit from both, couldn't you? Say a gnome fighter (1st) bard (xth). Or with prestige classes. Really now, big error?

 

[Thels]

Well, still, a Dwarf can be a fighter and have use for all racial abilities automatically. A gnome has to go through ways to make use of all racial abilities. Anyhow, it's appearant I simply fully disagree with your point system, and it's not likely we'll meet to an agreement on it, so I'm just dropping it from now on.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Movement: I don't see not losing speed when encumbered or in heavy armor to be a big deal considering they were a medium sized creature nerfed on their original movement rates anyway. Not losing speed keeps them back up with their fellow heavy-armored medium creatures. Overall, losing the movement under lighter encumbrances and armors is still a negative applied to the dwarf. Sure, he can now tumble in heavy armor and encumbrances, but the penalties for doing so are pretty significant and most characters with the feat for wearing heavy armor won't have Tumble as a class skill. I don't think this is a significant issue.

The movement change is big in my mind. It was the only significant penalty to being a dwarf, more important than the -2 Cha. Now movement is a non-issue for most dwarf builds.

 

[Particle_Man]

I'm thinking of a campaign that doesn't even use half-elves or half-orcs. I'd just allow orcs, kobolds and goblins, split the elves into grey elves and wood elves (and no other elves), and then put in dwarves, gnomes, halflings and humans.

I did try a half-elf diplomacy guy. My dm made all skills class skills for all classes, so I went cleric so that the chr could be maxed for diplomacy and turning undead.

I would put dwarves at +0.5 ECL

 

[Thanee]

My dm made all skills class skills for all classes, ...

You don't see many Rogues in those campaigns, right?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

Giving Half-Orcs Str instead of Cha on Intimidate would result in something like a +7 modifier on average!

The +4 is just that high, because you need to offset the low Cha. It's basically only a similarily high bonus as any other racial skill bonus.

Bye
Thanee