[ECL Evaluation] Elder Drow

[Khaalis]

I will do a Savage Species evaluation on this once I get home ( I am at work and dont have the book here to quote from). I will repost later.

 

[paqman]

Superb, thanks a lot, that is exactly what I needed.

 

[Khaalis]

ABILITIES: +4 Str, +4 Dex, +2 Con, +2 int, +0 wis, +4 cha

"Unbalanced Ability Scores" = +1 Level Adjustment

Claw attacks, Elder Drows are able to extend the length and hardness of their claws in the blink of an eye and use those as weapons. It inflicts 1d8 + str damage. The claws of an Elder Drow may be imbued as if imbuing weapons. Thus the claws could be imbued with Shock attack for example but not with bonuses to hit. A maximum of +5 worth of abilities may be imbued to the claws. It is also possible to change these powers if the Elder Drow wishes it. Doing so requires a special greater dispel magic casted by the Elder Drow with the intended goal of removing the magic. Casting a Greater Dispel magic to do so requires 1 hour of casting and 5 greater Dispel magic expenditure, if less than that amount of dispel magic is available to the Elder Drow, the powers are there forever, unless using a Wish of Miracle.

You need to define the weapon attacks. How many attacks per round?

Savage Species p. 11: If a monster gains multiple attacks in a single round before a Fighter of equal HD would do the same or if the monster's natural weapons deal more damage than a simple or martial weapon it could wield in one hand, the monster gains a +1 level adjustment.

Assuming this is a 1HD race, and that they only get one attack, I would say NO LA here.

Savage Species p. 27: Members of the corresponding monster class are always proficient with their own natural weapons. Using a natural attack does NOT PROVOKE AN ATTACK OF OPPORTUNTY unless the class description specifies otherwise. A monster does not gain iterative attacks on a full attack action with its natural weapons unless the class description specifies otherwise. A monster character can use any of its natural weapons as a secondary attack at a -5 penalty on the attack, even if it doesnt choose to use its actually primary attack in a given round. The Multiattack penalty feat described in the Monster Manual can reduce the penalty on secondary attacks to -2.

However, with the above in mind - free feats (Proficiency, Unarmed Combat), a free secondary attack, combined with the Enchantment ability, I think we are close to pushing a +1 Level Adjustment now. (We will see...)

-Dominate, Elder Drows are able to dominate other mortals as the Dominate spell of a level equal to the class levels of the Elder Drow. DC 10 + ½ character levels + Cha bonus. Against Dark elves the Elder Drow enjoys a bonus equals to 11 +1/level competence bonus to overcome spell resistance, against other elves, 11 + only half the character levels.

Savage Species p. 13: Since PCs of standard races generally have access to spells, spell-like abilities are worth a LA only when those abilities exceed what a spellcasting character of a level equal to the creature's CR could do. If the creature can use any spell-like ability at will, it gains a +1 level adjustment.

This is two parts:
1) Power exceeding a PC of Equal CR = +1 LA
2) At will = +1 LA

First - clarify what type of "mortal" - all creatures are humanoid.
If all then = Dominate Monster = 9th level spell
If Humanoids only = Dominate Person = 5th level spell
Drow are CR 1, Even if we say an Elder Drow is CR 5 - a 5th level PC Caster only gets 3rd level spells.

Thus, I would say Level Adjustment +2

(Also Keep in mind you are also giving a free Spell Penetration feat.)

-Polymorph into diminutive normal spider or (small, medium, large or huge ) monstrous spider like creature ( similar to a merge with and Alien from the movie and a spider ) or he can also polymorph into a ( small or dire ) bat like creature. Both polymorphs are available at will.

See above. Easily a +2 LA
Polymorph = 4th level spell
Wild Shape = 5th level class ability limited in times per day

-Spider Climb as a sorceror of a level equal to the class levels of the Elder Drow.

At will = +1 LA

- +5 racial bonus to Search, Spot, listen, hide and move silently. An Elder Drow who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check as though actively looking for it.

Savage Species p. 12: A creature with 3 or more racial bonuses on skill checks gets a +1 level adjustment.

- Fast healing 1

Savage Species p. 17: If the monster heals 3 or fewer hit points per round, fast healing is worth a +1 adjustment.

- At 3rd level Web (3/day)

Power exceeding a PC of Equal CR = +1 LA

- At 9th level while in Spider form, the Elder drow gains vocal chords and may cast verbal spells. (Always)
2. The Elder Drow has a natural ability to evade destructive area spell and spell like abilities. Thus, Elder Drows developed the Evasion ability ( As rogue equal to the character level)

This is a free feat (Speaking Wild Shape) and a feat-like ability of Evasion.

Savage Species p. 12: 2 or more bonus feats because of race gain the creature a +1 LA.

- At 19th level +5 to spell resistance. (Always)
1. Spell resistance, as normal Drow (11 + character hit dices)

Savage Species p. 13: Spell Resistance is worth a +1 LA, regardless of the amount.

-Dancing light, darkness, fairy fire
-Dark vision 120 feet.
-Immune to magical sleep spells and effects
- +2 racial saving throw against enchantment spells or effects.
- +2 racial bonus to Will saves against enchantment spells or effects
- Light blindness, Abrupt exposure to bright light, blinds a drow for 1 round. In addition, drow suffer -1 circumstance penality to all attack rolls, saves, and checks while operating in sunlight.

Standard Racial Abilities: No LA


So, to recap and total:
Unbalanced Ability Scores = +1
Enchantable Natural Weapon Weapons = +1
Dominate @ Will = +2
Polymorph @ Will = +2
Spider Climb @ Will = +1
Five +5 Racial Skill bonuses = +1
Fast Healing 1 = +1
Web 3/day = +1
2 Feats = +1
Spell Resistance = +1

Total = +12 Level Adjustment

Time for the Acid Test. Would you rather play an Elder Drow Wizard 1 or a Wizard 13? DUH!

This race is thus broken as-is.

Ways we can lower this to a more manageable level?

Natural Weapons: Keep it to 1 attack (like any humanoid), remove the Enchantability. 1d8 Damage is technically fine (if a bit high in my personal taste). -1

Dominate: Change to below to match other lower HD creatures. Most creatures do not gain spells this powerful at will, and usually only 1-3 times per day max. = -1
Elder Drow may use the Dominate Person spell twice per day, cast as a Sorcerer of their Character level, with a DC 15+Cha Modifier.

Polymorph: Change this to be the equivalent of WILD SHAPE, exactly as described for a druid, but with the listed shapes, once per day. = -1

Spider Climb @ Will: I would make this the Climb ability from the Monster Manual as it is a better defined ability and nowhere near as overbalanced as the ability of Spider Climb, but it would still be a +1, so no change.

5 Skills Bonuses: Drop this to 2 Skill Bonuses = -1

Web 3/day: Since this is gained at 3rd level, and a Wizard of 3rd level COULD cast this, we can ACID TEST it at -1.

2 Feats: This is really iffy, but technically you could say that since they dont gain Speaking Wild Shape until 9th level, we could stretch another ACID TEST -1.


That brings us down to a +6 Level Adjustment (1 HD), so a Starting ECL of 7.


So again we compare an Elder Drow Wizard 1 vs. a Wizard 7? Hmmm....Tough.

4th level Spells, 7HD and More Skill Points

VS.

1st level Spells, 1HD, Starting Skill Points PLUS
Natural Weapons, Climb, Wild Shape, Dominate, Web, Evasion, Fast Healing, Spell Resisitance, Racial Attributes

I think this is worth the trade. I think ECL 7 is the best this can get (though personally I would almost go 8).

Hope this is what you were looking for.

 

[paqman]

This is exactly what I wanted. Thanks a lot for the effort of doing this, it is highly appreciated.

I will most assuredly update my site with your evaluation and thank you on it for your work.