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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Khaalis" data-source="post: 769381" data-attributes="member: 2167">"Unbalanced Ability Scores" = +1 Level AdjustmentYou 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...)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 LA2) At will = +1 LAFirst - clarify what type of "mortal" - all creatures are humanoid.If all then = Dominate Monster = 9th level spellIf Humanoids only = Dominate Person = 5th level spellDrow 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.)See above.  Easily a +2 LAPolymorph = 4th level spellWild Shape = 5th level class ability limited in times per day At will = +1 LASavage Species p. 12: A creature with 3 or more racial bonuses on skill checks gets a +1 level adjustment.Savage Species p. 17: If the monster heals 3 or fewer hit points per round, fast healing is worth a +1 adjustment.Power exceeding a PC of Equal CR = +1 LA 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.Savage Species p. 13: Spell Resistance is worth a +1 LA, regardless of the amount.Standard Racial Abilities:  No LASo, to recap and total:Unbalanced Ability Scores = +1Enchantable Natural Weapon Weapons = +1Dominate @ Will = +2Polymorph @ Will = +2Spider Climb @ Will = +1Five +5 Racial Skill bonuses = +1Fast Healing 1 = +1Web 3/day = +12 Feats = +1Spell Resistance = +1Total = +12 Level AdjustmentTime 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). -1Dominate:  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. = -1Elder 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. = -1Spider 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 = -1Web 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  PLUSNatural Weapons, Climb, Wild Shape, Dominate, Web, Evasion, Fast Healing, Spell Resisitance, Racial AttributesI 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.</blockquote>

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