+ECL Races: Generally Worth It?

[doktorstick]

Howdy. I have the opportunity to play in a FRCS campaign. Character creation is restricted to +0 ECL and +1 ECL races. However, I have no experience with the +ECL races in the FRCS. I'm considering playing a fighter wielding a greatsword (mercurial) or even a paladin.

Fighter: My three main options are human, dwarf, and genasi (earth). The genasi is +1 ECL.

Paladin: My two main options are human and aasimar. Aasimar is a +1 ECL.

Are the genasi or aasimar generally worth it in the short- and long-term? Presently, I'm going back and forth between a human fighter and a genasi (earth) fighter as my primary choice.

Thanks,
/ds

 

[Thanee]

My only experience is with the Drow, we currently have a Drow PC in our party and I still have an active Drow NPC haunting the party in another campaign.

I'd say, that in general the +ECL races are very weak in the beginning (where every hit point counts), but get quite good in the long run, if they have any abilities that are useful in higher levels.

Drow do have at least two of those. Spell Resistance and 120' (!!!) Darkvision are both very powerful!

Better attributes and minor gimmicks are not worth +ECL IMHO, but these or similar abilities will make a difference!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

Hmmm... after taking a quick look into FRCS, I don't think the Aasimar or Earth Genasi are worth +1 ECL (they surely are better than one of the PHB races, but not that much).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Shirt Guy John]

Although I used to think "Wow cool! This guy can cast Light! And he has TWO good ability mods!" I've gotten over that phase. You can typically do the same thing with a class level that you would forfeit, plus you get the hit points when you take a class level.

I don't think that ECLs work very well, unless you want the race for role-playing purposes. In that case, rock on!

 

[LordAO]

If you end up playing the paladin, definately go for the asimar! They get a bonus to both wisdom and charisma, their favored class is paladin, and they have some cool other perks. The Cha bonus is awesome for a paladin, since almost all of the paladins abilities go off charisma. The elemental resistances don't hurt either.

 

[Hammerhead]

ELC races usually hurt most at lower levels. The lack of HP can really sting in the first few level. It's not as big of a deal if you only use ECL +1 races, but it still makes a difference.

Also, ECL races generally work better for fighting classes than spell using classes. A fighter doesn't really gain that much from each level - attack bonus, HP, saves, and maybe a feat. A race that gives a bonus to STR can make up for the loss of an attack bonus, and a bonus to CON eventually makes up for the loss of a HD. However, the loss of spells, particularly high end ones, often isn't worth it for casters.

Later on, ECL races can be very good. Take an 8th level human fighter and a 7th level earth gensai fighter for example. The human is 2 feats ahead, one for race and the 8th level feat. He's also got an extra 1d10+CON mod in HP. However, the Earth Gensai's bonus to strength makes up for his reduced BaB, and he's at +1 to damage - maybe +2 if you use a 2 hander. His Con is 2 points higher, so he has an extra 7 HP. So the earth Gensai has +7 HP, while the human has 1d10+CON. In terms of straight up combat power, I'd say that they're about even- maybe the human's Imp. Crit makes the difference. The Gensai then has Darkvision, and some other junk going against the human's extra feats, skills, and higher WIS and CHA. The human is more versatile and better trained, but the Gensai has some raw power.

In general, core races, especially humans, are going to be better overall, but special races tend to produce more specialized characters. The Gensai can do a bit more damage, and will eventually be tougher, but the human has more overall stuff. The Assimar will rapidly overtake the human in turning, spells, lay on hands, and saves, but will be less effective in normal fighting.

 

[Jeremy]

ECL generally good for melee characters because of stat boosts, DR/Resists, reach, and other benefits.

ECL not very good for spellcasters generally because having a 8th level spell slot is generally better than having +5 on a DC.

With your choices Aasimar Paladin isn't really worth it as the only thing really helping you is +2 charisma. That's not worth a full level in my experience.

And earth genasi fighter is not as good as a human fighter with an extra feat. Though a dwarf fighter has a very fun attitude to play, the human is possibly better off.

 

[Crothian]

I usually don't think they are worth it unless you've got a good solid character concept. THat is the most important think IMO.

 

[doktorstick]

I usually don't think they are worth it unless you've got a good solid character concept. THat is the most important think IMO.

Thanks. I couldn't agree more (RE: character concept). However, when you have a pretty fertile imagination, anything works. It's just a matter on deciding what to pursue.

/ds

 

[Crothian]

Thanks. I couldn't agree more (RE: character concept). However, when you have a pretty fertile imagination, anything works. It's just a matter on deciding what to pursue.

/ds

Right. Allow me to try to clear that up. U*nless I have a very good, creative concpet that needs an ecl +X race, I try to go with the ecl +0 races.