FR: Shades?

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: Re: FR: Shades?

I don't have the two books in front of me right now to compare, but I believe that ACTUALLY in Races of Faerun, the +4 luck bonus on saves was a new ability not included in the template in the FRCS.

They have the saves in both.

 

[kreynolds]

Actually they had save bonuses, but no AC bonus.

They have the AC bonus in both sources.

Nor was there a +2 attack and damage bonus in FRCS.

There is.

 

[kreynolds]

I thought it was +5 in the FRCS errata?

It is. Though personally, I think it should have been noted to be +0 when not in darkness.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Well, it's +4 overall. If you say +0 in light, you'd have to go beyond +4 in shadows or darkness.

They have a net +4 bonus to ability scores, and increased speed, and some nice racial Bonuses to skills (plus, they don't suffer penalties due to darkness). That would be enough for +1.
They get a bonus to attack, damage, AC and saves (either +2 or +4) That's at least +1.
They have darkvision and ignore Darkness effects. The latter might become very practical if you have the darkness spell on your list. Another +1, or part of +1, I think.
They have several Spell-like abilities: Control Light, Infisibility, Shadow Image, and later Shadow Stride and Shadow Travel. Many of these abilities can be used almost at will, and should prove very useful. +1 Is not enough for that.
They have Fast Healing 2. Another +1.
They have Spell Resistance 11+ character level. Even another +1.


That adds up to around +6 or even more.

 

[kreynolds]

Well, it's +4 overall. If you say +0 in light, you'd have to go beyond +4 in shadows or darkness.

Not that bad though. No doubt that the reason it isn't higher than +4 already is specifically because the designers took into account that the powers are only available in shadow. However, I think such a disadvantage, which is quite unimaginative and arbitrary, should completely negate the level adjustment while in light. Basically, my comment above was simply me expressing my sincere distaste for that poor 'only in shadow' design decision.

Even taking into account the abilities of the shade, and throwing out the powers not working in darkness bit, I peg it at a mid +5.