Giving something back to humans

[Lonely Tylenol]

So I'm planning on removing the favoured class rules from my next campaign, and replacing them with racial substitution levels from the Races Of series. So, as someone (I think it was Henry) said, it's rewarding races for playing to their archetypical roles, rather than penalizing them for deviating. But that leaves humans, who have no substitution levels. What should I be giving humans to make up for losing one of their advantages, the ability to multiclass with few restrictions? What is "the ability to take racial substitution levels" worth in terms of other potential racial benefits. So far I've thought of giving them a free "+2 to two skills" feat of their choice. What do you suggest?

 

[S'mon]

Maybe regional skills bonuses like in Conan?

 

[Aust Diamondew]

If you do point buy for ability scores give them 1 extra point buy point at character creation.

 

[WayneLigon]

Make all skills class skills for them.

 

[CrusaderX]

I give them yet another bonus skill point at every even level.

 

[(un)reason]

So I'm planning on removing the favoured class rules from my next campaign, and replacing them with racial substitution levels from the Races Of series. So, as someone (I think it was Henry) said, it's rewarding races for playing to their archetypical roles, rather than penalizing them for deviating. But that leaves humans, who have no substitution levels. What should I be giving humans to make up for losing one of their advantages, the ability to multiclass with few restrictions? What is "the ability to take racial substitution levels" worth in terms of other potential racial benefits. So far I've thought of giving them a free "+2 to two skills" feat of their choice. What do you suggest?

Well, both Unearthed arcana and Arcana Evolved have racial levels for humans in the same way (although their specific implementations are slightly different.) If you don't want to bother with that, hmm. yeah, I'd say a bonus to a skill or two or free feat based upon culture would be a good way to go.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Well, both Unearthed arcana and Arcana Evolved have racial levels for humans in the same way (although their specific implementations are slightly different.) If you don't want to bother with that, hmm. yeah, I'd say a bonus to a skill or two or free feat based upon culture would be a good way to go.

The racial levels are essentially a unique 3-level class, which doesn't really interface all that well with a lot of stuff. The thing about the racial substitution levels is that if you're a druid, for example, and you take a druid substitution level at level 3, you're still a 3rd level druid for all intents and purposes. The substitution levels either give you alternate abilities, or improved but more focused abilities, depending. Some of them are kind of lame, and some are awesome. But they don't interfere in your progression other than for the single change (or two) they make.

Thanks for all the good ideas. I like the idea of giving humans all skills as class skills. I might end up doing that.

 

[Whimsical]

Giving humans the Able Learner feat automatically, which allows them to buy cross-class skills for one point for one rank, would work nicely. This is simply a house rule in the game I play.

One or two more stat points, with the limitation of not being able to raise a stat past 18, would work also.

 

[Remathilis]

How about...

Designate 1 skill as always being a class skill.
Free Weapon Proficiency (best with groups from UA) or even weapon focus, your choice
+5% XP bonus (might screw up XP system)
+1 to a specific skill (by culture or Player choice)

 

[Krafen]

I would give the player a choice between Able Learner and choosing one skill to always be a class skill.