Half-elf adjustment to +2 racial bonus skills

[fba827]

Well, in 3.5, I am not fond of the Half-elf's +2 racial bonus to Diplomacy and Gather Information checks... mostly because for Cha based interaction type skills I already do modifications for race (i.e. if it's a dwarf that hates elves, etc. I'll adjust accordingly).

Having said that, I am looking for an alternative to the +2 racial bonus to Diplomacy and Gather Information checks granted to half-elves.

One option I am considering is:

+2 racial bonus to any one chosen Dex based skill. This would tie back to the elves being graceful parent-line. It is only to one skill (as opposed to the existing +2 to two skills) but at the same time it is vers. since the player can choose what Dex based skill they want it to apply to. Weak, I know, but seemed to make sense in my head


How does that sound? Or any better suggestions?

 

[Technik4]

The thing about giving a bonus like that is that it implies it is better at doing X than humans, in addition to elves.

Why not give them half an ability boost? +1 to Dex checks and Dex-related skills. Or maybe the choice between Dex checks/skills and Cha checks/skills.

Technik

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

There's no reason that half-elves couldn't be better at Diplomacy and Gathering Information than either Elves or Humans-- especially considering their marginal position in both societies.

They are not total rejects, like Half Orcs, so it is easier for them to develop the social skills they need in order to function in either society.

edit: +2 to two skills is the equivalent of a feat. Try giving them Cosmopolitan, instead.

 

[fba827]

Thanks for the thoughts.

I guess I didn't make myself clear enough in the first post though. I was not saying that half-elves could not be good at Diplomacy and Gather Information. I was merely saying that since I already put modifications in based on race I was not comfortable with using an inherent racial bonus. Therefore, I wanted to think of some alternative(s) for what to give half-elves instead.

I'll look at the Cosmopolitan feat and other feats then to see if one may better strike my fancy.

 

[RaZZer99]

I too did not like the Half-Elf +2 bonus to diplomacy and gather information. Instead I give Half-Elves a free Skill Focus feat which is by some strange logic somewhere between the free bonus feat and skill points Humans get. Afterall, they should get something from their human parentage.