Half elf - speed bonus

[Kandor]

I've found the half elf to be a race that few of my players show any interest in taking. To make them a little more interesting, I've thought of adding a boost to their base speed (justifying it somehow with some sophistry about mixing the quickness of an elf and the hardiness of a human and how the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts - etc. etc).

This struck me as an unique benefit - something no other race would have. My concern is whether or not to make the speed 35'(20 in med/hvy armor) or 40'(25' in med/hvy armor) and whether or not this racial benefit might be too nice even at the lower speed.

What does everyone think? I'm holding off making any change until I see what this board thinks.

 

[jRocket]

I would say make it 35. There is already a feat that gives a character an extra 5' movement in Complete Warrior, so this would be about the eqivelant of a feat.

 

[demiurge1138]

35ft sounds like a good bonus. It's a nice addition, and it's small enough to make the hybridization benefit make sense.

Demiurge out.

 

[DragonTurtle]

looking at the title I was ready to dislike the idea, but dang it if that doesn't make some sense.

 

[Tonguez]

looking at the title I was ready to dislike the idea, but dang it if that doesn't make some sense.

me too

Spd+10 would condemn it to an immediate LA +1 imho
but Spd+5 is a feat so not too ban as a racial bonus.

 

[JimAde]

If the "speedy" half-elf then took the feat to add 5' of movement (getting a base 40') would his armored speed go up? Is there a rule for this, or GM fiat? I believe monks and barbarians both lose their extra speed in armor, so no guidance there.

 

[Kandor]

The feat from complete warrior, Dash, only works if the character is lightly armored/encumbered - so the armored speed should not go up.

I thank everyone for their advice and the review - I have now implemented this as a house rule (at the 35'/20' option.)

 

[Tatsukun]

If the "speedy" half-elf then took the feat to add 5' of movement (getting a base 40') would his armored speed go up? Is there a rule for this, or GM fiat? I believe monks and barbarians both lose their extra speed in armor, so no guidance there.

Well, there is a precedent with Dwarves not loosing speed with armor (or always loosing it, depending on how you look at it).

Why not just say it's an unnamed bonus 5' / round ? That way it'll stack with most things and armor shouldn't effect it.

-Tatsu

 

[Kandor]

Good point - and I looked at the SRD to see if a base speed of 35' was already listed with a corresponding reduced speed. It wasn't, but 30' reduced to 20', and 40' reduced to 30'. So It would make sense that a 35' base speed would be reduced to 25' in medium or heavy armor - meaning the 5' boost to base speed would occur for both unarmored and heavily armored half-elves.