Half-Ogre: update, or remove?

[Emiricol]

Post subject: Half Ogre update (and I did some of the math)

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Okay, the creator of the half ogre once posted that some updating was needed (presumably after testing and arenas and such.)

So, the 3.5 MM has a great solution. Here's the Bugbear for comparison.

· +4 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, -2 Charisma.
· Medium size.
· A bugbear's base land speed is 30 feet.
· Darkvision out to 60 feet.
· Racial Hit Dice: A bugbear begins with three levels of humanoid, which provide 3d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +2, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +3, and Will +1.
· Racial Skills: A bugbear's humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 6 x (2 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Climb, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, and Spot.
· Racial Feats: A bugbear's humanoid levels give it two feats.
· +3 natural armor bonus.
· +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks.
· Favored Class: Rogue.
· Level adjustment +1 (NOTE that the Bugbear has "three levels of humanoid" as well, which impacts experience points requirements for class levels.

By this we can see that the Half-Ogre, if the creator wants to keep it at all, ought to have one level of Monstrous Humanoid (instead of the Ogre's Giant type), +1d8 HD, 2 x (2 + Int modifier) with class skills of Jump, Climb, Run (from Ogre). Also, one feat. This alone is level adjustment +0, but the race has that level of monstrous humanoid, so that's ECL +1 right there.

My recommendation would be to take this, add your other modifiers, and aim at ECL +2 (Character Level +1 and 1 Monstrous Humanoid Level). The actual Ogre, btw, is Character Level +2 and 4 Giant levels, or ECL +6. So that seems reasonable to me.

What do you think?
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Arena Player of Tralin, Human Rog1/Ftr2

The For More Than Glory campaign DM Updated 27-Aug



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Emiricol
Council Member (Ulruz)


Joined: 14 Feb 2003
Posts: 671
Location: Calif., USA
Posted: 26 Aug 2003 07:59 pm Post subject:

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Great with me!
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An Ulruz Arena DM

Arena Player of Tralin, Human Rog1/Ftr2

The For More Than Glory campaign DM Updated 27-Aug



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Emiricol
Council Member (Ulruz)


Joined: 14 Feb 2003
Posts: 671
Location: Calif., USA
Posted: 26 Aug 2003 08:11 pm Post subject:

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so I need a revised list of racial features.

 

[Northman]

I agree about making the half-ogre ECL +2.

 

[Lith]

ECL +2 does sound more reasonable.

 

[Moogle]

Sounds fair to me. I've seen the half-ogre in action, and it seems a bit too overpowered for ECL+1, especially at lower levels. There's few second level parties that could take a half-ogre out without significant damage.

 

[Reckless]

Yah, +2 ECL

 

[DMEntropy]

I have searched for the Half-Ogre modifications without success. Can someone post the racial modifiers here to make evaluation easier? Or tell me where to find them?

 

[Emiricol]

The new mods would basically be as listed below (old + new). We may want a further tweaking if anyone feels it is underpowered at ECL 2 (use bugbear ECL 3 for comparison).

• Racial Hit Dice: Half Ogres begin with one level of Monstrous Humanoid which provides +1d8 HD
• Racial Skills: 2 x (2 + Int modifier) skill points with class skills of Jump, Climb, Run
• Racial Feats: +1 Feat from its racial level
• +6 Strength, -2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, -4 Intelligence, -2 Charisma
• Favored Class: Barbarian
• Size Medium
• Speed 30
• Level adjustment +1 (NOTE that the Half Ogre has "one level of monstrous humanoid" as well, which impacts experience points requirements for class levels.

 

[Renfield]

Seems decent to me... it's when races like this get labeled +3 that I think someone is a little too balance happy... for all that's worth

 

[Silverglass]

1 HD and an LA of +1 seems right to me

 

[DMEntropy]

So how many feats would a Level 1 Fighter who is a half-ogre receive?

Monstrous Humanoid (1st level) - 1
Lvl 1 Fighter Bonus Feat - 2

Or should it be 3? (1 for monstrous humanoid level, 1 for first class level, 1 for fighter bonus feat)

I am inclined to think it is 2. The "first" level for this character is Monstrous Humanoid. The "second" level is taken as Fighter.