Half-orc revision?

[AdamBank]

I've suggested tossing out the -2 to CHA and replacing it with narrower penalties. For example, a -2 to Diplomacy and Gather Information checks with non-orcs. It puts an emphasis on the social stereotype of half-orcs, though.

 

[niteshade6]

Well having played in many living campaigns where you get to see hundreds of different character designs, I've definetely noticed that half orc is actualy both one of the most popular and powerful character races. There is no way they could possibly be considered underpowered, the advantages of +2 strength is just huge, and easily worth all they give up for it and more. As anyone who has done the math knows a small strength increase can often result in a massive increase of your damage per round especialy at low level.

However they are a bit one dimensional and can use some things to give them more flavor. A small intimidate bonus would be cool, maybe something else minor. But scent would probably be too good, they need more flavor abilities to make them interesting, but certainly nothing to make them more powerful.

Now the half elf on the other hand, that is by far the least popular race I've seen. If there is ever a race that needs a boost, it's that.

 

[Li Shenron]

Now the half elf on the other hand, that is by far the least popular race I've seen. If there is ever a race that needs a boost, it's that.

It can be very different depending on your gaming group. In all the groups I have been playing up to now, people never cared too much about racial benefits, most probably because they become less important every time you level up (and you can nullify the +/-2 to abilities just by arranging them, if they don't suit you).

I think ALL of my fellow players (possibly except me) have chosen their PC race only for flavor reasons. The result was that I have yet to play together with someone different than Human, Elf or Half-Elf.

 

[Darklone]

Since I am using the KoK PG extensively and several of those races have a net +2 or net -2 modification to the attributes I can tell it works out rather fine.

The halforc is by far one of the stronger races in the games I saw, though this could be lowered by some high magic settings if it's so easy to achieve a higher strength.

Halfelves on the other hand have been rather popular in my games due to style and the usefulness of trancing and low light vision. (Who's on watch?)

I have to admit though that I tend to outdoor adventures where darkvision is much inferior to lowlightvision.

 

[niteshade6]

Well it stands to reason that in a group where nobody cares about racial abilities, races that would otherwise be unpopular will be popular.

The main problem with a half elf is he doesn't fill any niche. Usualy you figure out what type of character you want to play and decide what race would be most apropriate (of course sometimes the race might be part of what you want to play). The 1/2 elf will never lend itself to being to best race for any particular combo (with the possible exception of arcane archer just because it requires you to be an elf or half elf).

Even if you do really like trancing and low light, in most cases an elf will be a stronger character. In fact half elves don't even get trancing in the first place. Of course many people might not want the con hit or the favored class, but then usualy human is the way to go. Really low light vision is the only relevent half elven ability.

Of course some people will play half elves because they think they are cool, or because they remember them being really strong in 2nd edition.

 

[Darklone]

I have to admit that I've seen more halfelves in groups with houserules about the multiclassing XP penalty ...

Halfelves got another goodie to make up for the lost advantage of any favored class.

 

[Li Shenron]

I have to admit that I've seen more halfelves in groups with houserules about the multiclassing XP penalty ...

Halfelves got another goodie to make up for the lost advantage of any favored class.

In fact I think the original ideas of the authors were that having "any" favored class could have made a great advantage for Humans and Half-Elves. Instead, the multiclass restrictions are easy to hack, and many PCs can take the famoust 1st level of Ranger and 1 level of Barbarian or Paladin with no penalties.

I am no surprised to know that many groups house-ruled the MC restriction to avoid PCs of 3 core classes and even more PrCl.

 

[Duke Frinn]

How About "Minor Scent"?

In the 3.5 scoops page someone mentioned Minor Scent as somthing that familiars are getting. So maybe instead of having the option of getting Scent as a feat, Half-Orcs now automaticaly get Minor Scent.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

In fact I think the original ideas of the authors were that having "any" favored class could have made a great advantage for Humans and Half-Elves. Instead, the multiclass restrictions are easy to hack, and many PCs can take the famoust 1st level of Ranger and 1 level of Barbarian or Paladin with no penalties.

I think the new Ranger class will be changed so the "ranger hack" will be very pointless.

 

[niteshade6]

Out of curiosity, what multiclassing house rules are people using?