Has anyone House Ruled the Half-Elf???

[Maximillian]

I've seen those sorts of races, and my Guyaam (a race of red skinned, barbarous pseudo-elves) have the above mentioned stat modifiers. I think, frankly, that you have to go a bit farther to be +1 ECL than Wizards seems to think.

 

[haiiro]

Actually, the omission of the +2vs. Enchantment and immunity to sleep was a typo on my part... I'll edit it back. I think that the bonus skill points is too much.

Fair enough. But as it stands, the only thing balancing the half-elf against the elf is favored class versatility -- which is worth the free weapon proficiencies, extra skill check bonuses and the automatic search feature, according to the PHB. If you tie the half-elf to a class, I think something else needs to be added to the race to bring it up to par with elves -- assuming the attribute shift is self-balancing, which it is IMO.

Edit: Also, favored class versatility is the only thing the default half-elf gets from the human side; removing that without bringing in another human element turns the half-elf into a diluted elf. Problem being, of course, that humans only have three racial features, and all of them are biggies (with "favored class: any" being the least important of the three, IMO).

 

[shivamuffin]

I disallowed them. Setting specific reasons, but it solved any issues that may potentially arise!

 

[Mike Sullivan]

This isn't a serious suggestion to you who are attempting to "fix" the Half Elf (and I agree that it does need fixing), but it might spark some ideas:


Half Elf (The "hybrid vigor" version)

Half Elves are the children of humans and elves, and they tend to surpass both parents in their abilities. The vitality of humanity mixes with the immortal blood of the elves... [yaddah-yaddah-yaddah. I'm not in the mood for purple prose today]

• +2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma
• Medium Size
• Base Speed 30 ft.
• 4 extra skill points at first level and 1 extra skill point at each additional level
• +2 racial saving throw bonus vs. enchantment spells and effects (but no sleep immunity -- Half Elves sleep as do humans)
• Low-light vision
• +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search and Spot checks
• Elven blood
• Automatic languages: Common and Elven
• Bonus Languages: Any
• Favored Class: Highest level class.
  
• ECL: +1

 

[gpetruc]

I gave them the human skill points. (+1 lvl. x4 at level 1).
Actually IMHO the PHB half-elves are a little underpowered, and some skill points could even this.

 

[haiiro]

+2 racial saving throw bonus vs. enchantment spells and effects (but no sleep immunity -- Half Elves sleep as do humans)

That's an excellent and fitting justification for dropping the sleep immunity, IMO. Neat idea -- thanks.

 

[jerichothebard]

Asgard magazine #1 has an article titled, Mixed Blood (Quarter Elves? Half Gnomes? Mix and match your bloodline!) - the gist of it is that they broke down the different racial traits into components, and assigned each component a point value. Benefits (+2 to Dex, low light vision) got positive point values, while drawbacks (-2 to Con, light sensitivity) got negative values. Each ECL zero race has a net total of four points.
The goal here was to allow players to customize their race beyond the starting PHB races.

It might be worth checking out, but I didn't write it and I haven't used it, so I can't vouch for its balance level. I just remember it being interesting.

here's the direct URL to download it:

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/news...d&name=Downloads&file=index&req=getit&lid=111

jericho

PS - I gave half-elves the human skill points, but not the feat. And I am debating ditching the favored classes in the game altogether.

j

 

[haiiro]

Asgard magazine #1 has an article titled, Mixed Blood (Quarter Elves? Half Gnomes? Mix and match your bloodline!) - the gist of it is that they broke down the different racial traits into components, and assigned each component a point value

Thanks for the link -- I'll definitely have to check that out when I get home (home = cablemodem, graveyard shift at work = dialup...).

 

[Destil]

Half elves get human skill points.
Half orcs get one bonus feat from a small list of feats at 1st level.

 

[Al]

Since half-elves can arise in many different ways (elven mother, human father; human mother, elven father; two half-elf parents) I figured that I would give them a choice.

EITHER 4 skill points at 1st level + 1 skill point at every subsequent level
OR 1 bonus feat at first level
OR Elven weapon proficiencies

I suppose if I wanted I could link each option to one 'origin' (i.e. elven father=elven weapon proficiencies), but I haven't enforced that so far.