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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Pickaxe" data-source="post: 899288" data-attributes="member: 10812">I actually use a point-buy system similar to what was described above. Elven blood is contingent on the character actually buying something inherently elven. I don't have the point distribution at hand, but I recall that extra skill points were the most expensive, followed by the extra feat and the weapon proficiencies.Regarding the lack of racial modifiers to the personality abilities, I can think of one reason that the rules avoided giving any bonuses to these abilities. A +2 bonus to INT, WIS, or CHA would allow a character to have a 20 in that ability, which would allow the character to have 2 bonus first level spells at first level. Thus, a first level sorcerer could start with 5 first level spells per day, and it would mean an increase of 50% in the first level spell slots of a 1st level druid. Maybe it doesn't seem like much, but it is a significant increase in power at that level. It also gets the character further along the path to getting higher level bonus spells perhaps faster than the rules intended.A comment on elven weapon proficiencies: There's an irony here. The fact that elves get free proficiencies means that they are more attractive for classes that don't get martial weapons (but that aren't otherwise restricted). Cleric, sorcerer, and wizard are probably the main ones in this category. Druids can't use swords or bows, monks are focused on unarmed combat, and fighters, barbarians, rangers, and paladins already have these weapons, so, for these classes, the weapon proficiencies are basically a wasted power. The irony is that this list of non-benefiting classes includes two rather "elfy" classes (ranger and druid), as well as fighter. Why is the latter ironic? The PHB describes elves as masters of swordplay, which presumably means that the ultimate masters would be elven fighters. Yet, I bet a lot of people don't consider elf as a race for their fighter in part due to the fact that one elven feature (weapon features) gains them nothing. One solution (if you really think elves need any help) is to create a feat for elves that enhances their swordplay, or create exotic elven blades (martial for elves, thanks to the new weapon familiarity) that have some special feature, e.g., increased crit range.Lastly, I'll just note that the above list of "non-benefiting" classes in terms of elves might be the best candidates for standard half-elves, since they have no weapon proficiencies to lose, yet retain some elven features, along with a smidge of human flexibility. Not that I've met anyone yet who wants to play a half-elf.--Axe</blockquote>

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