I'm ditching the Tolkein races for my new campaign to try and get a fresh role playing start. These are the four PC races I'll be using - can you folk help me balance them? I've balanced them as best I can with http://rpg.hmimages.com/racecalc.cfm , but this isn't really my bag. I'm leaving out the flavor stuff - all you need to know is that each is the chosen race of one elemental god, and that I wanted them all to have some kind of SLA or supernatural power. Humans will still be available as a race. In square brackets I've put my thoughts and equivocations. Thanks!
Earth:
+2 Con, -2 Cha, +4 Craft (stone and metal), Stone shape 1/day with 10 minute casting time, +4 defend against bull rush/trip
[these guys came out more like dwarves than I wanted. Hmmm.]
Fire:
+2 Int, -2 Str, +4 to Knowledge checks, Produce flame 1/day, Light 3/day, Fire resist 5, normal vision
[no wizards IMC (all spontaneous casters), so the Int bonus won't have any spellcasting impact. For campaign reasons the god of fire is also the god of knowledge]
Water:
low light vision, swim 40 (+8 swim checks), +4 to diplomacy, +2 saves against mind-affecting, create water 1/day
[the god of water is also the god of tranquility and peace, hence the diplomacy and saves bonus. I couldn't think of an appropriate set of ability modifiers.]
Air:
+2 Dex, -2 Con, Glide (fall from unlimited height, average maneuverability, spd 40), +2 Climb/Balance/Jump, +2 AC against airborne opponents
Earth:
+2 Con, -2 Cha, +4 Craft (stone and metal), Stone shape 1/day with 10 minute casting time, +4 defend against bull rush/trip
[these guys came out more like dwarves than I wanted. Hmmm.]
Fire:
+2 Int, -2 Str, +4 to Knowledge checks, Produce flame 1/day, Light 3/day, Fire resist 5, normal vision
[no wizards IMC (all spontaneous casters), so the Int bonus won't have any spellcasting impact. For campaign reasons the god of fire is also the god of knowledge]
Water:
low light vision, swim 40 (+8 swim checks), +4 to diplomacy, +2 saves against mind-affecting, create water 1/day
[the god of water is also the god of tranquility and peace, hence the diplomacy and saves bonus. I couldn't think of an appropriate set of ability modifiers.]
Air:
+2 Dex, -2 Con, Glide (fall from unlimited height, average maneuverability, spd 40), +2 Climb/Balance/Jump, +2 AC against airborne opponents