Human Subrace Level Adjustment Question

[justinsluder]

I'm thinking about adding a human subrace which can cast spells as a sorcerer, yet still have all the normal human racial qualities.

I can decide on the total power of such a race, depending on which variant I decide to use.

My options are:
1. Cast spells as a Sorcerer equal to Hit Dice.
2. Cast spells as a 1st level Sorcerer.
3. Cast spells as a Sorcerer equal to 1/4 Hit Dice.

I'm also having difficulties deciding on a level adjustment for them
Here are my thoughts on the ones above.
1. LA +1
2. LA +4
3. LA +2

Please, let me know what you all think about these.

Thank you in advance,
Justin Sluder

 

[Herzog]

hmmm.

let me give a quick look at your options:
1. Cast spells as a Sorcerer equal to Hit Dice.
This is effectively giving a class feature to a race. One that scales with level too! I think you just need to skip this one. There is no way you can assign a LA for this in a reasonable way.
2. Cast spells as a 1st level Sorcerer.
Looking over simmilar bonusses to other races (specific spell 3 times per day, small selection of spells all one time per day, etc.) I'd say this is LA+1. Not higher.
3. Cast spells as a Sorcerer equal to 1/4 Hit Dice.
Although less than your first option, this still scales with level. Again, no way to assign LA. skip.

Aside from the above, when you say 'cast spells as a sorcerer', does that include spells/day, spells known, ways of aquiring spells, etc?
Or did you mean 'when this race takes an arcane or divine class, the selected spells may be cast like a sorcerer'.
In case of the former, my comments stand.
In case of the latter: forget it. It's just too powerfull (unless everyone gets extra's, not just this specific subrace)

Herzog

 

[justinsluder]

Regardless of which variant they would get the spells/day, spell/known, and ways of acquiring spells. Just no hit points, feats, skill points or base attack, fort, ref, or will bonuses from their innate sorcerer abilities.

 

[smootrk]

I think you might narrow things down a bit. Maybe allow the race to pick a signature first level spell (or spells) at creation that they can cast a few times per day. Later, with Racial Feats that you create, they can choose other (and higher level) spells or other enhancements. I would also make these spell-like abilities, just to differentiate them from the norm.

Basically emulate the format that certain subraces get (like gnomes, drow, etc).

 

[justinsluder]

Well, I'm currently working on my campaign setting and this subrace is a secret group of "evolved" beings. Naturally, there would be members of this evolved race who turn against them and are responsible for more evolved beings.

I don't want it to be spell-like abilities. I want it to be actually spellcasting ability, like mercanes, spellweavers and other sorcerer like creatures.

 

[smootrk]

Maybe if you post up your background or fluff material (all still subject to changes based on how you decide to work the powers), then everyone will have more/better input for you.

 

[Darklone]

That race is essentially a Gestalt character?

 

[justinsluder]

Yes and no. They have all the spellcasting abilities of a Sorcerer but not the saving throws, skills or any hit dice whatsoever.

 

[justinsluder]

The original evolved beings are the product of a now lost arcane ritual which took place approximately 700 years ago. Think the Circle of Greyhawk or the Chosen of Mystra regarding power levels of the original group. Some of them are still around, moving things slowly and secretively. Most for the good of the nation, some not so good.

Typical uber powerful NPC's. I'm looking for something to make my campaign stick out as something new and different. My D&D group has collectively been playing longer than I've been alive. They've seen lots of stuff.

The reason I don't want to just say everyone is gestalt with Sorcerer, which would be the easy way out, is because there are still normal humans around in far, far greater numbers. Roughly only 1 in 10,000 people are now evolved humans.

Maybe I'll go with a variable level adjustment, like they suggest for half-celestials in BoED.

 

[Darklone]

Yes and no. They have all the spellcasting abilities of a Sorcerer but not the saving throws, skills or any hit dice whatsoever.

If you build a Gestalt char, that's what you get. The sorcerer has the weakest stuff, so the other class will trump it in each regard.

Edit: None of the heritage feat lines is your taste?