Kobolds too weak at Level Adjustment +0?

[Tar-Edhel]

It is clearly easier to build a solid Small Rogue from as a Halfling or a Gnome. Darkvision is the only major difference. There is no comparison between -4Str +2Dex -2Con and -2Str +2Dex or -2Str +2 Con. A four stat point differential is pretty big in the game. Would you trade four stat points for +10 movement and Darkvision subbed for Lowlight?

If you desire to play a monster to increase your minmaxing, obviously not.

But I think monsters should be played for the role-playing opportunity to be somehing completely alien.

You cannot ask WOTC to produce a book full of creature that are both balanced when pitted against your average party and when played as a PC race.

For example, kobolds and goblins are good at one thing: mating fast. They survive not because they're strong or have insane special abilities. Their strength is in number.

Beware the pary of kobold or goblins with the swarmfighting feat from CW. It could mean 16 attacks for a single medium PC each with a +3 bonus (2 from flanking, +1 from swarmfighting).

Thus, it becomes really hard to balance with PC classes. If you make them the mechanic equivalent of Elves, Dwarves and such, they might become too powerful for a low-level party when encountered as a group.

Of course, the ECL concept was meant to address this issue. But an ECL -1 would tip the scale in the small humanoid's favor. I would take the -4 any time if it got me one level, darkvision and a 30' movement.

I've played a kobold wizard (p to 9th or 10th level) and I am buiding a goblin worg rider, based on the ranger. Both would have been more powerful had I chosen an official race. But power is not what made Al-Tarshku (the kobold wizard) an unforgettable character. It was his constant bickering with the party's gnome, his disgusting habits (from a human perspective) and the funky spells he created.