Manly Men (+1 LA)

[heirodule]

Following off the "What old rules do you want in 4e" thread, here are my thoughts on sexual dimorphism rules for males.

Guys have a harder time surviving, and face tougher challenges, but have innate physical advantages.

You can play a normal male, or take a +1 level adjustment and take "manly male"

+2 STR
+2 CON
-2 WIS

Gain an additional modifier to Intimidate checks based on Strength.

Gain an additional modifier to Diplomacy checks based on Constitution, when the one diplomacized is female. Females resist this modifier with an Will save. DC = 10 + 1/2 HD + Cha bonus

+2 to Survival checks.

DR 10/lethal or male


Also, paragon classes:

MALE PARAGON Class, D8, 4+ Int Skill/level

Level		BAB		F	R	W			Special																Spells per day
1		+1		+0	+2	+0		Ability boost: +2 INT									+1 Level of existing class
2		+2		+0	+3	+0		Weapon Study
3		+3		+1	+3	+1		Female Cohort

Weapon study is either proficiency in all martial weapons, or a free EWP if all martial weapon proficiency is possessed.


FEMALE PARAGON class, d8, 2+Int skill per level

Level		BAB		F		R		W			Special																Spells per day
1		+0		+2	+0	+2		Adaptive learning											+1 Level of existing class
2		+0		+2	+0	+2															+1 Level of existing class
3		+1		+3	+1	+3		Ability boost: +2 CHA									+1 Level of existing class

 

[Pyrex]

That's really, really weak for +1 LA...

 

[Zurai]

That's really, really weak for +1 LA...

Correction. It isn't even +1 LA. Consider that Aasimar get +2 to two mental stats with no penalty, a spell-like ability, three elemental resistances, bonuses on skill checks, Darkvision, and immunity to "Person" spells - and are still considered weak for +1 LA.

That said, sexual dimorphism is a bad concept from a design standpoint. There's a reason almost no modern games use different rules for male vs female characters, and it's not "political correctness".

 

[heirodule]

Ok, I made it better (?)

Tongue in cheek of course.

If its too much to take, assume the sexual dimorphism rule only applies to one race, like gnomes

 

[eamon]

"Female Cohort"

 

[eamon]

That said, sexual dimorphism is a bad concept from a design standpoint. There's a reason almost no modern games use different rules for male vs female characters, and it's not "political correctness".

I'm curious, why is it a bad concept? I can't say I like the idea - but do you have concrete objections? Frankly, I think "political correctness" is already enough of a reason for me - I don't need these kind of issues clouding an otherwise perfectly fun gaming session - what for?

 

[Zurai]

I'm curious, why is it a bad concept? I can't say I like the idea - but do you have concrete objections? Frankly, I think "political correctness" is already enough of a reason for me - I don't need these kind of issues clouding an otherwise perfectly fun gaming session - what for?

Because it impedes choices and dictates roleplay. Using this as an example, and assuming that "Womanly Women" don't have that wisdom penalty, it means that male characters can never be as good at being a cleric as female characters can, for example - even if they both follow the God of Manly Men.

The only time when dimorphism is even tolerable from a design standpoint is when you design the entire system from the ground up to include it, and the race that is dimorphic makes absolute, uncontrovertable sense that way. There are some species of fish, for example, where the female is many times than the male. In that sort of situation, dimorphic bonuses and penalties are workable, assuming the system itself is built to support it.

 

[heirodule]

no, no. The womanly woman Paragon can never take divine spellcasting classes period.

And grey elves always make better wizards. So what?

And ok, I'll get rid of the wisdom penalty. I didn't want to imbalance things too much

 

[eamon]

no, no. The womanly woman Paragon can never take divine spellcasting classes period.

And grey elves always make better wizards. So what?

And ok, I'll get rid of the wisdom penalty. I didn't want to imbalance things too much

It's still really imbalanced - a Female Paragon has full casting progression and a Cha bonus, but a male paragon has a level adjustment...

I'd balance em better against each other. Frankly I'd remove the paragon classes entirely - they're over the top, and make the the manly man adjustment more of a flavor thing than something so impactfull that it deserves a level adjustment.

 

[Mark Chance]

I like the general idea. I think it should include some sort of reference to wearing tights. Perhaps a racial ability called "We're Butch!" could be added.