New "race": elvenblooded

[CCamfield]

While brainstorming about world concepts, I got the idea of writing up a set of racial traits to represent humans with small amounts of elven blood, like those who might be the children of a half-elf and human, or perhaps even less. You see these mentioned in Tolkien (I think a lord of the coast of Gondor, for instance).

Does this seem fair? Essentially it gives up the human bonus feat in return for Elven Blood and the half-elf's +1 to listen, search, and spot. I thought about maybe throwing in a +2 save bonus versus sleep spells as a residual element from the elven and half-elven immunity to sleep.

Elvenblooded Racial Traits
- Medium Size.
- Base speed of 30 feet
- 4 extra skill points at 1st level, and 1 extra skill point at each additional level
- Elven Blood
- +1 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks
- Automatic Languages: Common. Bonus Languages: Any
- Favored Class: Any

 

[Buddha the DM]

It looks good to me. Although adding that +2 save bonus may unbalance things but YMMV.

 

[CCamfield]

It looks good to me. Although adding that +2 save bonus may unbalance things but YMMV.

Well, I guess the thing is, is +1 to 3 skills and elven-blooded considered "worth" a feat? I don't think the skills by themselves would, quite - that's less than one of the infamous +2/+2 feats, and it's not concentrated like the revised +3 Skill Focus. How valauble do you find elven blood (being able to use elven items) to be?

 

[Al]

I like it. You could use this as an alternative to the half-elf (since the half-elf in its current incarnation is pretty blame).

 

[Derrick Reeves]

Why not make this a feat?

 

[CCamfield]

Yeah, that's a good idea. I had that thought after posting that basically it replaces the feat. Howzthis?

Elven-Blooded [General]
One or more of your ancestors were elves. While you appear human, you share some benefits from your elven heritage.
Prerequisite: Human.
Benefit: You receive a +1 bonus to Listen, Search, and Spot checks. You are also considered to have Elven Blood. That is, you are considered an elf for all special abilities and effects, allowing you to use items whose use is restricted to elves.
Special: You may only take this feat at level 1.

 

[Knight-of-Roses]

Nice, it works well as a feat. You might want to note that in some campaign worlds, halflings could take this feat as well.

 

[CCamfield]

Nice, it works well as a feat. You might want to note that in some campaign worlds, halflings could take this feat as well.

Thanks!

Are there existing campaign worlds where halflings and elves interbreed? Or is it a case of halflings being descended from elves?

 

[ersatzphil]

Ghostwalk

its worth pointing out that the Ghostwalk web enhancement has an amazingly similar feat.

Elfblood [General]
The traits of your elven heritage are particularly strong.

Prerequisites: Half Elf (non Drow)
Benefit: Your racial bonuses to Listen, Spot, and Search checks increase to +2. You gain an elf's ability to notice secret doors just by passing them. Wizard is always a favored class for you, as is your highest-level class.