Player wanting to play a Ghaele

[Skaros]

Hi,

I have a player that wants to play a Ghaele as a class (from Savage Species).

At this point in the campaign, backup characters are coming in at level 7.

On paper, it looks pretty hugely overbalanced. Anyone have any actual game experience with them, or thoughts about them they'd like to share that might help with my decision on whether to allow them or not.

I prefer to allow things from the rulebooks if they are within the bounds of reason.

Skaros

 

[Burne]

Looking at the chart Ghaele's are overpowered at 7th level, no doubt about it. At later levels the downside of ECL races quickly catches up with you. Main problem at 7th level a Ghaele has 6 HD, while only ending up with 10HD at 20th, but sadly most big ECL classes are designed that way. My sugestions:
Ghaele's are the most powerful at low levels and the least at high.
Astral Devas are less powerful than Ghaele's(IMO) and more poweful over all.
Truphet Archons are the least powerful at low levels and between Astral Deva amd Ghaele at high levels.

If your game is not going to extend to high levels, either say no, or suggest the Truphet Archon.
If your game is "going all the way" and you can live with one party member being more powerful till about 11th-12th level, allow the Ghaele or suggest the Astral Deva.

If you do go with the Ghaele or astral deva, shaft the player on equipment. That will help balance the starting inequilty.

 

[Grog]

Savage Species has a set of rules that will allow the player to level up as a Ghaele. He'd start play as a 7th level Ghaele and wouldn't have the full powers of the race - he'd acquire them gradually, as he gained levels. That's probably the best way to handle it.

 

[Skaros]

Savage Species has a set of rules that will allow the player to level up as a Ghaele. He'd start play as a 7th level Ghaele and wouldn't have the full powers of the race - he'd acquire them gradually, as he gained levels. That's probably the best way to handle it.

Actually, that's what I was talking about. 7th level Ghaele is still a lot more powerful than equivalent level classed characters.

Skaros

 

[Skaros]

Looking at the chart Ghaele's are overpowered at 7th level, no doubt about it. At later levels the downside of ECL races quickly catches up with you. Main problem at 7th level a Ghaele has 6 HD, while only ending up with 10HD at 20th, but sadly most big ECL classes are designed that way. My sugestions:
Ghaele's are the most powerful at low levels and the least at high.
Astral Devas are less powerful than Ghaele's(IMO) and more poweful over all.
Truphet Archons are the least powerful at low levels and between Astral Deva amd Ghaele at high levels.

If your game is not going to extend to high levels, either say no, or suggest the Truphet Archon.
If your game is "going all the way" and you can live with one party member being more powerful till about 11th-12th level, allow the Ghaele or suggest the Astral Deva.

If you do go with the Ghaele or astral deva, shaft the player on equipment. That will help balance the starting inequilty.

I agree with your assessment. I guess I'm not really missing anything, and the Ghaele really is vastly unbalanced at lvl 6/7.

Access denied unless anyone else has different ideas on its playability.

Skaros

 

[NPC]

FWIW, my wife is playing a Ghaele in the campaign I'm DMing, and she hasn't outshined the other characters. She's almost 5th level now, so maybe it's still a little early to tell.

 

[Ziggy]

We played a one-shot with a 7th level Ghaele (my wife) and a 7th level Astral Deva (me). They were both hugley overpowered for their level, in praticular the Ghaele. Its only (small) disadvantage is the lack of armor feats, but that is easly countered by the +4 (!)magic circle and a magic vestment.

After looking at class IMHO you have to hit something like 14th level before the Ghaele's lack of HD starts to pull it down to the level of straight classes, so I would recommend you to ban it in a serious campaign.

.Ziggy

 

[the_mighty_agrippa]

man, i hope he does this in my game. ahem, lesser planar binding.

*cough*