Raptorans

[Jeff Wilder]

If I were gonna boost humans (and, again, I don't see people reluctant to play humans, so I have to doubt they're underpowered), I'd do it with another bonus feat. Perhaps at 5th or 7th level.

 

[Gez]

If I had to boost humans, I'd do it by changing the rules for favored class. For example, for each level in a favored class, you get +1 skill points. Or the Conan way, every five levels in your favored class, you gain one bonus feat.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

(and, again, I don't see people reluctant to play humans, so I have to doubt they're underpowered)

Well, not everyone's a powergamer, many people choose what fits their concept. Also, humans are most like us (since we're humans, too).

Nonetheless, it would not put them out of line to give them something extra.

 

[Ballard_Alvar]

Well, not everyone's a powergamer, many people choose what fits their concept. Also, humans are most like us (since we're humans, too).

Nonetheless, it would not put them out of line to give them something extra.

Just a side note: In StarWars RPG I've seen people complain about those dirty powergamers always playing humans (Same as dnd)

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Just a side note: In StarWars RPG I've seen people complain about those dirty powergamers always playing humans (Same as dnd)

Come to think of it, I've been accused of being a powergamer when I wanted a custom utility feat for my rogue - and just for the record: I didn't go the way of two-weapon fighting there.

 

[AZNtrogdor]

The fact that human's favored class is his highest level class makes them much more powerful. It's a little silly to leave out this obviously powerful ability when comparing them to other classes.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Bonus feat and skill points vs. a package of not-very-good abilities:

Bonus feat wins by a wide margin.

Practially every PrC with at least four feat requirements could be considered a human racial PrC, unless it's targeted at the fighter class. Humans can, on average, get into PrCs as much as three levels lower, the equivalent of getting level 10-12 class features in a core class at level 7-9.

That's a heck of a lot more useful than extra Jump and weak flying ability.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Bonus feat and skill points vs. a package of not-very-good abilities:

Bonus feat wins by a wide margin.

Depends on the abilities. Look at the dwarf.

Instead of these skills and that feat, he gets:

- Practically free +2 con (-2 cha is trivial to most "classical" dwarven builds)
- darkvision (a big plus)
- Stonecunning (well, it may not be that great, but he gets it anyway)
- Practically free exotic weapon proficiency in the waraxe (Most "classical" builds will profit from this one)
- Stability (can be useful if your DM uses this stuff)
- +2 on saving throws against poison and magic (in other words: just about every saving throw you'll ever make. This is easily worth one feat or two. It's almost like free lightning reflexes, iron will and toughness)
- An attack bonus against enemies that are quite common, especially at lower levels
- A big AC bonus against giants, which can come in quite handy, too.

Sure, dwarven bards, sorcerers, and to some degree, paladins, aren't the best build, and rogues are somewhat less likely to be social type, but most classes benefit greatly from the con bonus and the save bonuses. These are worth a bonus feat and an extra skill point I say.

And when we're talking about a weapon-and-shield warrior type, dwarves are better than any other race, especially humans (the human might use one feat to get proficient in bastard swords or the war-axe, and the dwarf gets that, anyway. So we have one extra skill point - which aren't incredibly important to a fighter - against extra hit points, a bonus to almost every save, and other stuff).



Of course, my arguments prove more that dwarves deserve LA +1 at the least, but it also shows that humans don't outclass every other race by a wide margin.

Practially every PrC with at least four feat requirements could be considered a human racial PrC, unless it's targeted at the fighter class.

Not really, since a racial PrC is one that can only be taken by those levels. Non-humans might have to wait a little longer (but see below), but they can still get in.

Humans can, on average, get into PrCs as much as three levels lower, the equivalent of getting level 10-12 class features in a core class at level 7-9.

They can only qualify sooner if the PrC has no other requirements that force you to take more levels: Minimum BRB, minimum skill ranks, minimum caster level/spell level.

I cannot think of many PrC's that let humans enter 3 levels sooner because of that feat. Of course, humans don't have such a hard time qualifying those classes, and usually have the liberty of spending one of their feats as they want.

The fact that human's favored class is his highest level class makes them much more powerful. It's a little silly to leave out this obviously powerful ability when comparing them to other classes.

It only means that you can multiclass more easily - in some cases. What if you want to be a character with basically two classes, but have one or two levels in a third to get something. Maybe a fighter/wizard with two levels of rogue for evasion. A halfling can do it, since rogue doesn't count, but the human will eliminate fighter and get penalties because wizard and rogue are too far apart.

 

[Snowy]

SNIP


It only means that you can multiclass more easily - in some cases. What if you want to be a character with basically two classes, but have one or two levels in a third to get something. Maybe a fighter/wizard with two levels of rogue for evasion. A halfling can do it, since rogue doesn't count, but the human will eliminate fighter and get penalties because wizard and rogue are too far apart.

I thought favoured class any meant you could ignore any one class when working out experience penalties, I'm probably wrong as I can't recall the exact wording, but this makes more sense anyway.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Depends on the abilities. Look at the dwarf.

Without question!

Dwarves have very good abilities, especially their +2 Con and effective +2 to all saves, and in most cases are strictly superior to humans. However, humans are in turn considerably better than elves, half-elves and half-orcs, and arguably better than halflings and gnomes as well.

The question is, do the raptorean abilities (basically boil down to first jumping, then flying) match up more with halfling or gnome abilities or with the (arguably broken) dwarf abilities.

I don't think there's any question that the dwarf has the edge. A single 3rd-level spell won't make a dwarf's racial abilities redundant - and those spells that duplicate what the dwarf has actually stack. By contrast, the raptorean's (not terribly useful in most situations) flying ability is strictly inferior to a fly spell.