[SS] 1st level drow (or something like it)

[Emongnome]

Use drow as an example. it's 1 HD (therefore use class levels for HD), but +2 level adjustment. The rules are very clear and specific for playing a 1st level troll (1st level of troll monster class) or any with multiple hit dice, but what about 1 HD? Say, I want to be a drow wizard, at 3rd ECL (1st wizard level), my character is also well defined. But what if I want to play this character through 1st and 2nd level? Normally (as per SS), all monster levels come before class levels, but the drow character of mine has no hit dice, no skill list, weapon or armor proficiencies, or even saving throws for that matter. Those are all supposed to come from the first class level, (since 1 HD drow isn't a "monster class"). Sure, drow have Fortitude as a good saving throw, but it's the class level, not drow itself, that defines my saving throws. By the book, a standard elf also has Fort. as the good saving throw, but a 1st level elf wizard has Will. The quick solution is to use it's "monster" d8 hit dice, and you now have an ECL of 3, not 2. Still leaves some questions, but if I want to play a wizard, I really don't want to lose a level to it's "warrior" equivalent level. Am I missing something in the rules? I can BS a solution, since no matter what I do, so long as my 1st level wizard (3 ECL) drow character is correct, all is well. It's just finding rules about getting there that I have trouble with.

 

[hammymchamham]

Drow

Starting Abilities
+2 DEX -2 CON
Darkvision: 60 feet
Proficinces: Like a Drow
Light Blindness
SR: 11 + HD (instead of "class" level)
+2 bonus to will saves agaisnt spells and spell like effects
Automatic Languages: Elven, Undercommon, region
Bonus: same blah blah blah
Favor Class: Wizard (male) or Cleric (Female) AND Drow

Drow Class:

No BAB, Save increase, no HD. Must have at least 1 class level to take (so can be taken at 2nd level or higher)

Level 1:+2 Intellegence, Darkvision 120
Level 2: +2 Charisma, Spell like abilities



Sound good?

 

[Emongnome]

What about weapon proficiencies? No HD? I'm a little confused, you take 1 class level first, then the 2 "monster class" levels? Hey. like I said, once this character hit's 3rd level, how ya got there is moot, and I can make up something myself, was just hoping I missed something in SS or anything else that addressed that. I'm a little shocked that SS didn't discuss that area when it seemed obvious to (well, maybe to me ). Your suggestion was good, though I would've put the SR at 1st or 2nd level, maybe, moved darkvision to racial feature.

 

[hammymchamham]

What about weapon proficiencies? No HD?

I included them at 1st level.

"Proficinces: Like a Drow"

I just was lazy (and a bad speller at that)

Basically I made it just like a regular Elf (Which has no HD), but gave it some of the Drow abilities. I should have moved SR into the class abilities. So good move their, but other wise their is nothing that would make a 1st level wizard pick this Drow over Elf for power reasons (except to take this Drow "Class")

None of the examples in Savage Speices have 0 racial HD, a drow has no racial hit die, but gains dice from class levels. Thats why this class requires that you have at least one other level. Otherwise you'd have either a 0HD charecter, or a Charecter that gets an extra HD. Perhaps this is a "Savage Species Prestiage Class" ?

Alternatively, you COULD turn this class into giving a d4 hit die, but when they level up into a real class, give them what ever hit die is normal for that class. For example: Bob the Drow is 1st level and takes his level in Drow, and gets 4+ con for HP. At 3rd level he takes a Level of Fighter, and instead of havign 4 + CON HP, he gets 10 + CON HP.

Now my question is, does this seem balanced with what was presented in Savage Species? And yes, I know this is bordering on House Rules.

 

[Spatula]

Well, rules-wise, like you say Savage Species doesn't deal with creatures that have a level adjustment but no racial HD. House rules-wise, that commoner idea is a good one. You could have the stats of a Commoner at 1st level, get apprentice-level benefits at 2nd, and the full class level at 3rd, while you're gaining your drow abilities.

 

[evildm]

Why not do this?

Choose Drow as your race.
Choose a class.

Use these racial abilities instead of the drow ones:

- +2 Int, -2 Con
- Medium-size
- Base speed 30ft
- Darkvision 120ft
- Light Blindness (Ex)
- +2 bonus to Will saves vs Magic
- Favored Class Cleric (female) or Wizard (male)

Then once the player accumulates enough XP for level two, don't level them up, instead apply the following:
- +2 Dex
- Spell-like abilities 1/day: Dancing Lights, Darkness, Faerie Fire as sorceror of character level.

And again when they get enough XP for level three, just apply these mods:
- +2 Cha
- Spell Resistance 11+ character level

And you're then equivalent to en ECL 3 Drow (LA +2).

Character level doesn't include these "phantom" levels really, so any calculations pertaining to that (max ranks, etc), would be as if the character were 1st level.

What do you think?

 

[Emongnome]

It's funny, I didn't realize you (evildm) replied to my post until after I replied to your post. You suggestion is probably the simplest approach, and reasonable (though a little difficult to explain in-game, as why I'm a (insert class here) before I gain my full drow abilities. Regardless, it solves the fundamental problems with 1HD monsters as "monster classes". There are possibly dozens of solutions, all of which make the exact same character at 3rd level, so it's a moot point down the road, but fun to talk about and devise nonetheless.

 

[evildm]

... fun to talk about and devise nonetheless.

And most certainly, this has got to be one of my favorite parts about RPGs in general.