Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Brendan Byrd" data-source="post: 9780428" data-attributes="member: 7052492">...Using the Pathfinder1e Advanced Race Guide as a starting point, no less.Yeah, this is going to be quite an ecclectic mix. <img class="smilie smilie--emoji" alt="😉" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" title="Winking face&nbsp; &nbsp; :wink:" data-shortname=":wink:" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" />The Goal: Direct translation of GAZ13 Shadow Elves from RC/BECM to 3.x/d20 (Modern-ish). (Bypassing AD&amp;D as much as possible.)My concern (and why I'm posting this here) is about balance.Relative to d20/3.x ruleset, is this too Übermensch (not ideal), Merely Munchkin (okayish <img class="smilie smilie--emoji" alt="😁" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f601.png" title="Beaming face with smiling eyes&nbsp; &nbsp; :grin:" data-shortname=":grin:" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" />) or sort-of balanced?This is my first attempt at homebrewing a species, so...I'm open to suggestions.==============Part I: Core Critter CharacteristicsSPECIES: ELF&nbsp; &nbsp; Sub-species: Umbral (Shadow)&nbsp; &nbsp; Binomal: Ælfae normalis umbriiType: HumanoidSize: MediumINNATE CHARACTERISTICSBase Speed: 40' (ex)&nbsp; &nbsp; Running away from danger is a useful survival skill.Ability Score Modifiers:&nbsp; &nbsp; Elven Heritage (ex) +1 Str, +1 IntFavored Classes:&nbsp; &nbsp; Warrior* (Fighter) (ex) &nbsp; &nbsp; Spellcaster* (Sorcerer/Wizard) (sp)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; When a level is taken in one of these classes, choose a bonus:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; either +1 hit point&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; or +1 skill rank&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; *3.5 UA Generic classesSENSESElven Darksight:&nbsp; &nbsp; Darkvision 90' (su)&nbsp; &nbsp; Infravision 90' (sp)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Able to percieve temperature as a visual quality, not as colour per se.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Similar to &quot;matte&quot;, &quot;gloss&quot;, &quot;metalic&quot;, &quot;transparent&quot;, &quot;translucent&quot;, &quot;opaque&quot;...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [Measured in °Kelven, of course]Keen Senses (ex) &nbsp; &nbsp; +2 bonus to Listen, Search and SpotOver-Sized Ears (ex) &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Walking radar&quot; +3 bonus to ListenDEFENSEElven Resistance: Undead (su)&nbsp; &nbsp; Undead creatures cannot paralyse this species.&nbsp; &nbsp; Normal vulnerability to other forms of paralysis.Spelunker (ex)&nbsp; &nbsp; (Immune to altitude induced sicknesses.?)&nbsp; &nbsp; Keeps Dexterity bonus to AC when making Climb or Acrobatics (Ledge Hopping)* checks when crossing narrow or slippery surfaces.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; *Acrobatics (Balance; Juggle; Ledge Hopping; Tree Walking; Tumble)Survivor (ex)&nbsp; &nbsp; +4 bonus on Constitution checks and Fortitude saves to avoid fatigue and exhaustion; ill effects from running, forced marches; starvation, thirst; and hot or cold environments.VULNERABILITYElven Vulnerability: Wehrform (su)&nbsp; &nbsp; Wehrform (Lycanthropy) is a magical disease which is lethal to elves.&nbsp; &nbsp; Transmitted by the natural attacks of the &quot;wehrform&quot;.&nbsp; &nbsp; Curse of Lycanthropy (Su): Any humanoid hit by a lycanthrope’s bite attack in animal form must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 15) or contract lycanthropy.&nbsp; &nbsp; Before Onset: Feverish and weak (-2 to hit, and all saving throws)&nbsp; &nbsp; Treatment:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Remove Disease cast by a cleric below 12th level will delay onset by 1d6 days.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Remove Disease cast by a cleric of at least 12th level cures the affliction.&nbsp; &nbsp; Onset: 1d6 days or the full moon, whichever comes first. (Effect: Death)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; {RC &amp; PC4; 3.0}Light Sensitivity I&nbsp; (ex)&nbsp; &nbsp; –2 penalty on saving throws against effects with the light descriptor.Light Sensitivity III (ex)&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds for 1 round. In addition, there is a –1 circumstance penalty on all attack rolls, saves, and checks while operating in bright light (dazzled).&nbsp; &nbsp; Sunglasses and tinted visors can negate these effects.&nbsp; &nbsp; Special: These penalties can be negated with the Light Adaption feat.==============Feats [Species]*&nbsp;Direction Sense [Species]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Prerequisite: 4 ranks in Orientation in Caves&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Benefit: {+} {GAZ9}&nbsp;Light Adaption [Species] [General]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Prerequisite: Light Sensitivity; Light Blindness; or Light Vulnerability&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Benefit: Negates one eligible set of penalties.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Special: This feat may be taken multiple times.&nbsp;Spellcasting Heritage [Initial] [Species]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Benefit: Choose any five 0-level spells that are available. Gain three 0-level spell slots that are only useable for the spontaneous casting of these five spells.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Special: This feat may be taken multiple times.Swarming [Species] {+}&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The result of four-thousand years of living and fighting communally.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Benefit: Two characters with this feat can occupy a (5') square without penalty, if they are the same size category.&nbsp; From this shared square, both can &quot;flank&quot; a single opponent.*Unless otherwise noted, [Species] feats can only be taken when Character Level advances enough to gain a feat (1st-level, and every ECL evenly divisible by three).==============</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Brendan Byrd, post: 9780428, member: 7052492"] ...Using the Pathfinder1e [I]Advanced Race Guide[/I] as a starting point, no less. Yeah, this is going to be quite an ecclectic mix. 😉 [B]The Goal[/B]: Direct translation of GAZ13 Shadow Elves from RC/BECM to 3.x/d20 (Modern-ish). (Bypassing AD&D as much as possible.) My concern (and why I'm posting this here) is about balance. Relative to d20/3.x ruleset, is this too Übermensch (not ideal), Merely Munchkin (okayish 😁) or sort-of balanced? This is my first attempt at homebrewing a species, so...I'm open to suggestions. ============== Part I: Core Critter Characteristics [B]SPECIES[/B]: ELF Sub-species: Umbral (Shadow) Binomal: Ælfae normalis umbrii [B]Type[/B]: Humanoid [B]Size[/B]: Medium [U]INNATE CHARACTERISTICS[/U] [B]Base Speed[/B]: 40' (ex) Running away from danger is a useful survival skill. [B]Ability Score Modifiers[/B]: Elven Heritage (ex) +1 Str, +1 Int [B]Favored Classes[/B]: Warrior* (Fighter) (ex) Spellcaster* (Sorcerer/Wizard) (sp) When a level is taken in one of these classes, choose a bonus: either +1 hit point or +1 skill rank *3.5 UA Generic classes [U]SENSES[/U] [B]Elven Darksight[/B]: Darkvision 90' (su) Infravision 90' (sp) Able to percieve temperature as a visual quality, not as colour per se. Similar to "matte", "gloss", "metalic", "transparent", "translucent", "opaque"... [Measured in [B]°K[/B][U]elven[/U], of course] [B]Keen Senses (ex) [/B] +2 bonus to Listen, Search and Spot [B]Over-Sized Ears (ex) [/B] "Walking radar" +3 bonus to Listen [U]DEFENSE[/U] [B]Elven Resistance: Undead (su)[/B] Undead creatures cannot paralyse this species. Normal vulnerability to other forms of paralysis. [B]Spelunker (ex)[/B] (Immune to altitude induced sicknesses.?) Keeps Dexterity bonus to AC when making Climb or Acrobatics (Ledge Hopping)* checks when crossing narrow or slippery surfaces. *Acrobatics (Balance; Juggle; Ledge Hopping; Tree Walking; Tumble) [B]Survivor (ex)[/B] +4 bonus on Constitution checks and Fortitude saves to avoid fatigue and exhaustion; ill effects from running, forced marches; starvation, thirst; and hot or cold environments. [U]VULNERABILITY[/U] [B]Elven Vulnerability: Wehrform (su)[/B] Wehrform (Lycanthropy) is a magical disease which is lethal to elves. Transmitted by the natural attacks of the "wehrform". [I]Curse of Lycanthropy[/I] (Su): Any humanoid hit by a lycanthrope’s bite attack in animal form must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 15) or contract lycanthropy. Before Onset: Feverish and weak (-2 to hit, and all saving throws) Treatment: [I]Remove Disease[/I] cast by a cleric below 12th level will delay onset by 1d6 days. [I]Remove Disease[/I] cast by a cleric of at least 12th level cures the affliction. Onset: 1d6 days or the full moon, whichever comes first. (Effect: Death) {RC & PC4; 3.0} [B]Light Sensitivity I (ex)[/B] –2 penalty on saving throws against effects with the light descriptor. [B]Light Sensitivity III (ex)[/B] Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds for 1 round. In addition, there is a –1 circumstance penalty on all attack rolls, saves, and checks while operating in bright light (dazzled). Sunglasses and tinted visors can negate these effects. Special: These penalties can be negated with the Light Adaption feat. ============== [B]Feats[/B] [Species]* [B]Direction Sense[/B] [Species] Prerequisite: 4 ranks in Orientation in Caves Benefit: {+} {GAZ9} [B]Light Adaption[/B] [Species] [General] Prerequisite: Light Sensitivity; Light Blindness; or Light Vulnerability Benefit: Negates one eligible set of penalties. Special: This feat may be taken multiple times. [B]Spellcasting Heritage[/B] [Initial] [Species] Benefit: Choose any five 0-level spells that are available. Gain three 0-level spell slots that are only useable for the spontaneous casting of these five spells. Special: This feat may be taken multiple times. [B]Swarming[/B] [Species] {+} The result of four-thousand years of living and fighting communally. Benefit: Two characters with this feat can occupy a (5') square without penalty, if they are the same size category. From this shared square, both can "flank" a single opponent. *Unless otherwise noted, [Species] feats can only be taken when Character Level advances enough to gain a feat (1st-level, and every ECL evenly divisible by three). ============== [/QUOTE]

Verification