Variant Human

[Cheiromancer]

A different spin on the versatility/adaptability of humans:

Variant Human:As the PHB human, but no bonus feat at first level, no extra skill points, and a -1 to all ability scores. Favored class: all.

I think it would be too weak to be considered an ECL 0 race, and so should have an ECL of -1. A first level human character would thus start with 2 levels of a character class.

Thoughts?

 

[Wombat]

I guess my first reaction after reading this was "Why?"

I must admit that I dislike, in general, fumbling with Level Adjustments. I don't incorporate any such races into my games, so having another one, and a core race at that, just feels wrong.

More importantly, I don't understand what you are really hoping to achieve by doing this. How does this provide more diversity? Humans, as it stands, are incredibly diverse in that they, unlike other races, can "afford" to branch out in their skills and tweak themselves just a touch with a feat; that balances pretty neatly with the "built-in bonus" of other races.

Call me stodgy, but I don't see the point.

 

[Cheiromancer]

Instead of diversifying with a feat, you add a level of whatever class you are interested in.

[edit]This is a trifle embarassing. Does everyone (besides me) think it is weird? [/edit]

 

[Ferret]

By 7th level it doesn't mean too much.

 

[Sanackranib]

I run a Scarred Lands game and there are several types of varient humas by region. most get +2 to one stat and -2 to another with no other modifiers. but I really don't see the point of what you are proposing

 

[Terwox]

At seventh level it matters quite a bit -- you'd be a caster level ahead of everyone. If you were a sorceror, you'd get your first fourth level spell that much quicker.

I'd almost call it a no-brainer to play human casters -- they'd be way ahead.