What Abilities Should Monster PCs get?

[Kobold Avenger]

I'm trying to determine what abilities monsters will get as PCs based on their monster entry.

Orc PCs:
+2 speed while charging
low-light vision
Warrior's Surge: (encounter) Use a healing surge as a immediate reaction when bloodied

Kobold PCs:
low-light vision
Trap Sense +2 defenses against traps
Shifty: (at/will) shift 1 square as a minor action

Goblin PCs:
low-light vision
Goblin Tactics: (at/will) shift as an immediate reaction when an opponent's melee attack misses

Hobgoblin PCs:
low-light vision
Hobgoblin resilience: (encounter) immediate reaction, roll a saving throw to end when taking on an ongoing effect

Would all of those sound about right, without taking into account other stuff we don't know about, like ability score mods?

 

[Kuato]

I strongly suspect these are very close to reality (assuming the "playability" option really is included for some races from the MM).

Excellent work so far. As far as the ability scores, if anyone is anxious to play them I'm sure you could just use the racial modifiers of known PC races that are close (halfling for goblin/kobold, maybe dragonborn or dwarf for the other two).

 

[Dragonbait]

I think you can kind of gauge the stat modifiers by looking at the creatures. Orcs have universally high strength and con, average dex and wis, and low intelligence and charisma. If non-standard races do not have ability score penalties, then orcs might have +2 Str, +2 Con.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I think they said that ability score adjustments were "net positive" which still means there could be penalties, but all of them added together would be a positive number.

 

[TwinBahamut]

I'm trying to determine what abilities monsters will get as PCs based on their monster entry.

Orc PCs:
+2 speed while charging
low-light vision
Warrior's Surge: (encounter) Use a healing surge as a immediate reaction when bloodied

In addition to this, I would suggest giving an Orc PC the ability to take a feat to get the Death Strike property. While it is not inherent ability to every Orc, the fact that Orcs get an attack when they fall to zero hitpoints seems like it is going to be a major part of every large Orc encounter, and there should be a way for a PC to replicate that aspect of being an Orc.

 

[Dragonbait]

I think they said that ability score adjustments were "net positive" which still means there could be penalties, but all of them added together would be a positive number.

+4 Str, +2 Con, -2 Int, -2 Cha

..Maybe?

 

[Kobold Avenger]

+4 Str, +2 Con, -2 Int, -2 Cha

..Maybe?

It sounds like a good possibility.

 

[Iron Sky]

WotC said no stat penalties for playable races several times, which I interpreted to mean no minuses (though maybe it is net-positive). I'd say +2 Str, +2 Con for the orcs.

I'd also say Warriors Surge should be this(since this is how it is for the orcs themselves):

Warrior’s Surge (standard, usable only while bloodied; encounter)
✦ Healing, Weapon
The orc makes a melee basic attack and expends 1 healing surge.

 

[Hellzon]

Maybe put in something about the Warrior's Surge using up Second Wind, otherwise it's much more powerful than the dwarf version (second wind as a minor action, DDXP pregens).

Given that, i'd bet it's close to the real thing (if orcs get the PC treatment in the MM).

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I believe it was confirmed through a few sources that Orcs, Goblins, Hobgoblins and Kobolds would have PC treatments, in addition to Aasimar (with a possible new name), Warforged, Shadar-Kai, Githyanki, Githzerai, Shifters, Changelings, Bugbears and Ogres as some of the others.