D&D 3E/3.5 Which race "got the shaft" in 3.5

[Darklone]

Agreeing with the others. Dwarves rule the world, humans are a strong second (as can be seen by the last poll about this in the general forum), halflings and gnomes are very strong IME (who said you have to go into melee???), while elves, half-elves and half-orcs ... well, elves are the best rogues for finding secret doors

 

[Thanee]

Elves also have nice weapon proficiencies for non-fighters.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Shin Okada]

halflings and gnomes are very strong IME (who said you have to go into melee???)

They don't need. IMHO Gnome is OK. But halfling? Small damage (both from weapon size and low strength) is no good as an archer. And as offensive spell caster, lack of low-light or dark vision really hurts when going through dark dungeon. And IMHO high Con is more important than high Dex for an arcane caster.

Lack of low-light/darkvision is reducing the effectiveness of halfling rogue as a scout. Also, that is no good for an archer.

Also, a halfling rogue cannot make sneak attacks under dim-light condition....

 

[Thanee]

That's what goggles of night are for.

Halfling is a pretty good race IME also, tho the new Whisper Gnomes totally outclass them as rogues.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Doctor Futurity]

Humans are #1 - skill points, extra feat, no experience penalties.....excellent deal!

Elves have an advantage in play, and are definitely second. Dwarves have many very circumstance-specific advantages, but players who favor them are still going for the character, not the cool extras. I have seen very few halflings and gnomes in play over the years. Half orcs are great brutes, but have tough handicaps if not played as fighters and barbarians.

 

[Gort]

I don't call a permanent +2 CON mod for little downside a "very circumstantial" bonus.

 

[Legildur]

Since 3.0, my two groups haven't touched gnomes or half-elves. I think that says enough.

Paladins, Sorcerors, Wizard, Rogues and Clerics typically human.

Barbarians are half-orc or dwarf.

Only had 2 elves - Monk and Wizard.

Only 2 halflings - Rogue and Cleric.

I think Dwarves are the new power race, and Humans coming in second. Third is elf or half-orc.

 

[Teslacoil1138]

Half-elves and half-orcs have had the shaft since 3.0. Nothing's changed that in 3.5

Humans are still good, in fact I see them as the most played race ever. I would take the extra feat and skill points over pretty much anything else, anyday. The more levels you gain the less important the racial ability modifiers become. IME.

Dwarves of course, rock, but that's only natural

Gnomes are better than halflings and elves, who are pretty much tied, I guess. I'm still not comfortable with the new gnome favored class, though, it just seems like an odd choice for a gnome to be. Gnomes are still the most underrated race. Many people don't realize they make the best (pure) arcane casters, by far

 

[Klaus]

Half-Orcs got so much shaft, they're probably hearing Issac Hayes 24/7!

Compare a half-orc Barb1 with 20 Str to a dwarf or elf Barb1 with 18 Str ('cause you'd need an 18 there to modify it to 20). +2 Str only gives a measly +1 hit/damage. Overrated.

So much so that I wrote up my own versions of the half-orc: half-orc humans and half-human orcs:
http://www.fierydragon.com/DB/DB_MAY27_2004.htm

Opinions welcome!

 

[Thanee]

Hey, if Strength was overrated, no fighter would ever put more than a 14 in Strength (using PB), to avoid diminishing returns.

And noone would ever pick up Weapon Focus and Specialization for the measily +1/+2 bonus.

That stuff racks up and one +1 here, one +1 there, makes quite a difference over time.

The only real problem I see with Half-Orcs (besides their penalties, which are simply too high) is, that Wood Elves and similar +2 Str +0 LA races are usually totally superior.

Bye
Thanee