Wood Elf

[sdt]

Am I missing something or are Wood Elves too good? +2 Str and -2 Int is better than the 1/2 Orc's +2 Str, -2 Int, and -2 Cha; also, you're smelly and no one likes you. Ok, I know this is a minor thing, but do DM's ban or modify Wood Elves to fix this imbalance.

 

[Targos]

Yeah, the wood elf -2chr got dropped in 3.5.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

IMC they use the same stats as high elves.

Uncivilized human barbarians use the same stats as civilized humans, so I see no reason to treat elves any differently.

 

[Darklone]

Con -2 isn't that great for any fighterclass, but yes, woodelves as written are too good to be true.

 

[was]

We don't use any elf variants due to this kind of problem. I know that many people think that most of them are balanced, but we have some in our group that disagree. It's pretty ironic, seeing that two of them love to play dwarves. A race which, according to many, is the most powerful in the book. So, to mollify them somewhat, we decided to stick to the basic elves as presented in the PHB.

 

[Taren Seeker]

Well IMO the designers overvalue Strength as an ability mod, so I think that Wood Elves are fine as written. It's the 1/2 orc that is the problem.

+2 Str = -2 Con
+2 Dex = -2 Int

 

[harmyn]

I've got to agree that it is the half-orc at fault, not the elf.

According to the DMG all the following are balanced mods =

STR +2 = CON -2
STR +2 = DEX -2
DEX +2 = CON -2 (the elf)
DEX +2 = INT -2
DEX +2 = STR -2 (the halfling)
CON +2 = STR -2 (the gnome)
CON +2 = DEX -2
CON +2 = CHA -2 (the dwarf)

BUT STR +2 = -2 INT & -2 CHA?

Is WOTC really so afraid of the grunge barbarians and thug fighters?
Now its been awhile since High School algebra and I didn't pay that close attention to it in college, but I think the following formula would disprove their way of thinking =

if S(+/-) = D(+/-) = C (+/-) and D(+/-) = C(+/-) = Q (+/-) = H(+/-) then S(+/-) <should> = Q(+/-) = H(+/-)

Doesn't that look about right? (please note that all math theory and formula is simplified because I am a simpleton)

 

[Dark Jezter]

Whoa, I didn't know until reading this thread that the -2 charisma penalty for wood elves had been removed. The only question I can ask is why?

 

[Targos]

Per the DMG pg 173 all stats are equal except strength equals two intellectual stats (Int, Wis, Chr) instead of the usual one. Its understandable if people disagree with that however.

 

[Tumbler]

Per the DMG pg 173 all stats are equal except strength equals two intellectual stats (Int, Wis, Chr) instead of the usual one. Its understandable if people disagree with that however.

Is this an errata? My DMG has the old physical equals 2 mentals set up.