Would you Regularly play a Half-Elf if they get tweaked in 3.5?

[Hypersmurf]

What about the elven hunter who left the priesthood to join the forest patrols after he lost his faith in his church? (Clr2/RgrX)

The Mowgli-style foundling who was taken in by a druid and began apprenticing in the ways of his mentor? (Brb3/DrdX)

It doesn't have to be for powergaming reasons that someone might choose a class combination that doesn't keep levels balanced.

Half-elf lets you pull off some of those combinations without the XP penalty.

-Hyp.

 

[Merlion]

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Edit to respond to the edit: Not everyone multi classes for power. Some do take the class or classes that makes sense to them.

And not everyone advocates a race or class getting a beef-up just for the power. some do it because it makes sense to them. it does to me...it doesnt to you which is fine. actualy I'm happy for you cause your already happy with the way it is...I'm not...for a lot of reasons. and thats not really precisly what this thread is about anyway...so I'm just going to leave it as your fine with how it is, I'm not, no problem.

 

[Crothian]

Especialy not the way I'm used to playing.

I think that's they key to this then. Your games obviously don't see the type of multi classing HS mentions above, multi classes that is done for character reasons not min maxing reasons.

 

[Merlion]

Your right accept you have it backwards...as I already stated I had never heard of the min/maxing multiclassing (fighter taking a level of ranger for TWF stuff etc) till I started reading thease boards. When someone has multiclassed in the groups I have been in its been because they just wanted their character to take levels in another class. :Edit or maybe you do have it frontwards and I'm just reading it wrong. I need to go to bed

 

[Hypersmurf]

When someone has multiclassed in the groups I have been in its been because they just wanted their character to take levels in another class.

... and they were always careful to keep those levels carefully balanced, then?

Or did they not worry about the XP penalty, since that's a mechanical issue and nothing to do with the decision?

It can suck to end up 13th level when everyone else is 15th going on 16th because you decided that Sor4/Rog9 fit your concept, when the difference between elf and half-elf could have let you be a Sor4/Rog11 by now...

-Hyp.

 

[DM_Matt]

The H/E is only slightly underpowered.

HOWEVER, many groups either ignore favored classes or dont have players who like to make chars that run afoul of that system.

In either of those cases, it does need to be strengthened a little. Maybe add the feat and remove the skill bonueses, or leave as-is and add the human +1/? to skills.

Some groups weaken them even further by using the somewhat weaker see in the dark method of 2e infravision.

 

[Ashwyn]

It can suck to end up 13th level when everyone else is 15th going on 16th because you decided that Sor4/Rog9 fit your concept, when the difference between elf and half-elf could have let you be a Sor4/Rog11 by now...

-Hyp.

I think this is what Merlion's problem is. It seems as though Half-elf is just an elf that incurs no multiclass penalty, and has fewer Elf abilities.

 

[Eldorian]

I gave the half elf the bonus feat, but I'm regretting it a bit. Perhaps the skill points would be an easier contribution from the human parent. In the games my group plays, we never seen the combinations of front loaded characters that get the multiclassing penalties, and so many of us play humans it doesn't matter much if we did. One thing I liked about 3e was the return of the human as the best race. My bonus feat to half-elves kinda negated that advantage, so I might switch it next game i start up. Not going to take it away from my current half elf tho, he needs those feats for bladesinger(he also needs favored class bard, but that's another story)

As for the elf not having much over the half elf.. the bonus profs and the dex mod really help. The dex mod is great in point buy systems. And the weapon profs are great for wizards and clerics and any other class without longbow.

Eldorian Antar

 

[Merlion]

I think this is what Merlion's problem is. It seems as though Half-elf is just an elf that incurs no multiclass penalty, and has fewer Elf abilities.

Yea thats pretty much it

 

[Wormwood]

Half-Elves are currently a wasted choice.

I hope 3.5e brings them parity with the other races (and while they're at it, tone down the Dwarf a notch or two).

I'll reserve judgement.

And yes, it *is* all about the numbers for some of us.