So I'm going over the newest Alpha Release and I read over the Races section, the race fixes were one of the few things in PRPG that I really liked in the first beta, all the choices were good (Though that Elf -2 CON still really hurts), and it was nice to see the Hal Orc and Elf not get boned anymore.
Then Alpha 2 and 3 came along and completely screwed over the Half Elf and I gotta ask why? They really don't gain much, sure that floating +2 to any stat is nice but the human gets that, more skill points, any bonus feat, and a free Martial weapon pro. When all the elf gets really is a few skill bonuses,some immunities, and a free skill focus feat (Which really aint that good).
|
I just think it's weird that Half-Elves get skill focus.
Skill focus? Really? Why not just a bonus feat? You aren't playing a Half-Elf for the rules, just the back story (at this point) Why not have a bonus feat? A player pointed out it's to much like a human, but honestly, if you aren't going to add any sort of new ability, why not make it more like a human?
More importantly, it's a Half-ELF not Half-HUMAN for a reason, why not give it some better elf powers other than good senses?
I just think it's weird that Half-Elves get skill focus.
Skill focus? Really? Why not just a bonus feat? You aren't playing a Half-Elf for the rules, just the back story (at this point) Why not have a bonus feat? A player pointed out it's to much like a human, but honestly, if you aren't going to add any sort of new ability, why not make it more like a human?
More importantly, it's a Half-ELF not Half-HUMAN for a reason, why not give it some better elf powers other than good senses?
Because we're still looking to be backwards compatible and transparently the same game as what we've been playing all along. The design goal (it seems to me) is to enhance not replace the existing rules.
Improve rather than change.
As the player of a half-elf ranger character made in 2E, ported to 3.0, 3.5 and now Pathfinder, I must say that now in Pathfinder my half-elf finally is himself again... The 3.0/3.5 version was close, but not quite there... The Pathfinder version gives him back everything he used to have, and then some!
So all I have to say is I like to have half-elves back... I think no one I know has made one in all the 3.x years, and now people is talking about rolling a half-elf this or half-orc that... and that's a nice change.
im pretty happy with the half-elf now, in version 2 the human was the one "borked" by the half elf. the elven senses and the skill feat makes them a pretty powerful rogue. I have one in my game now and I NEVER have half elves. (the human martial weapon prof is not that great, especially for the people who get ALL martial profs)
|
|
Because we're still looking to be backwards compatible and transparently the same game as what we've been playing all along. The design goal (it seems to me) is to enhance not replace the existing rules.
Improve rather than change.
If we discuss backwards compatibility lets discuss bonuses to gather info and diplomacy. Where did THAT go? My super diplomatic half-elf player went ape-s**t!
I say smack that back in there.
In my game I narrowed the human's ability to two abilities based on sub-races (+2 Int or Cha for race X) so they players are forced to think a little more about which sub-race of human they want to be.
It also boosts the half-elf a little because they don't have this restriction.
If we discuss backwards compatibility lets discuss bonuses to gather info and diplomacy. Where did THAT go? My super diplomatic half-elf player went ape-s**t!
Gather Information has been rolled into Diplomacy. Skill Focus will give you +3. It's still in there, only now you have the option to apply the bonus to a different skill.
They also now receive the elf's ability to spot secret doors. All in all I'd say they're doing pretty good.
I never got how the "outcast" and "outsider" half-elf got a bonus to gather info and diplomacy. yeah i know being outside of a problem get you an unique outlook but come on. either the outsider concept or the diplomatic concept needs to go, and im glad it did.
I mean the mechanics DID NOT support the theme, if a npc was going to talk to any one it would be the half elf (at least half-orcs fit the outsider theme by having a penalty to CHA, well they DID )
|
|
I never got how the "outcast" and "outsider" half-elf got a bonus to gather info and diplomacy. yeah i know being outside of a problem get you an unique outlook but come on. either the outsider concept or the diplomatic concept needs to go, and im glad it did.
I mean the mechanics DID NOT support the theme, if a npc was going to talk to any one it would be the half elf (at least half-orcs fit the outsider theme by having a penalty to CHA, well they DID )
I really preferred the trait from Alpha 1 Adaptable (one free class skill free weapon proficiency) going to the half-elf. That made the race playable for me. It's what I'm sticking with in my campaign.
Taking the proficiency and giving it to the human is already front-loading a powerful race that gets a bonus feat and extra skill points.
I 100% agree about giving back a racial bonus to Diplomacy. Call it "Bridge the Gap".
|
I 100% agree about giving back a racial bonus to Diplomacy. Call it "Bridge the Gap".
As someone already pointed out take the Skill Focus Half Elf racial bonus feat and apply it to Diplomacy, done deal. It's sort of like having the Racial Bonus to Diplo... only better. I don't understand how can you complain about getting a +3 bonus instead of +2 and having the option of using it elsewhere.
-- Dennis