Races Comments

[Gnome Ninja]

I have a few comments about both what changed and didn't change with races. Now, I'm fine with most of the races, namely Humans, Gnome, Dwarves and Elves. However, I apparently have some issues with the "half" races: Halflings, Half-Elves and Half-Orcs. I elaborate here:

Halflings: I know why people thought these little guys should get a Cha bonus, but these guys aren't Tolkein's hobbits: they aren't the most amicable people ever, they don't have strong personalities, they aren't particularly comely, etc. However, PRPG Halflings are quick of thought and very clever. In addition, while I am glad they killed Wizard as a Favored Class, Bard isn't a great replacement. In fact, with a Cha bonus and Bard FC, they pretty much usurp Gnomes in everything but spellcasting, but I think they should be very separate. Not everything short has a glib tongue. However, Halflings could be good Rangers. Essentially, here are my changes:

• +2 Dex, +2 Int, -2 Str <NOT +2 CHA>
  
• FC: Rogue or Ranger <NOT BARD>

Half-Elves: Do I even need to say Weapon Training?

Half-Orcs: Not Clerics. Why would a Half-Orc have a better chance of being a Cleric than a Druid? Answer: THEY WOULDN'T. They live in the wild, and are aware of their surroundings. Essentially:

• FC: Barbarian or Druid <NOT CLERIC>

Any comments or suggestions or insults?

[thelesuit]

I have to agree that the "half" races are in trouble.

However I don't think halflings are particularly clever, or more clever than humans (those being the base). They are smaller and quicker. I would advocate just giving them DEX +2, STR -2 and compensate the lack of a non-physical stat bump with other abilities.

I cannot fathom giving Half-Orcs a WIS +2. I understand the desire to give them a bump to a non-physical stat, but half-orcs are not particularly cunning or wise. They are HALF ORCS!! Stick with the bumps to STR and CON and give them penalties to INT, WIS, and CHA!!!

CJ

[Tim4488]

I don't like Halflings with a Cha bonus either, but I'm not quite sure where to put it instead. Seems like everybody's getting Wisdom bonuses, and Halflings may be clever, but not necessarily more so than Humans. I don't particularly like the idea of them having a net 0 and more abilities elsewhere, but I'm not sure I have a better one.

Like the Ranger idea though.

Half-elf weapon training in Elf weapons, or like the Humans who get to pick one? I'm not sure I like Half-elves with free Perception checks on secret doors, that was always an Elf-specific thing for me... may think of an ability to swap for it.

As for Half-orcs, I actually don't mind the bonus to Wis. I like the idea of them being forced to become cunning by their outcast status... plus, y'know, if you think of a sort of Uruk-Hai sort of Orc, they're not as stupid. All for the Druid. As for giving Half-orcs a bump to two physical stats, that just seems inconsistent with the general trend, although not necessarily imbalancing.

Question. Does anyone else find the +2 on Caster Level checks against SR for Elves a bit excessive? I mean, they already have several good abilities, and that just seems like a lot. Maybe a +1 instead? I dunno, I haven't seen it in play yet, just thinking out loud. Maybe it's not so bad.