just curious about how people would feel if a PC race gained a weaker ability at low levels, that grow as the character gains levels?
For example, a race that could do ray of frost at 1st level, develop chill touch at 3rd level, etc.
I do that with my custom templates
an easy way to do that and keep it balanced is have racial feat progression
I'm wholeheartedly against racial abilities that improve with level other than ones that are a number based on level (such as save DC). You don't see any of the core races improving their abilities over time - that's left to the classes.
I also share the opinion that racial feats are the way to go for any sort of ability you do want to improve over time - they represent a sacrifice in order to get the racial benefits, rather than simply a bonus that comes from having chosen that race initially. Racial feats can also have character level minimums to ensure that any abilities gained through them do not appear until those abilities are already appropriate/expected for a party of that level.
What I use:
1) Racial feats
2) increases to racial bonus values
3) improvements to racial abilities (such as the 3.5 Raptorian's flight)
4) increases to an ability's DC
5) uses per day
I'm sure I have another, but my brain is shorting out and I can't pull anything else out.
