Comprehensive thoughts

[Are]

Disclaimer:

I've read through the entire playtest document, and these are my thoughts/opinions on the system. Since I expect this system to be DM-exclusive (or close to it), I haven't considered potential munchkin-isms.

Broad thoughts:

The system seems robust, at first glance. Paizo has created a good document here, and I like most of it. There's only a few specific RP costs I feel should be changed, as most of them seem to be well balanced in comparison to eachother (more on this later).

As I would like to use the system as a set of building blocks (like LEGOs), I feel that most of the subtype prerequisites should be removed entirely or turned into favored options for those subtypes (for instance -1 RP for the correct subtype). I would also like to see the RP-power-levels changed to power-ranges, such as 6-15 (Standard), 16-25 (Advanced), 26+ (Monstrous), but that's a minor point.

There are some traits and abilities I would like to have seen, such as non-standard body types and variations of fast healing and regeneration. Many of the new traits and abilities created for this document are cool, inspirational, and otherwise very welcome additions to the game, such as the Half-Undead and Half-Construct types, and the Elemental Assault ability.

Racial Traits; Potential changes:

Large Size: This trait doesn't appear to be worth quite as much as 7 RP compared to the other sizes. I'd reduce it to 5 or 6 RP (and potentially increase the cost for the Reach trait to 2 RP).

Small Size: This trait is really good for its cost. There are several benefits compared to Medium size, and few drawbacks. I'd increase the cost to 1 RP.

Slow Speed: The additional benefit regarding speed and encumbrance seems tacked on here. I would split that part off into its own trait in the general section.

Greater Weakness Modifiers: The last sentence appears to be missing some words. I assume it should say either
", and a +2 bonus in one ability score of the other type." or
", and a +2 bonus in one other ability score."

Language Traits: I would reduce the cost for all of these by 1. The Linguist Array would cost 1 RP, the Standard Array would be free, and the Xenophobic Array would cost -1 RP.

Racial Abilities; Potential changes:

Ancient Foe: Reduce the cost to 2 RP.
Desert Runner: Reduce the cost to 1 RP.
Eternal Hope: Reduce the cost to 1 RP.
Hardy: Increase the cost to 2 RP.
Plagueborn: Reduce the cost to 1 RP.

Elven Magic: Reduce the cost to 1 RP.
Gnome Magic: Increase the cost to 2 RP, making it equal to the other abilities with similar mechanics.
Svirfneblin Magic: Increase the cost to 3 RP, or reduce the cost to 1 RP and require Gnome Magic as a prerequisite.

Climb, Sprinter, Swamp Stride, Swim: I see no reason why any of these should have "normal speed" as a prerequisite.
Flight: I'd increase the fly speed increase for taking the ability multiple times to either 20 ft or 30 ft each time. I'd move Maneuverability into a separate trait.

Gatecrasher: Reduce the cost to 1 RP.

Cave Dweller: Reduce the cost to 1 RP.

Sneaky, Sneaky Rider, Underground Sneak: All of these appear too expensive; I'm not sure what a fair cost would be, but maybe 3 RP for Sneaky, 5 or 6 RP for Sneaky Rider, and 4 RP for Underground Sneak.

Prehensile Tail: The last sentence contains a typo. I expect it should say ", but they can retrieve ..." rather than cannot.

[feytharn]

I doubt, these thoughts will be very useful. The designer(s) will have put thought in the costs for the abilities and while I don't doubt they did some mistakes (therefore playtest), all you do is give what costs you would like to see, without giving any reason or argument about it beyond "that doesn't seem quite right". For me, some of the new costs you give seem better then those in the original playtest document, but it would be of much more use if you shared the reasons for your conclusions with us.

[Lord Fyre]

feytharn wrote:

I doubt, these thoughts will be very useful.

I doubt that these thoughts will be very useful for a different reason.

Someone posted a sharply insightful analysis of the problem on different thread in this board that is summing up my opinion as well.

[Are]

feytharn wrote:

but it would be of much more use if you shared the reasons for your conclusions with us.

I will, when I have the time to make an even larger post :)

[Baroncognito]

I think 0 is a fair cost for Small Size given the reduction to weapon damage. It might not mean much to casters, but we're not assuming that every small character is a caster the same way it's somewhat safe to assume that every tiny character is a caster.

I do not believe the text in Greater Weakness Modifiers is missing any words.

Pick either Mental or Physical ability scores. There are three of each.

Put -4 in one of the three.
Put -2 in another of three.
Put +2 in the last of the three.

[Are]

You might be right about Small size, but I never assumed that such characters would be casters. The other benefits to Small size (+1 to hit, for instance) are just as good for melee/ranged characters as they would be to casters.

Even if Greater Weakness Modifiers works that way, something is wrong with the text. It should then say "in the third ability score" rather than "in the other ability score".

[Ambrus]

Are wrote:

Since I expect this system to be DM-exclusive (or close to it), I haven't considered potential munchkin-isms.

This seems a flawed premise to me. GMs have much less need for a systemic means for creating races; most simply create whatever they might require for storytelling purposes with little concern for balance. This book is largely for creating PC races, which most players will want to do themselves before then turning it over to the GM for approval.

[Christina Morris]

Ambrus wrote:

This seems a flawed premise to me. GMs have much less need for a systemic means for creating races; most simply create whatever they might require for storytelling purposes with little concern for balance. This book is largely for creating PC races, which most players will want to do themselves before then turning it over to the GM for approval.

What gave you that idea? I'm a DM and I'm very interested in having a system with which I can tweak and balance my homebrew races.

[Ambrus]

Kevin Morris wrote:

What gave you that idea? I'm a DM and I'm very interested in having a system with which I can tweak and balance my homebrew races.

I didn't say DMs wouldn't be interested in the book. I was merely pointing out that the book would hardly be "DM-exclusive".

[Christina Morris]

I suppose I should have trimmed the quote a bit:

Ambrus wrote:

...most simply create whatever they might require for storytelling purposes with little concern for balance.

That seems like a pretty strange observation to me. There are a lot of GMs on this forum discussing the material here--I'd have to assume they're interested in using it from a balance perspective.

[CharlieIV]

Are wrote:

Small Size: This trait is really good for its cost. There are several benefits compared to Medium size, and few drawbacks. I'd increase the cost to 1 RP.

I agree that small size should be worth at least 1 RP for the following reason:

All the small races in the core include an associated penalty to movement speed (small races like goblins with 30' movement are described as fast for their size), which as a whole balances being small with being medium. (I actually think being small is an advantage over being medium for some builds, but for arguments sake let's assume this is balanced.) Taking the slow speed trait gives you back 1 RP, thus being small should cost 1 RP so the net cost is 0 RP.