i was recently in a 1 shot adventure where the GM allowed people to play any character they wanted, even monsters, up to cr 20
he allowed any normal pc race to make a character level 20, i think with a 20 point buy. or you could play a monster whose cr was equivalent to levels, but you had to take that monster's stats as is, with only increases from class levels to increase stats.
we ended up with a level 20 human oracle, level 20 young atomie sorcerer, a level 16 ogre ranger, a fire giant with enough levels of fighter to be 20, a level 20 lillend azata bard(it is cr7 and casts as a 7th level bard), and a young shadow demon 3rogue/4sorcerer/7arcane trickster.
it was fun, but then again it was a 1 shot adventure, about 4 combats.
I would say that if you keep the monsters under a predetermined CR ( I would say 5 or 6) then it wouldnt be that big of a deal, and really, let your player do it, just make sure he takes any social stigma that comes with the race. A minotaur would suck to play anytime you wanted to go into town, or rescue the princess, or meet someone new, or, or, or, or, or... you get my point
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i was recently in a 1 shot adventure where the GM allowed people to play any character they wanted, even monsters, up to cr 20
he allowed any normal pc race to make a character level 20, i think with a 20 point buy. or you could play a monster whose cr was equivalent to levels, but you had to take that monster's stats as is, with only increases from class levels to increase stats.
we ended up with a level 20 human oracle, level 20 young atomie sorcerer, a level 16 ogre ranger, a fire giant with enough levels of fighter to be 20, a level 20 lillend azata bard(it is cr7 and casts as a 7th level bard), and a young shadow demon 3rogue/4sorcerer/7arcane trickster.
it was fun, but then again it was a 1 shot adventure, about 4 combats.
That sounds ... interesting.
Were I to do something within those guidelines, I'd probably create a Planetar cleric - they cast spells as a cleric anyway.
I have allowed it but within limitations. Someone played a minotaur once.
What works really depends on what everyone else is playing.
A player of mine always wants to do this. He is a power gamer and looking for some unbalanced advantage. He has quoted the section of the beasriary about using monsters as pc's.
His particular monster is the Minotaur. He does not see the unbalanced nature of his build. How are you handling it?
I think if everyone was a monster it might not be as unfair.
Jzanco, here is the proper (that is RAW) way to make a minotaur PC.
Blackbloodtroll's advice is pretty good, though even some 0 HD races can be unbalancing (such as a drow noble with at-will fireballs).
I find that most HD monsters are NOT unbalancing, provided the GM doesn't allow them in a low level group. Allowing a full minotaur at level one is going to make everyone else in the party feel useless in comparison, for example.
Just use the established monster progressions as a basis for balancing a monster character with the rest of the group, then eyeball further changes from there to best fit your group.
Make sure that the monster player understands that his level-up progression will differ from his party-mates, and that you may hold him back somewhat so as to not overshadow everyone else.
Furthermore, make sure everyone understands the in-game roleplay consequences of a monster character as well. Just because the party has accepted a minotaur into their ranks, doesn't mean the city will let him through the gates.