PlzBreakMyCmpAn
2010-06-12, 07:07 PM
The Optimized Races Niche Compendium
A Work In Progress
Too many races got you down? Do you just want to know the best one for your character niche without all that icky fluff getting in the way? Then step right up, today's your lucky day.
Organized by Race:
Anthropomorphic Bat
Anthropomorphic Bat (savage species pg.215)
-4 Str +6 Wis -2 Cha
SMALL
5 ft. (fly 20 ft. average)
blindsense (ex)
Favored class: druid
monstrous humanoid
Use: because you need Wisdom, and you need it now. The fly speed and blindsense are suboptimal but free. Makes for easy CoDzillas because the 1HD can explicitly be traded for your first class level.
Azurin
Azurin (MoI 7)
Human and Incarnum subtypes (meaning they count as human)
ANY FEAT
1 Essentia
Common + Any
Soulborn Favored Class
Use: The Channel Incarnum Azurin Cleric substitution is needed for max DMM-able pools (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=3084.0#msg96174)
Drow:
Savage Progression (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) Drow
+2dex, -2con, +2int
hand crossbow, rapier, and short sword proficiency
Dancing Lights 1/day
Darkvision 60'
immune to magic sleep effects.
Light Blindness
+2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks
passing within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if he were actively looking for it.
Common, Elven, Undercommon + Abyssal, Aquan, Draconic, Drow Sign Language, Gnome, Goblin.
Favored Class: Wizard (male) or cleric (female)
Use: Take Drow paragon 1 for excellent early entry capability. I love PrCing with just 1 base spellcasting level.
Dwarf:
badlands (Sand42) dwarf for faith scion (w/o homebrew)
BONUS Heat Endurance feat
+2 Constitution, -2 Charisma.
20' ms
move at speed even when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load
Darkvision 60 feet
+2 search on water related things, can spot it like elves
Treat dwarven waraxes + dwarven urgroshes as martial weapons
Stability
+2 racial vs poison.
+2 racial vs spells and spell-like effects.
+1 racial hit vs orcs and goblinoids.
+4 dodge AC vs giants
+2 survival
Common, Dwarven + Giant, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Terran, Undercommon
Favored Class: Fighter.
48+con hours w/o water before dehydration
Use: Dwarven PrCs. No not the silly defender one. The only RAW way to get at this ridunkulous class (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/magic/legendaryWeapons.htm#FaithScion) which darn-near beats out Arcane Hierophant for max ubermountage.
Elan:?
Elf:
gray fire elf (if wizard) or snow elf (if melee)
-2 Str, -2con, +2dex, +4 Int, -2cha or +2dex, -cha
Immunity to magic sleep effects
+2 vs enchantments
Low-Light Vision
Weapon Proficiency: longsword, rapier, longbow and shortbow including composites
+2 Listen, Search, and Spot checks
passing within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it.
Common, Elven + Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Sylvan.
Favored Class: Wizard
+1hit vs fire creatures
-2saves vs water or cold effects and creatures
resist fire 5
Use: :vaarsuvius: or Eternal Blade. Yes its painful to get into, but that immediate turn thing is nearly game-breaking in low-magic campaigns.
Feytouched:
savage progression (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) feytouched
+2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, +2 Charisma.
fey
Low-Light Vision
+4 racial vs mind-affecting effects.
Common, Sylvan + Elven, Gnome, Halfling.
Favored Class: Bard or rogue.
Use: You're Fey. You get free and awesome feats (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fey/20030815a).
Gnome:
whisper gnome
-2Str, +2dex, +2Con, -2cha
Small with 30'
Low-Light Vision
Darkvision 60'
hammers as martial weapons
+4 dodge AC against giants
+2listen, +2spot
+1hit kobolds, goblinoids
Common, Gnome + Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Orc
1/day silence centered + if Charisma 10 mage hand, ghost sound, message.
Favored Class: rogue
Use: Shadow craft mage without wasting the precious ECL of other entry methods. Because everyone loves conjuring fake things that are more real than reality! Wait, what?
Halfling
water strongheart halfling
-2str, +2dex, +2con
BONUS FEAT
SMALL SIZE
+1hit w/ thrown weapons and slings
+2morale vs fear
+2 racial Climb, Jump, Listen, Move Silently.
rogue favored class
swim speed (+8racial swim)
-2saves on fire stuff
+1hit againt fire creatures
halfling, common + dwarven, gnoll, goblin, aquan, orc / halruaan,shaaran
Use: Halfling Outrider anyone? Belkar wanna-be? Still close to human, but small.
Half-Orc
frostblood (DM10) desert half-orc (counts for all the orc stuff)
+2con, -2int
BONUS endurance feat
BONUS run feat
BONUS heat endurance feat
dragonblood
resist cold 10
vulnerability to fire
no lowlight vision or lowlight vision after darkvision template
Common, Orc + Draconic, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, and Abyssal.
favored class: Barb
+4racial fort vs hot weather
Use: Gets all those yummy orc feats and a few fuffy PrCs. Human-ish and clearly descended enough to use the 'counts as human' variant. The real benefit comes after you psychic reformation (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/psychicReformation.htm) those bonus feats. :smallbiggrin:
Human
amphibious aquatic human: BONUS FEAT
BONUS SKILLS
common + any
any favored class
swim 30' (+8racial swim)
lowlight vision
aquatic subtype (can breathe air)
-2dex
Use: for those silly must-be-people campaigns or if you want to be an honest chameleon (pun intended)
Ice Gensai:
Lesser Ice Gensai (forgot source)
-2dex, +4con, +2wis, -2cha
it gets some minor mist or something iirc. Feel free to correct.
Use: because you need Constitution, and you need it now. You get more bang for the buck without being an ugly mongrelfolk.
Kobold:
Desert kobold
-4Str, +2Dex, -2Wis, +1nat
small but 30'
darkvision 60'
+2 racial Survival, craft (trapmaking), search
Draconic + Common, Undercommon.
Favored Class: Rogue.
+4racial fort vs hot weather
Use: Pazazu, Pazazu, Paz - nevermind. For a playable, but just really, really power (aka broken to most other people) take the dragonwraught feat and the Loredrake Sovereign Archetype. Now be a sorcerer (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=3084.0#msg96180) with a few rituals and some dragonspawn templates. Its almost as good as min-maxed fast-casting!
Muckdweller
muckdweller (serpent kingdoms pg.71)
-6Str, +6Dex, -2Wis, -2Cha
TINY SIZE
20 ft. (swim 20 ft.)
Squirt [water] (ex) 25' Dex-based Reflex DC or be blinded for 1 round
monstrous humanoid :(
Draconic
Use: because you need Constitution, and you need it now. The Tiny size is worth the 1RHD that most DM's throw out without question. Because its possible to interpret the 'humanoid-only update' to this (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monstersAsRaces.htm) as not being a reversal but only a clarification that doesn't apply in this case. Crumedgeon will know :smallredface:
Spirit Folk
Bamboo Spirit Folk (OA
lowlight vision
spirit subtype (beware shamans :smallwink:)
Common, spirit language + Aquan, Giant, Goblin, 2 regionals
ANY favored class
+2 Survival, +4hide in woods
Trackless Step
+2 vs Earth, Rock, Stone, or Wood Effects
1/day 1 min speak with animals
Use: Arcane Heirophant early entry for all DMs who dislike playing semantics.
T'kel
Monstrous Humanoid
+2dex, -2int
20' swim
Darkvision 60'
2 1d4 claws
favored class: monkUse: when you need to be monstrous
Tibbit
You know you want to be a housecat just to kill a commoner :smallyuk:
I'm thinking the free form-change is worth it. Let me know if not. I haven't stated it because this one could be unnecesary.
Tiefling:
Savage Progression (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) Tiefling:
+2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma.
Outsider
Darkvision 60'
Darkness (Sp) 1/day (1st-level spell)
+2racial Bluff, Hide
cold, electricity, and fire resistance 2
Common, Infernal + Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Orc.
Favored Class: Rogue
Use: Its paragon 1 is useful for saves-maximizing after its RHD1 (which can't be swapped for a class level by RAW, since you are an outsider)
Warforged:
+2con -2wis, -2cha
living construct (alive but no eating, sleeping, or breathing)
no natural healing, 50% healing gains, craft checks to heal
immunity to poison, sleep, paralysis, disease, nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, sickening and energy drain
A Work In Progress
Too many races got you down? Do you just want to know the best one for your character niche without all that icky fluff getting in the way? Then step right up, today's your lucky day.
Organized by Race:
Anthropomorphic Bat
Anthropomorphic Bat (savage species pg.215)
-4 Str +6 Wis -2 Cha
SMALL
5 ft. (fly 20 ft. average)
blindsense (ex)
Favored class: druid
monstrous humanoid
Use: because you need Wisdom, and you need it now. The fly speed and blindsense are suboptimal but free. Makes for easy CoDzillas because the 1HD can explicitly be traded for your first class level.
Azurin
Azurin (MoI 7)
Human and Incarnum subtypes (meaning they count as human)
ANY FEAT
1 Essentia
Common + Any
Soulborn Favored Class
Use: The Channel Incarnum Azurin Cleric substitution is needed for max DMM-able pools (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=3084.0#msg96174)
Drow:
Savage Progression (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) Drow
+2dex, -2con, +2int
hand crossbow, rapier, and short sword proficiency
Dancing Lights 1/day
Darkvision 60'
immune to magic sleep effects.
Light Blindness
+2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks
passing within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if he were actively looking for it.
Common, Elven, Undercommon + Abyssal, Aquan, Draconic, Drow Sign Language, Gnome, Goblin.
Favored Class: Wizard (male) or cleric (female)
Use: Take Drow paragon 1 for excellent early entry capability. I love PrCing with just 1 base spellcasting level.
Dwarf:
badlands (Sand42) dwarf for faith scion (w/o homebrew)
BONUS Heat Endurance feat
+2 Constitution, -2 Charisma.
20' ms
move at speed even when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load
Darkvision 60 feet
+2 search on water related things, can spot it like elves
Treat dwarven waraxes + dwarven urgroshes as martial weapons
Stability
+2 racial vs poison.
+2 racial vs spells and spell-like effects.
+1 racial hit vs orcs and goblinoids.
+4 dodge AC vs giants
+2 survival
Common, Dwarven + Giant, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Terran, Undercommon
Favored Class: Fighter.
48+con hours w/o water before dehydration
Use: Dwarven PrCs. No not the silly defender one. The only RAW way to get at this ridunkulous class (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/magic/legendaryWeapons.htm#FaithScion) which darn-near beats out Arcane Hierophant for max ubermountage.
Elan:?
Elf:
gray fire elf (if wizard) or snow elf (if melee)
-2 Str, -2con, +2dex, +4 Int, -2cha or +2dex, -cha
Immunity to magic sleep effects
+2 vs enchantments
Low-Light Vision
Weapon Proficiency: longsword, rapier, longbow and shortbow including composites
+2 Listen, Search, and Spot checks
passing within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it.
Common, Elven + Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Sylvan.
Favored Class: Wizard
+1hit vs fire creatures
-2saves vs water or cold effects and creatures
resist fire 5
Use: :vaarsuvius: or Eternal Blade. Yes its painful to get into, but that immediate turn thing is nearly game-breaking in low-magic campaigns.
Feytouched:
savage progression (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) feytouched
+2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, +2 Charisma.
fey
Low-Light Vision
+4 racial vs mind-affecting effects.
Common, Sylvan + Elven, Gnome, Halfling.
Favored Class: Bard or rogue.
Use: You're Fey. You get free and awesome feats (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fey/20030815a).
Gnome:
whisper gnome
-2Str, +2dex, +2Con, -2cha
Small with 30'
Low-Light Vision
Darkvision 60'
hammers as martial weapons
+4 dodge AC against giants
+2listen, +2spot
+1hit kobolds, goblinoids
Common, Gnome + Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Orc
1/day silence centered + if Charisma 10 mage hand, ghost sound, message.
Favored Class: rogue
Use: Shadow craft mage without wasting the precious ECL of other entry methods. Because everyone loves conjuring fake things that are more real than reality! Wait, what?
Halfling
water strongheart halfling
-2str, +2dex, +2con
BONUS FEAT
SMALL SIZE
+1hit w/ thrown weapons and slings
+2morale vs fear
+2 racial Climb, Jump, Listen, Move Silently.
rogue favored class
swim speed (+8racial swim)
-2saves on fire stuff
+1hit againt fire creatures
halfling, common + dwarven, gnoll, goblin, aquan, orc / halruaan,shaaran
Use: Halfling Outrider anyone? Belkar wanna-be? Still close to human, but small.
Half-Orc
frostblood (DM10) desert half-orc (counts for all the orc stuff)
+2con, -2int
BONUS endurance feat
BONUS run feat
BONUS heat endurance feat
dragonblood
resist cold 10
vulnerability to fire
no lowlight vision or lowlight vision after darkvision template
Common, Orc + Draconic, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, and Abyssal.
favored class: Barb
+4racial fort vs hot weather
Use: Gets all those yummy orc feats and a few fuffy PrCs. Human-ish and clearly descended enough to use the 'counts as human' variant. The real benefit comes after you psychic reformation (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/psychicReformation.htm) those bonus feats. :smallbiggrin:
Human
amphibious aquatic human: BONUS FEAT
BONUS SKILLS
common + any
any favored class
swim 30' (+8racial swim)
lowlight vision
aquatic subtype (can breathe air)
-2dex
Use: for those silly must-be-people campaigns or if you want to be an honest chameleon (pun intended)
Ice Gensai:
Lesser Ice Gensai (forgot source)
-2dex, +4con, +2wis, -2cha
it gets some minor mist or something iirc. Feel free to correct.
Use: because you need Constitution, and you need it now. You get more bang for the buck without being an ugly mongrelfolk.
Kobold:
Desert kobold
-4Str, +2Dex, -2Wis, +1nat
small but 30'
darkvision 60'
+2 racial Survival, craft (trapmaking), search
Draconic + Common, Undercommon.
Favored Class: Rogue.
+4racial fort vs hot weather
Use: Pazazu, Pazazu, Paz - nevermind. For a playable, but just really, really power (aka broken to most other people) take the dragonwraught feat and the Loredrake Sovereign Archetype. Now be a sorcerer (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=3084.0#msg96180) with a few rituals and some dragonspawn templates. Its almost as good as min-maxed fast-casting!
Muckdweller
muckdweller (serpent kingdoms pg.71)
-6Str, +6Dex, -2Wis, -2Cha
TINY SIZE
20 ft. (swim 20 ft.)
Squirt [water] (ex) 25' Dex-based Reflex DC or be blinded for 1 round
monstrous humanoid :(
Draconic
Use: because you need Constitution, and you need it now. The Tiny size is worth the 1RHD that most DM's throw out without question. Because its possible to interpret the 'humanoid-only update' to this (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monstersAsRaces.htm) as not being a reversal but only a clarification that doesn't apply in this case. Crumedgeon will know :smallredface:
Spirit Folk
Bamboo Spirit Folk (OA
lowlight vision
spirit subtype (beware shamans :smallwink:)
Common, spirit language + Aquan, Giant, Goblin, 2 regionals
ANY favored class
+2 Survival, +4hide in woods
Trackless Step
+2 vs Earth, Rock, Stone, or Wood Effects
1/day 1 min speak with animals
Use: Arcane Heirophant early entry for all DMs who dislike playing semantics.
T'kel
Monstrous Humanoid
+2dex, -2int
20' swim
Darkvision 60'
2 1d4 claws
favored class: monkUse: when you need to be monstrous
Tibbit
You know you want to be a housecat just to kill a commoner :smallyuk:
I'm thinking the free form-change is worth it. Let me know if not. I haven't stated it because this one could be unnecesary.
Tiefling:
Savage Progression (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) Tiefling:
+2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma.
Outsider
Darkvision 60'
Darkness (Sp) 1/day (1st-level spell)
+2racial Bluff, Hide
cold, electricity, and fire resistance 2
Common, Infernal + Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Orc.
Favored Class: Rogue
Use: Its paragon 1 is useful for saves-maximizing after its RHD1 (which can't be swapped for a class level by RAW, since you are an outsider)
Warforged:
+2con -2wis, -2cha
living construct (alive but no eating, sleeping, or breathing)
no natural healing, 50% healing gains, craft checks to heal
immunity to poison, sleep, paralysis, disease, nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, sickening and energy drain