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Chainsaw Hobbit
2010-11-05, 10:46 PM
This is my attempt at a more usable template for 3.5 races. It takes some elements from 4e and the rest I made up.

NAME
Brief description of the race.

Background: A paragraph or so on the race's background.

Physical Qualities: A paragraph or so on what the race looks like.

Personality: A paragraph or so on the race's personality.

Traits and Abilities: A paragraph or so on what the extraordinary and magical abilities of the race.

Name
Level Adjustment: #
Ability Adjustments: Ability Adjustments
Size: Size
Type: Type
Subtype: Subtype
Speed: #

PHYSICAL TRAITS
Trait: Trait description.

MENTAL TRAITS
Trait: Trait description.

SPECIAL TRAITS
Trait: Trait description.


Here is an example:
Elf (Many of the descriptions copied from here (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/core-races/elf).)
Swift and graceful masters of nature and magic.

Background: The long-lived elves are children of the natural world, similar in many superficial ways to fey creatures, yet different as well. Elves value their privacy and traditions, and while they are often slow to make friends, at both the personal and national levels, once an outsider is accepted as a comrade, such alliances can last for generations.

Physical Qualities: Although generally taller than humans, elves possess a graceful, fragile physique that is accentuated by their long, pointed ears. Their eyes are wide and almond-shaped, and filled with large, vibrantly colored pupils. While elven clothing often plays off the beauty of the natural world, those elves that live in cities tend to bedeck themselves in the latest fashion.

Personality: Elves are emotional and capricious, yet value kindness and beauty. Most elves are chaotic good.

Traits and Abilities: Elves have a curious attachment to their surroundings, perhaps as a result of their incredibly long lifespans or some deeper, more mystical reason. Elves who dwell in a region for long find themselves physically adapting to match their surroundings, most noticeably taking on coloration reflecting the local environment. Those elves that spend their lives among the short-lived races, on the other hand, often develop a skewed perception of mortality and become morose, the result of watching wave after wave of companions age and die before their eyes.

Elf
Level Adjustment: +0
Ability Adjustments: +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution
Size: Medium
Type: Humanoid
Speed: 30

PHYSICAL TRAITS
Low-Light Vision: An elf can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. She retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
Does Not Sleep: Immunity to magic sleep effects, and a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells or effects.

MENTAL TRAITS
None.

SPECIAL TRAITS
Weapon Proficiency: Elves receive the Martial Weapon Proficiency feats for the longsword, rapier, longbow (including composite longbow), and shortbow (including composite shortbow) as bonus feats.
Skill Bonus: +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks
Detect Secret Doors: An elf who merely passes 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.

Havvy
2010-11-05, 11:10 PM
Good for describing 3.5e races. Since there are no rule modifications provided with this, I'll say it performs its goal.

akma
2010-11-07, 05:50 AM
Nice template, shorter and more to the point then the original. No campaign specific things, but also no advice on how to integrate them into diffrent campaigns (althought at lest now I can`t think of a race that will be hard to integrate).