Empedocles
2012-04-11, 08:53 PM
If the half-orc is the worst designed race in the PHB, the halfling is potentially the silliest, and the gnome is the least unique, the half-elf is the absolute plainest race WotC ever made. You can argue with what I said about the other races, but IMO it's absolutely undebatable that the half-elf is a hollow, flavorless, crunch-less hybrid species that has no individual flavor.
WotC does this a lot with their half-breeds. They don't seem to understand that if you make a hybrid race, you can't just find a middle point between the two ancestral races. To justify a race on its own, the said race needs its own identity. If I gave you a half-elf with the human's skill points but no bonus feat, the elf's low-light vision but no weapon proficiencies, and called it a race, well, I'd be surprised, no, shocked, if anyone wanted to play it.
That being said, I'm not sure about the flavor I've developed for my half elf. I personally like it, but others might have doubts and this rewrite might call for an elf redux in the future.
The Half-Elf
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5PMPwF1bzm0/TfwvpiOHlzI/AAAAAAAAA1k/oiL9BRGSbwA/s1600/11.jpg
The half-elf is not a crying loner. He is not a silly little wanderer or wannabe druid. The half-elf has embraced the darkness within him since birth, and if he didn't, he died. The magical strength of the elves and the greedy ambition of the humans is epitomized in their offspring, power-hungry but beautiful men and women who cannot imagine a world where they cannot always, in the end, come out on top.
Personality: Half-elves are extremely charismatic and confident, seeming to always know what's best or how to please someone. Many find half-elves to be charming but in a sort of off-beat way, and half-elves have no qualms about putting others to the side if it benefits their own goals. In combat, half-elves are silent and determined, refusing to ever be stopped.
Physical Description: Half-elves are slightly taller than a normal human and have very slightly pointed ears. Their eyes slant, but not the same way elves do and they have much sturdier frames than those ancestors. Half-elves maintain some sort of natural grace but their's is much more...rough, more a force of personality than actual physical beauty.
Relations: Most races have no particular views on half-elves since they're not really a race, strictly speaking. Individual half-elves usually have no problem getting people to like them, except of course for orcs. Half-orcs can sometimes identify with half-elves, sometimes not. It depends.
Alignment: A self-centered race, most half-elves are chaotic, though the go all ways on the good-evil axis.
Half-Elf Lands: Half-elves have no lands to call their own. They are usually raised by elves (since humans don't really live long enough to raise them normally) but don't stick around long after adulthood, preferring the pursuit of their own ambitions and exploring.
Religion: The dark gods half-elves make pacts with often is reflected in their religion, and even neutral half-elves will sometimes worship demon lords or dark gods like Hextor. Most are raised on Corellon Larethian's doctrine, but almost none identify with his teachings, and the only nonevil deity they worship with anything approaching regularity is Boccob.
Language: Half-elves are raised speaking both elven and common, and often enjoy expanding their repertoire of languages.
Adventures: Half-elves adventure however it suites their goals, which usually involves the acquisition of power somehow. Wether this starts with them finding gold or artifacts or simply testing their strength, half-elves have many reasons to go adventuring.
Half-Elf Racial Traits
+2 Charisma. Half-elves have strong personalities and many people enjoy their company.
Medium. As medium creatures half-elves have no special bonuses or penalties based on size.
Half-elf base land speed is 30 feet.
+2 Racial Bonus on all Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive checks.
Immunity to sleep and similar effects, and a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells and effects.
Low-Light Vision: A half-elf can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. She retains the ability to distinguish color in these conditions.
Eldritch Strength: A half elf adds their charisma modifier to their will saves instead of their wisdom modifier.
4 Bonus Skill Points at 1st level.
Hybrid Blood: For all effects related to race, a half-elf is considered an elf and a human.
Automatic Languages: Common, Elven. Bonus Languages: Any.
Favored Class: Warlock.
So there you go. Not sure if it came out how I wanted it to, but I personally like it. PEACH :smallsmile:
WotC does this a lot with their half-breeds. They don't seem to understand that if you make a hybrid race, you can't just find a middle point between the two ancestral races. To justify a race on its own, the said race needs its own identity. If I gave you a half-elf with the human's skill points but no bonus feat, the elf's low-light vision but no weapon proficiencies, and called it a race, well, I'd be surprised, no, shocked, if anyone wanted to play it.
That being said, I'm not sure about the flavor I've developed for my half elf. I personally like it, but others might have doubts and this rewrite might call for an elf redux in the future.
The Half-Elf
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5PMPwF1bzm0/TfwvpiOHlzI/AAAAAAAAA1k/oiL9BRGSbwA/s1600/11.jpg
The half-elf is not a crying loner. He is not a silly little wanderer or wannabe druid. The half-elf has embraced the darkness within him since birth, and if he didn't, he died. The magical strength of the elves and the greedy ambition of the humans is epitomized in their offspring, power-hungry but beautiful men and women who cannot imagine a world where they cannot always, in the end, come out on top.
Personality: Half-elves are extremely charismatic and confident, seeming to always know what's best or how to please someone. Many find half-elves to be charming but in a sort of off-beat way, and half-elves have no qualms about putting others to the side if it benefits their own goals. In combat, half-elves are silent and determined, refusing to ever be stopped.
Physical Description: Half-elves are slightly taller than a normal human and have very slightly pointed ears. Their eyes slant, but not the same way elves do and they have much sturdier frames than those ancestors. Half-elves maintain some sort of natural grace but their's is much more...rough, more a force of personality than actual physical beauty.
Relations: Most races have no particular views on half-elves since they're not really a race, strictly speaking. Individual half-elves usually have no problem getting people to like them, except of course for orcs. Half-orcs can sometimes identify with half-elves, sometimes not. It depends.
Alignment: A self-centered race, most half-elves are chaotic, though the go all ways on the good-evil axis.
Half-Elf Lands: Half-elves have no lands to call their own. They are usually raised by elves (since humans don't really live long enough to raise them normally) but don't stick around long after adulthood, preferring the pursuit of their own ambitions and exploring.
Religion: The dark gods half-elves make pacts with often is reflected in their religion, and even neutral half-elves will sometimes worship demon lords or dark gods like Hextor. Most are raised on Corellon Larethian's doctrine, but almost none identify with his teachings, and the only nonevil deity they worship with anything approaching regularity is Boccob.
Language: Half-elves are raised speaking both elven and common, and often enjoy expanding their repertoire of languages.
Adventures: Half-elves adventure however it suites their goals, which usually involves the acquisition of power somehow. Wether this starts with them finding gold or artifacts or simply testing their strength, half-elves have many reasons to go adventuring.
Half-Elf Racial Traits
+2 Charisma. Half-elves have strong personalities and many people enjoy their company.
Medium. As medium creatures half-elves have no special bonuses or penalties based on size.
Half-elf base land speed is 30 feet.
+2 Racial Bonus on all Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive checks.
Immunity to sleep and similar effects, and a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells and effects.
Low-Light Vision: A half-elf can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. She retains the ability to distinguish color in these conditions.
Eldritch Strength: A half elf adds their charisma modifier to their will saves instead of their wisdom modifier.
4 Bonus Skill Points at 1st level.
Hybrid Blood: For all effects related to race, a half-elf is considered an elf and a human.
Automatic Languages: Common, Elven. Bonus Languages: Any.
Favored Class: Warlock.
So there you go. Not sure if it came out how I wanted it to, but I personally like it. PEACH :smallsmile: