Need a critique of a custom race (very simple)

[kkplx]

Hey there!

A player in our campaign insists on playing a draconic character, but doesn't like the templates offered in 3.5 and made up his own - aside from that being selfish, would these stats be balanced, OP or UP?

+2 str, +2 Con, -2 Int, -2 Cha (or +2 con -2 cha)
Humanoid
Medium
Base Land Speed is 30ft
Darkvision
Dragon Blood - for the purposes of effects related to race (such as favored enemy) the character is also considered a dragon.
SU: Alter Self, 1-3x/day (specifically for Roleplay purposes, possibly restricted to only the form of a single human)
Automatic Languages: Common
Bonus Languages: Draconic, most others.
Favored Class: Fighter, Rogue.
LA: +0


And are there possibly any details missing?

[Red Fel]

Level adjustment?

[kkplx]

No Level Adjustment.

[lunar2]

drop alter self, make him pick a favored class, and it should be fine as an LA +0.

[eggynack]

My instinct is that it's more powerful than a +0 race should be, just because of alter self, but it seems to correspond on an approximately one to one basis with whisper gnomes (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20040807a&page=3). Still, alter self is way better than silence, so that should probably be modulated downwards. Has he looked at dragonborn from Races of the Dragon page 8? That seems to give a lot of what he's looking for, like the (dragonblood) subtype, sensory abilities, and reasonable ability score modifiers.

[kkplx]

My instinct is that it's more powerful than a +0 race should be, just because of alter self, but it seems to correspond on an approximately one to one basis with whisper gnomes (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20040807a&page=3). Still, alter self is way better than silence, so that should probably be modulated downwards. Has he looked at dragonborn from Races of the Dragon page 8? That seems to give a lot of what he's looking for, like the (dragonblood) subtype, sensory abilities, and reasonable ability score modifiers.

He refuses to use the given races, and we're trying to figure out if we can make his wish work.

[eggynack]

He refuses to use the given races, and we're trying to figure out if we can make his wish work.
Yeah, but has he looked at that one? It probably actually does more than this, and is significantly cooler to boot. If he's just refusing to use book races to be contrarian, then tell him to stop, because that's kinda dumb. Also, with the changes to the alter self, it's definitely +0 LA, without reservations.

[kkplx]

My instinct is that it's more powerful than a +0 race should be, just because of alter self, but it seems to correspond on an approximately one to one basis with whisper gnomes (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20040807a&page=3). Still, alter self is way better than silence, so that should probably be modulated downwards. Has he looked at dragonborn from Races of the Dragon page 8? That seems to give a lot of what he's looking for, like the (dragonblood) subtype, sensory abilities, and reasonable ability score modifiers.

I clarified the specifics of the alter self ability, since it would be limited just to allow him to mingle with normal people.

[Doc_Maynot]

Perhaps take away dragon? Too breakable, or is that only when something is strictly called a true dragon? Make him akin to the dragonkin, reptilian, but still dragonesque. Maybe this should be moved to homebrew?

[Squirrel_Dude]

I would just give him dragonborn without the alignment requirement, so that he can get some cool dragon powers out of it, but still play his character.

Drop alter self and replace it with disguise self if he's just going to be using it to mingle.

[Warlord476]

Hi there!

Looks to me that your player is playing you a little. There are some significant advantages you may not have thought through. The question of what development track each save is on is pretty vital. As the draconic (as written) is set up to be a thug character, fighting aspects such as three-claw fighting, tail sweep, and bracing while grappling or against knockback will also come into play as levels advance.

I would look at this: don't penalise Int, penalise Wis instead.
"Dragons are highly intelligent and learn many things, so it would be unfair to penalise your Int. But they aren't intuitive: they get tricked and out-riddled and have no sense of proportion, which is why they don't think it is silly to sit on a mountain of gold for hundreds of years. So instead, we'll make it -2Wis, OK?"

Place all three saves on the medium advance track (01233...) regardless of class.

That way the draconic's will save is going to be the achilles heel, which means your NPC spells will work more times than not. And the other saves, especially reflex, are going to help the non-draconic characters play out usefully.

I would also look at tempting the player to identify a particular descent, with an improved resistance to one poison or energy, and a matching vulnerability to several others. The draconic is going to make most Fort saves so you haven't lost anything and may gain some balance.

[visigani]

Hey there!

A player in our campaign insists on playing a draconic character, but doesn't like the templates offered in 3.5 and made up his own - aside from that being selfish, would these stats be balanced, OP or UP?

+2 str, +2 Con, -2 Int, -2 Cha (or +2 con -2 cha)
Humanoid
Medium
Base Land Speed is 30ft
Darkvision
Dragon Blood - for the purposes of effects related to race (such as favored enemy) the character is also considered a dragon.
SU: Alter Self, 1-3x/day (specifically for Roleplay purposes, possibly restricted to only the form of a single human)
Automatic Languages: Common
Bonus Languages: Draconic, most others.
Favored Class: Fighter, Rogue.
LA: +0


And are there possibly any details missing?


Since we're getting kind of wild and crazy try this...

+6 str, +4 Con, +2 Cha
Humanoid
Medium
Base Land Speed is 30ft
Darkvision
Dragon Blood - for the purposes of effects related to race (such as favored enemy) the character is also considered a dragon.
Powerful Build (as per Goliath)
[B]SU: Disguise Self At Will - Human only.
Misshapen: You are the result of draconic heritage gone wrong in a mortal frame. Despite your exceptional strength and endurance you never feel quite right in your own skin. Though you are not necessarily clumsy, you tend to be unreactive, and have poor reflexes. You gain the Unreactive (-6 Initiative) and Poor Reflexes (-3 Reflex Save) flaws. You do not gain bonus feats in their place.
Automatic Languages: Common
Bonus Languages: Draconic, most others.
Favored Class: Fighter, Rogue.
LA: +0