Best LA+1 Templates?

[Gwazi Magnum]

What are the best LA+1 Templates you can think of?
Either mechanically for from an RP perspective?

Also, I remember reading once that you can start off at level 1 with LA+1 if you start off as a commoner. Can anyone point me to wherever this ruling may be located?

[AmberVael]

In terms of power, the Half-Minotaur, Feral, and Mineral Warrior templates are all pretty nice. At least, for melee types. Lolth-Touched isn't bad either, though it has less interesting stuff and more just huge stat boosts. The Dark template is nice for sneaky types. There's not really anything big for casters, you're better off with just more levels.

In terms of RP... I'm not actually fond of any of the +1 templates. My favorites tend to be +2 or higher, like half-fey.

I don't think there is any official rule that lets you start as a commoner.

[Drackstin]

i think there is a rule in one of the forgotten realms books that lets you take +LA templates with your first class level, you take a +1 to BAB, Saves and stuff for each +LA. i think its in the area with half-tiefling

[OldTrees1]

The commoner thing is not a 1st party ruling.

Power:
Divine Minion
Feral
Half Minotaur
Mineral Warrior
White Dragonspawn
Dark Creature
Lolth Touched
Quasilycanthrope
Ghost(1 level of the template class)
Blooded One

Flavor:
Ghost 1
Mineral Warrior
Dark Creature

[Ruethgar]

You can take an array of penalties to offset your LA, pretty much -1 to everything per LA. Can't remember the book, but I'm pretty sure it was Wizard's licensed or published. RP wise, the divine minion seems the best that I know of. As to crunch, I would go White Dragonspawn Abomination attained through Savage Species rituals(or bred true) on a Dragonwrought Kobold. For a bit less cheese, Primordial Giants are pretty good, one of the few ways to get a pretty good boost to mental stats with a template.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Tier System For Templates (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=7044)

Tier 1:
Artic +0 (DragMz 306)
Divine Minion +1 or +2 (Web Enhancement (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mb/20050209a))
Feral +1 (SS)
Half Minotaur +1 (DragMz313)
Magic Blooded +0 (Drag Mz 297?)
Mineral Warrior +1 (Und)
Primordial Giant +0 (SoX)
Saint (without RP requirements) +2 (BoED)
Unseelie Fey +0 (DragMz Compendium)
White Dragonspawn +1 (location needed)

Savage Progressions
Ghost 1-4 Web Enhancement (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040117a)

Tier 2:
Dark Creature +1 (ToM)
Draconic +1 (RotD, Drac)
Half Fey +2 (FF)
Lolth Touched +1 (DotU)
Necropolitan +0 (but see text)(LM)
Phrenic +2 (XPH)
Quasilycanthrope +1 (Web Enhancement (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mb/20040721a))
Saint (with RP requirements) +2 (BoED)
Shadow Creature +2 (PnH, LoM)
Spellwarped +3 (MM3)
Voidmind (freed) +3 (MM3)

[OldTrees1]

You can take an array of penalties to offset your LA, pretty much -1 to everything per LA. Can't remember the book, but I'm pretty sure it was Wizard's licensed or published.

I remember reading that in an official Faerun splatbook (so probably the Player's Guide).
Yep PGtF pg 190.
-1 to skill and ability checks
-1 to attacks and saves
-1 to level checks including caster level checks
-1 to spell/ability DCs
-1 to any constant bonus to AC from race.

[Rubik]

The best LA +1 template only works with LA buyoff. Since the ghost savage progression only gives you +1 LA with each level, you should be able to buy off one level, take the next level, and immediately buy it off, until you gain all 4 levels at only +1 (x4) LA. Skipping that last level is highly recommended.

Also, I rather like this homebrewed template. (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Psionic_Variant_-_Natural_Psion_%283.5e_Template%29)

[ShurikVch]

Shadow-Walker - because Telflammar Shadowlord
Gheden - because bonus feats, immunities, Dead Nerves, and +4 Str
God-Blooded (Vecna) - because Cloak of Mystery
Symbiotic - one of the most abusable templates (that is, if anybody knows how actually use it! :smallbiggrin:)

[Sgt. Cookie]

Symbiote (Savage Species), combined with the Dread Blossom Swarm (MM3). Why? Because it makes you damn near unkillable.

With a little work, you can become literally unkillable. To everything. Ever. Even Pun-Pun.

There's a LOT of reasons. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?259833-Gather-round-children-and-let-me-tell-you-a-story-about-the-forgoten-template)

[Sith_Happens]

The Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave version of the Dark Creature template is amazing. It's identical to the Tome of Magic version except its Hide in Plain Sight is upgraded to negate the need for cover or concealment. Meaning you can literally hide anywhere that's not in natural sunlight or a Daylight spell.

[Greenish]

Chameleon creature (Underdark) is neat. Not very powerful, but funny: climb speed, low-light vision, large hide bonus, and 10 ft. long tongue (that you can use to deliver touch spells).