Worthy LA +2/3

[Reinboom]

I'm looking for a list level adjustment 2 or LA 3 races (3.5 only, no 3.0) that are considered 'worth it'. Preferably, ones without any hit dice.
I do not want a discussion of "oh! this is a crappy race because it limits spellcasting and spellcasters are teh uber!".
I'm specifically looking for races that just generally 'synchronize' well with any mid-ranged power classes such as: martial classes (ToB), barbarian, rogue, favored soul (even though it loses caster levels, I don't care), and similar.
Preferably races that synchronize well at around the ECL 12 mark, and are still 'worth' their LA.

[Fax Celestis]

Right off the top of my head, Half-Fey for any Charisma-centric character. Yes, yes, "Thou shalt not forgo caster levels". With a class with a limited, Cha-based spell list (like Hexblade or Spellthief) and other abilities that are Cha-based, it's terrific. Not only do you get a metric ton of SLAs that are incredibly useful (charm person at will? Yes please), but you get a decent Cha boost and flight.

[Grynning]

I hate to bring it up, but Drow are honestly pretty damn good for a +2 LA. Plus with the ridiculous amount of published material for them you have a lot of character options.

[Tokiko Mima]

Karsites from Tome of Magic are uber for melee classes, wilders and any Incarnum/ToM casting class (they can't use arcane/divine magic, so no favored soul.)

You get all the benefits of human (Extra Feat), +2 Con, +2 Cha, 5/magic DR, 10+class level SR with the ability to gain 2*spell level HP if you resist a spell, a Rogue-like ability to temporarily drain magic items with your melee attacks, free medium/light armor proficienies and a free martial weapon proficiency.

[Frosty]

I can give you a +1 LA race, if that'll help at all. I think Catfolk is pretty decent. +6 total stats (+4 dex, +2cha), 40 Base land speed. Low light vision. Bonuses to some skills I think.

[Fax Celestis]

I hate to bring it up, but Drow are honestly pretty damn good for a +2 LA. Plus with the ridiculous amount of published material for them you have a lot of character options.

This is true if you have access to Drow of the Underdark. Otherwise, it's a coin-toss (I almost wrote toin-coss wtf).

[deadseashoals]

Half ogre (RoD), thri kreen (MM2) (ECL 3, LA +1). Plus the obligatory broken half minotaur, feral, and mineral warrior. Half dragon isn't that bad either, as the Constitution gain goes a long way toward compensating for the lost hit dice, and the Strength gain more than makes up for the lost BAB.

Centaur is also pretty good, but it has 4 racial hit dice, and some lycanthropes are also pretty good, but they carry animal hit dice.

[ZeroNumerous]

Werebear Barbarian.

Think about it.

Let it sink in.

Then realize that it's +16 Strength when raging at level 1. +20 at 8th.

Warhulk for later, since you shift and gain large size.

[Amiria]

Lumi (MM3 p.98) are also nice, although they have 2 RHD, but outsider. And +2 Str, +4 Con, +4 Wis, -2 Dex. That looks pretty good for ToB classes, Barbarians and Favored Souls.

[Reinboom]

Ah, I tend to want to avoid templates here and LA +1 races. Although certain notable templates and races are appreciated (such as noting the thri-kreen).
Also, I'm aware of the Catfolk for a good LA +1. Catfolk pounce with increased speed is excellent.
Is there anything specific in the "Drow of the Underdark" I should be looking for?

Thank you for the races thus far.

[Grynning]

It's a good book all around for feats and PrC's...the ranger PrC (Cavestalker I think it's called) is quite good. Also read over the section on alternate class features for drow of various base classes, there's a lot of good stuff there.

[MCerberus]

Side not for the thread here - in 4e they're supposed to have a new system for not just MPCs but all PCs where they get different/stronger abilities in line with their race as they level up. No losing levels because of your race, but instead you don't get all the cool powers until later on, and even gnomes got something cool at that point!

[Zincorium]

Werebear Barbarian.

Think about it.

Let it sink in.

Then realize that it's +16 Strength when raging at level 1. +20 at 8th.

Warhulk for later, since you shift and gain large size.

Unfortunately, those levels of animal suck badly. And with an LA of +3, even with buyoff you won't get rid of most of that (The soonest you can buy off the first is ECL 18, costing a hell of a lot of xp, and you can't buy off any of the rest before epic).

Although it does have a slight advantage over a normal fighter or barbarian, you start at ECL 9. Meaning you can't even begin play in the low levels where fighter types do well. By the time you get the warhulk thing goin' (which you can do after only taking a single level of barbarian) you're solidly in bat country.

And when you're not shifted, you quite seriously suck. You'll have a total BAB of 5 at ECL 20 taking all of warhulk. That is half of a wizard's, for crying out loud.

[CASTLEMIKE]

I like Half Fey (except for the butter fly wings) which was already mentioned and Phrenic at +2 LA is pretty nice particularly with LA buydown at levels 3 and 9.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/mo...icCreature.htm

SRD Bloodlines (+1, +2 and +3) are really nice for what you get and how they are paid down differently than standard LA templates, they could be paid down comletely by level 4.

There is always combinations:

Take something like the OE Hengokai, shape changing animal +1LA whic was lowered down to +0 in a dragon magazine, can shape change into some useful animal forms 1/day per hd/level, they would qualify for the ECS +0 LA Mage Bred template (+4, +2, +2 to physical attributes) plus a few other bennies, tack on half fey or phrenic at +2 LA.

[ZeroNumerous]

And when you're not shifted, you quite seriously suck. You'll have a total BAB of 5 at ECL 20 taking all of warhulk. That is half of a wizard's, for crying out loud.

Yes, you would. But honestly, the relevance is little. Mostly because there are ways to gain multiple attacks without a high BAB. (Improved Unarmed Strike and Snap Kick come to mind) Coupled with Skirmisher's Boots and a Haste and you're already attacking four times at your highest BAB with only a -2 penalty each time.

Considering you'll have about 38 Strength as a base.. Hardly too important.

Instead of Warhulk, you could always take Frenzied Berserker and turn it into a charger build instead.

Honestly, I enjoy the heck out of a 38 Strength werebear, but thats my opinion.

[mostlyharmful]

Spawn, of which ever colour, are a great bet. Dragonlance PG. Whitespawn for the WIN BABY!

[Mewtarthio]

Unfortunately, those levels of animal suck badly. And with an LA of +3, even with buyoff you won't get rid of most of that (The soonest you can buy off the first is ECL 18, costing a hell of a lot of xp, and you can't buy off any of the rest before epic).

Isn't LA +3 the highest you can buy off completely (starting at character level 9, ECL 12)?

[Kizara]

In my opinion Githyanki are pretty solid if you are doing a build that plays to their strengths, which often include levels of fighter and barbarian.

[BardicDuelist]

Both of the Gith aren't bad choices. I can't remember if Fiend Folio is 3.0 or not, but the Nerra are really cool. I love reflective spell resistance (really high reflective spell resistance...)

[Zincorium]

Isn't LA +3 the highest you can buy off completely (starting at character level 9, ECL 12)?

Hm, I think I wasn't counting the animal hit dice for character level. Which I should have. In any case, I can't recall any game I've been a player in that used LA buyoff. I generally allow it in my own games, though.

[Gralamin]

Isn't LA +3 the highest you can buy off completely (starting at character level 9, ECL 12)?

No, first you have to wait 3*3 (9) levels, then 2*3 (6) levels, then 1*3 (3) levels, so you buy off the first at 18, the second at 24, and the final at 27.


Edit: ^ makes a good point. With that, it might be 12, then 18, then 21.

[Stam]

<offtopic>
If you want the werebear's strength, all you have to do is wait through seven levels of barbarian/similar and then pick up Bear Warrior. Toss in two levels of Warshaper and eat a single BAB point of loss, and at level 15 you can have a PC with a strength score of 45. Eat that, werebear.
</offtopic>

There's a Lawful planetouched race whose name I forget, from the MM2 IIRC. That's only a +1, but it's tailor-made for a monk (or swordsage). Tiefling as the ever-favorite rogue or swashbuckler. (Again, LA+1 but worth a mention.)

[Leon]

Satyxis - Total of +12 to Stats (spread over 4) Racial Abilites, Bonus to skills and a Great rack (+2 LA)

Pygmy Troll - Small, but Tough, has Regeneration 2, Poison resistance and Whelps (+2 LA)

Now, if RHD isnt a problem - Tharn (6 RHD & +2 LA) Toss in some levels of Barb or such and have fun. Lots of Str, Dex & Con bonus and a minor hit to Int and Cha. Also has a Racial rage type ability

Farrow (2 RHD & +2 LA), +10 To physical stats (Favouring Con), natural weapon, natural Armour, Scent

Monsternomicon One
By Privateer Press

[Kizara]

Satyxis - Total of +12 to Stats (spread over 4) Racial Abilites, Bonus to skills and a Great rack (+2 LA)

Pygmy Troll - Small, but Tough, has Regeneration 2, Poison resistance and Whelps (+2 LA)

Now, if RHD isnt a problem - Tharn (6 RHD & +2 LA) Toss in some levels of Barb or such and have fun. Lots of Str, Dex & Con bonus and a minor hit to Int and Cha. Also has a Racial rage type ability

Farrow (2 RHD & +2 LA), +10 To physical stats (Favouring Con), natural weapon, natural Armour, Scent

Please give sources.

[Reinboom]

Satyxis - Total of +12 to Stats (spread over 4) Racial Abilites, Bonus to skills and a Great rack (+2 LA)

Pygmy Troll - Small, but Tough, has Regeneration 2, Poison resistance and Whelps (+2 LA)

Now, if RHD isnt a problem - Tharn (6 RHD & +2 LA) Toss in some levels of Barb or such and have fun. Lots of Str, Dex & Con bonus and a minor hit to Int and Cha. Also has a Racial rage type ability

Farrow (2 RHD & +2 LA), +10 To physical stats (Favouring Con), natural weapon, natural Armour, Scent

I can only find 'Pygmy Troll' as a homebrew creature in the wizards forums.
I'm looking for official races. If these are official, then yes, sources appreciated please ^^;

[Aurion]

There is a +2 LA Psionic Version of the Thri-Kreen as well in Complete Psionic. Good stats, good psionic abilities that don't require pp to use. You have to take two levels of montrous humanoid unfortunately for thri-kreen, but the 4 arms and good dex bonus nearly makes up for it, and the +3 Natural Armor is very nice.

[Hawriel]

power gamer friend of mine just made a deep gnome from FR, they are LA 3. They can alter self, SR 10 + Character level and a bunch of other stuff. good for a fighter or a rogue.

[Leon]

Quick Discription
Satyxis - Horned Warrior Women

Pygmy Troll - The smallest of the Troll breeds of Western Immoren

Tharn - Bestial Humanoids that live in the wilds

Farrow - Boarmen


Edited the Original post with Book details

[AtomicKitKat]

Half-Farspawn is just a bit out of the league at +4, but it does have that tentacular goodness...

[Kizara]

I can only find 'Pygmy Troll' as a homebrew creature in the wizards forums.
I'm looking for official races. If these are official, then yes, sources appreciated please ^^;

The source he ended up posting was third-party, which is pretty far from official. Too bad, the horned warrior women looked interesting. Unfortunately, I can't use things in my game with only a "quick description".