Half-Elves: Underpowered

[Rae ArdGaoth]

Based on mechanics alone, why would anyone take a half-elf as a race? It's like a crappy mix of human and elf. They get gypped on the elven characteristics, and the only human trait they get is the Favored Class: Any. Why not be a human or an elf?

 

[Christian]

So you can be a member of the House of Medani and carry the Mark of Detection, or of House Lyrandar and carry the Mark of Storm?

What? I though everyone played in Eberron!

 

[Crothian]

mechanics aren't everything

 

[Jdvn1]

People who want Favored Class: Any and not the feat?

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Because Half-Elves are mechanically fair. It is just they do not have many obvious focused niches that they excel at.

What Half-Elves are pretty good at is being a generalist. About as good as a Human. Maybe a little better.

This is how I see it when compared to a Human: Low-light vision is a reasonable feat for many characters. And the gaggle of other abilities is as good or better, for some, than the bonus skill points for Humans.

I almost chose Half-Elf for a recent Druid I was making. The D&D iconic is a very good match.

 

[Psimancer]

mechanics aren't everything

No truer words…

And this illustrates my issue with the way most RPGs treat different races. The choice to play a race should never be for mechanical reasons, but unfortunately frequently is…

I can give you no mechanical reason to play half-elves over humans or elves.

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

mechanics aren't everything

I agree, which is why I said: "Based on mechanics alone..." I know that someone very well may want to be a half-elf for roleplaying reasons and will pick the race solely for that reason. But my point was that the player shouldn't be punished for roleplaying by getting a less-than-equal race. Though I think I agree with Ridley's Cohort, now that he points all that out, he's right, they're not bad. In 3e, though, they were downright pathetic. I don't think they even got low-light vision...

 

[Len]

Why not be a human or an elf?

Because you rolled 48 on the reincarnation table. That's the only reason there's a half-elf in my group.

 

[Psimancer]

I don't think they even got low-light vision...

Yeah, they do (& did in 3.0)...

* Medium: As Medium creatures, half-elves have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
* Half-elf base land speed is 30 feet.
* Immunity to sleep spells and similar magical effects, and a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells or effects.
* Low-Light Vision: A half-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.
* +1 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.
* +2 racial bonus on Diplomacy and Gather Information checks.
* Elven Blood: For all effects related to race, a half-elf is considered an elf.
* Automatic Languages: Common and Elven. Bonus Languages: Any (other than secret languages, such as Druidic).
* Favored Class: Any. When determining whether a multiclass half-elf takes an experience point penalty, her highest-level class does not count.

 

[Jdvn1]

So the question is... does this:

* Immunity to sleep spells and similar magical effects, and a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells or effects.
* Low-Light Vision: A half-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.
* +1 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.
* +2 racial bonus on Diplomacy and Gather Information checks.
* Elven Blood: For all effects related to race, a half-elf is considered an elf.
* Automatic Languages: Common and Elven. Bonus Languages: Any (other than secret languages, such as Druidic).

Equal a feat and a skill point per level?