Half-(orc,elf,hafling,dwarf,etc.) templates

[zyzzyr]

Ok, I personally do not understand why half-XXX (insert race here) are full fledged races and not templates of some sort, meaning I could take half a human, half an elf, and get a half-elf, or half an orc, half a dwarf, and a a dworc (or what have you).

That being said, I haven't seen rules for anything like this. I'd like to. I want to mix and match my heritage, like Mr. Potato Head.

Soooo...

What do you think these templates should look like?

Is there something similar to this that I've missed somewhere?

 

[Crothian]

Why are half elves and Half Orcs in the PHB? Casue thay were in 1st edition. One of those sacred cow things.

It's an interesting idea, but how will you determine which to apply to what? As that sentece needs explained, direly, I will. You creat a half elf template and a half human template. Apply the half elf template to a human and you get a half elf/half human. Apply the half human template to an elf and you still get a half humn half elf character. However, I imagine that the abilities of each charcater will be different. So, if I want a half elf half human character, do I apply the half elf template to a human, the half human template to an elf? Does this mean there are two different types of half human half elves running around the world?

 

[DreamChaser]

This is how I do mine.

HYBRIDS

All hybrids on Talis follow a basic pattern. They have the physical size and shape (as well as Ability Modifiers) of their mother's race and the coloration, general appearance, and all other racial features of their father's race. Personality, alignment, and temperment all depend upon which culture they were raised in, although both parents will contribute certain predispositions.

As a template it would go something like this:

Creating a Hybrid:
"Hybrid" is a template that can be added to any humanoid (hereafter referred to as "base creature.") The creature's type will be humanoid.

The base creature's race is considered to be the mother race. The father is the hybrid race. Both races must be humanoid.

A hybrid has the height, weight, shape, and Ability Modifiers of the mother race. The hybrids racial abilities, coloration, general appearance (facial characteristics, skin and hair texture, etc) are derived from the hybrid race. The age progression and lifespan of a hybrid are determined through an average of the hybrids lineage.

Note that half-fiend, half-celestial, half-elemental, half-dragon, and other powerful hybrids use their own templates.

Sample Hybrids

Human (hybrid) / dwarf (maternal)
+2 to Constitution, -2 to Cha
dwarven height and weight range.
+4 skill points at 1st level
+1 skill point per level
+1 feat at first level.
Human range of coloration and appearance.

Merfolk (hybrid) / elf (maternal)
+2 to dex, -2 to con
elven height and weight
merfolk appearance and shape
low light vision
breath water

Is this something like what you were thinking?

 

[~Joseph~]

Firstly, why are the half-elf and half-orc in the PHB?
These "hybrids", if you will, are the most common cross breeds, they appear in such a high frequency, it's likely you will encounter them. Of all the races, humans, elves, and orcs are most likely to inhabit the same areas, or interact with one another. Elves and orcs don't mate because of intense racial hatred. Dwarves are more recluse, living in dwarf only underground communities. Halflings and gnomes are too little to mate with the larger races, but I don't see why they don't mate with each other.

Dream Chaser, I like the Idea but it's some what unlikely and it tends to creat very powerful combinations. you need to devise a way to water down both races while hybriding them.

 

[DreamChaser]

I'm not sure how this could be unbalancing: presuming of course that the races in the PHB are balanced, then it really shouldn't matter which ability modifiers are matched with which racial abilities. It should all equal out. I don't see why it would matter if a half dwarf/half elf got the dwarven ability mods but the elven racial abilities.

Just my opinion.

 

[rankarrog]

Templates usally just add things to a given creature, but don't substract anything, so it WOULD be quite unbalancing to use templates for beginning PC's.

Think about whats more powerful:
All Human-class abilities
All Human-class abilities+Half-orc-Benefits/Flaws
All Human-class abilities+Half-elf-Benefits/Flaws

I would add an ECL to each template before allowing it for PC'S.

 

[Eternalknight]

Dream Chaser, I like the Idea but it's some what unlikely...

It's only unlikely based of generic D&D campaign worlds... his world could be different. Like Mine.

Here's how I do it. I use feats to do it. They are called "Heritage Feats" and may only be chosen at 1st level. They half-elf and half-orc are elimanted from the game. To see the feats, go here , then to the feats section and it is under heritage feats.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

For a DragonStar based campaign I might (or might not) start in a few weeks or months, I am considering a Half Orc Template.
It is a ECL +1 Template, that gives all the benefits of the Orc race, plus the benefits of the base race, plus some social based "bonus" (and penalties).

Currently, it will look like this:
+1 ECL
All Racial Abilities like base creature, +
+2 Strength, +2 Constitution
-2 Intellince, -2 Charisma
Darkvision 60 feet. (If the base creature already possess Darkvision, nothing changes)
+2 Bonus to Intimidate, increasing to +4 against members of base species
-2 penalty to Diplomacy Checks against members of base species (not sure if I won`t drop this, even if it makes sense )

In regard to the ECL thing, I will make some further house rules - I will allow the maxed hit dice at first "real" class level and the multiplied skill points.
(I am also considering a Soulmech based "Android" template, and none of these templates/races will be powerful enough to account for the skill point loss)

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[zyzzyr]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

I realize that "template" is the wrong idea - this implies a base race choice (e.g. "elf") and then *additional* powers from a "template".

I was definitely thinking more along the lines of DreamChaser's "Hybrids". I was hoping for something a little complex, though, since it's equally likely (if we are to take it to its realistic limit) that features would come from either parent.

For example:

Step 1: Choose your race. You can choose up to a total of 1.0 races. I know this sounds odd, but please bear with us.

Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Halfling, and Human are worth 1.0 races.

Half-(dwarf,elf,gnome,halfling,human) are worth 0.5 races. You can choose 1 or 2 of these.

Quarter-(dwarf,elf,gnome,halfling,human) are worth 0.25 races. You can choose 1 to 4 of these.

(dwarf,elf,gnome,halfling,human)-touched are worth .125 races. You can choose 2 to 4 of these.

The "favoured class" would be whichever has the most blood (and where it is equally thin,

As to how it would breakdown, I don't know, but it seems like a fun exercise.

This would allow something insane like:

Dwarf-touched, Elf-touched, Quarter-halfling, half-human.

darkvision 30 ft.
low-light vision 60 ft.
+2 on thrown weapons
+1 luck modifier on saving throws.
+2 to automatic spot and search checks

+1 skill point/lev

The elf blood is too weak to allow sleep immunities. Human blood too weak to allow extra feat. Dwarf blood too weak to allow for stonework checks.

I realize that WoTC wants to keep it simple, so doesn't do that. Surely, though, there's a d20 company/nonprofit that finds this interesting and valuable?

Of course, you'd get some overlap, like in darkvision or similar.

All in all, it would be a blast.

It makes a hell of a lot of sense than current "one race only! Ok, maybe two, but only these an no more!" Myself, I'm part French Canadian, Dutch, Welsh, Scot, and probably some First Nation somewhere along the line. Isn't Tiger Woods always bragging about being "Calablasian" or something like that?

Thoughts?

 

[Rintar]

Half-Multi race

I have been combining stats mods say one has a neg -1 on strength and the other race has a +3 the end result is +2 im trying to meet everything half way if one has 60ft Dark vision the other has none low light is fine I dont want to over power any stat