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  1. - Top - End - #1
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    MethodicalMeat's Avatar

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    Default [Base Races]Magesworn Elves

    Magesworn Elf:
    Personality
    Elves are rarely content to sit still, unless it is to pore over some
    forgotten tome or listen to ancient secrets. Their eyes shift
    constantly and they drum their fingers rapidly when idle. They have
    little use for casual conversation and frown in irritation when
    engaged thusly, however, they rarely dismiss the offender, because
    there is always the chance that they will say something useful.
    Physical Description
    Elves are short and slim, standing about 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 feet tall and
    typically weighing 95 to 135 pounds, with the elf men the same height
    and only marginally heavier that the elf women. Elves have lost much
    of their grace over the centuries and move in a fidgety, halting
    fasion. Elves almost never grow facial hair, but it has been known to
    happen from time to time. Their hair ranges from blue-black to copper
    and blonde, and their eyes tend to be dark, often brown or black. They
    clothe themselves in decadent finerey whenever it is available, as
    though to offset their newfound mortality. Elves age at the same rate
    as half-elves in the PHB. As elves are mortal, they too must sleep
    like the other races.
    Relations
    Elves try to make as many friends as possible, but only to gain
    information, not for companionship, which often causes the elves to
    alienate most people, especially those that the elves consider
    barbaric, such as their wood elf cousins and the ghul. Most elves find
    the caverns of the dwarves stifling and dirty, but are more than
    willing to suck it up in order to get at the dwarves vast subteranian
    libraries. While humans rarely share the elves obsession with
    knowledge, they nonetheless make wonderful studying partners as they
    have the most contact with the other races.
    Alignment
    The elves obsession with knowledge has often led them down darker
    paths than they once might have trod, and so tend more towards
    neutrality, however, at some level, they are still very much a part of
    nature and retain their chaotic tendency.
    Elven Lands
    Most of the magesworn live in the human country of Bederland, although
    many travel extensively.
    Religion
    The magesworm believe first, and foremost, in personal power. The pact
    they made with Chaos long ago in order to learn the secrets of arcane
    magic has granted them the ability to use Arcane magic, so few venture
    outside the belief in personal power, although most Magesworn
    subscribe the religion of Bederland in order to keep the church off
    their backs, and also to get at the libraries.
    Language
    Magesworn speak the self-styled "high elven" tongue, but most elves
    learn multiple languages so as not to cut themselves off from
    potential knowledge.

    Magesworn Elf Racial Traits
    +2 Int, -2 Con: Elves are highly intelligent, but their academic lifestyle makes them frail.
    Medium-Size
    Base land speed is 30ft.
    +2 racial bonus on Search and Spot checks.
    +2 racial bounus on three knowledge skills chosen at first level.
    Elves gain the same skill bonus as humans, but not the feat bonus.
    All magesworn gain one bonus language at first level.
    Favored Class: Wizard



    Magesworn elves are a derivation of the wood elves, who still retain their immortality.
    Last edited by MethodicalMeat; 2007-05-28 at 03:36 AM.
    Custom avatar by Vael
    Nexus-R.C. Mina gives the best compliments ever.
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    To read a text that "Methodical Meat" has writ
    Is no easy feat, but it shall be well worth it
    For the flames of his spectacled genius
    Delve deep into you and many neurons it hews
    And asunder them rends
    And once more mends
    Methodically he arrays them again
    His readers' brains,
    From meaty stains
    New seeming, and better than before
    He leaves his readers better than before!

  2. - Top - End - #2
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    JackMage666's Avatar

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    Default Re: [Base Races]Magesworn Elves

    Magesworn Elf Racial Traits
    +2 Int, -2 Wis: Elves are highly intelligent, but very reckless.
    Alright then. Makes a super Wizard, since Wisdom isn't that useful for a Wizard, as the Skill Bonuses (from being an Elf) and High Save (from Wizard) work in their favor already.

    Medium-Size
    Gasp! Medium! How peculiar!

    Base land speed is 30ft.
    Medium and 30 ft land speed? Wow!
    I'm just kidding. No problem with these, of course.

    +2 bonus on Listen, Search and Spot checks.
    Elfy elf elf. Do they retain the finding secret doors ability?

    +2 racial bounus on Knowledge checks
    Ooo... That makes total skill bonuses +28, or +30 if you include Psionics. That's alot. Also, Wizard (favored class again) has ALL knowledge skills, so 1 rank in all of them gives you access to any knowledge check at about +7 apiece (+4 Int, +2, 1 Rank.) That's alot. Which is only augmented by....

    Elves gain the same skill bonus as humans, but not the feat bonus.
    ....this which gives you more skill points bonuses (+4 at first level, +1 every level after.) Also, you're +2 Int increases this more - So, more Skill Points, on average, than a Human

    All magesworn gain one bonus language at first level.
    Which is in addition to the one they learn from +2 Int.

    Favored Class: Wizard
    I wonder why.

    Strong. Very Strong. Strong +0 LA, but weak +1 LA. I'm on the fence, but I'm just giving feedback. Right now, it's far better than a Human. +28 skills, as well as extra skills, beats a Human's bonus feat anyday. Also, the Synergy of Wizard and Magesworn Elf is really strong, furthering their strength. I'd personally say +1 LA as it stands right now, but a few tweaks here and there, and you're golden.

    If it were me, I'd say no bonus skills like a Human, and no Bonus Language - After all, you gain those automatically from increased Int. +2 Knowledge (arcana) and +2 Knowledge (nature). Maybe give them the door ability back, because they still lack the common Proficiencys.
    Last edited by JackMage666; 2007-05-22 at 05:04 PM.
    If there's a rule, there's someone out there trying to figure out how to get around it just to piss off his DM.

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    - The Jack-signal. Thanks Jokes!

    Avatar created by Yeril, who made it look awesome.

  3. - Top - End - #3
    Ogre in the Playground
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    Default Re: [Base Races]Magesworn Elves

    I would say to let them chose 2, maybe 3 knowledge skills to to add the +2 bonus to, and take out the human skill bonus package. Aside from that, I think there pretty balanced. As much as batman ever will be.

  4. - Top - End - #4
    Titan in the Playground
     
    AmberVael's Avatar

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    Default Re: [Base Races]Magesworn Elves

    I had a post that compared Magesworn to Gray elves, but firefox ate it.
    Three times.

    So I'm giving up on it, and just saying- I believe some of the benefits that Gray Elves / Normal Elves get do make them comparable races. And humans have always been weak- we know that.
    Like Low Light vision. Helpful stuff that.

  5. - Top - End - #5
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    MethodicalMeat's Avatar

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    Default Re: [Base Races]Magesworn Elves

    Thanks for the feedback everyone, I changed two things: I took away the racial bonus on listen checks and took you advice on the knowledge bonuses MeklorIlavato.
    Custom avatar by Vael
    Nexus-R.C. Mina gives the best compliments ever.
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    Show

    To read a text that "Methodical Meat" has writ
    Is no easy feat, but it shall be well worth it
    For the flames of his spectacled genius
    Delve deep into you and many neurons it hews
    And asunder them rends
    And once more mends
    Methodically he arrays them again
    His readers' brains,
    From meaty stains
    New seeming, and better than before
    He leaves his readers better than before!

  6. - Top - End - #6
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    MethodicalMeat's Avatar

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    Default Re: [Base Races]Magesworn Elves

    I made some changes, looking better yet?
    Custom avatar by Vael
    Nexus-R.C. Mina gives the best compliments ever.
    Spoiler
    Show

    To read a text that "Methodical Meat" has writ
    Is no easy feat, but it shall be well worth it
    For the flames of his spectacled genius
    Delve deep into you and many neurons it hews
    And asunder them rends
    And once more mends
    Methodically he arrays them again
    His readers' brains,
    From meaty stains
    New seeming, and better than before
    He leaves his readers better than before!

  7. - Top - End - #7
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    JackMage666's Avatar

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    Default Re: [Base Races]Magesworn Elves

    I still contend the Extra Skills and Language is redundant, because you gain both those from the +2 Int.
    If there's a rule, there's someone out there trying to figure out how to get around it just to piss off his DM.

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    - The Jack-signal. Thanks Jokes!

    Avatar created by Yeril, who made it look awesome.

  8. - Top - End - #8
    Orc in the Playground
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    Default Re: [Base Races]Magesworn Elves

    Seconded. Extra letters to make the system let me post

  9. - Top - End - #9
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    BardGuy

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    Default Re: [Base Races]Magesworn Elves

    I think a -2 to Wis is rather weak. The FR Sun Elves keep the -2 to Con, and the reason is simple: it is bad for wizards.

    The way you have it is that elves who sit around and read books are tougher than elves who go and practice archery, etc.

    So mechanically and for flavor, I think the -2 to Wis is a bad idea, but it is of course just my opinion.
    Johannes factotum of the Bard Defense League

    "A witty saying proves nothing." -Voltaire

    "Jack of all trades, master of none, though ofttimes better than master of one."

    The main question that any DM should ask before making a house-rule or exception is, "Is it balanced?"

  10. - Top - End - #10
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Neek's Avatar

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    Default Re: [Base Races]Magesworn Elves

    I've had to second that sentiment. There's really no good way to justify the "recklessness" of Magesworn Elves if all they do is sit and read, and yet their fighting brethren are much more fragile.
    — Nicolaos of Aepternacos


  11. - Top - End - #11
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    MethodicalMeat's Avatar

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    Default Re: [Base Races]Magesworn Elves

    The con penalty makes sense, I think I'll change it to that.
    Custom avatar by Vael
    Nexus-R.C. Mina gives the best compliments ever.
    Spoiler
    Show

    To read a text that "Methodical Meat" has writ
    Is no easy feat, but it shall be well worth it
    For the flames of his spectacled genius
    Delve deep into you and many neurons it hews
    And asunder them rends
    And once more mends
    Methodically he arrays them again
    His readers' brains,
    From meaty stains
    New seeming, and better than before
    He leaves his readers better than before!

  12. - Top - End - #12
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Matthew's Avatar

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    Default Re: [Base Races]Magesworn Elves

    I tend to agree that these guys don't deserve the Human Skill Point Bonus.
    It is a joyful thing indeed to hold intimate converse with a man after one’s own heart, chatting without reserve about things of interest or the fleeting topics of the world; but such, alas, are few and far between.

    – Yoshida Kenko (1283-1350), Tsurezure-Gusa (1340)

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