Race-as-class Elf

[cbarchuk]

Hey Doug,

Hope all is well. I've been tweaking my own Elf class. Trying to fine a middle ground between your version and the variant in the book. Wanted to get your thoughts. Thanks!

Chuck

[merias]

Hi Chuck!

I took a look and that seems like a decent version of the race-class, slanted towards the fighter side of things - I see you have limited spell casting ability as compared to MUs (or even the Elf Variant in the FMAG rules), but allow a bonus to-hit with bows and swords, and give fighter saves and hit bonuses. My own rules only allow spell-casting in magical or Elvish chain, but that is for the non-race-as-class Elf, I think allowing spell-casting in normal chain armor is a good compromise.

Here's an idea I just thought of (probably not original given how many people fiddle with the Elf in old-school D&D ), but maybe the Elf can choose to specialize as a fighter (your version), or a MU (standard MU spell progression, but no added to-hit bonuses and slower hit bonus progression).

[cbarchuk]

Thanks for your feedback Doug. Here was my thought:

The Elf variant in the book only has up to level 3 spells and doesn't get its first one till 5,000xp later at level 2. So I copied the MU spell progression for levels 1,2 and 3 but the acquisition of level 2 and 3 spells doesn't occur till 4th and 7th level. I hope that makes sense. In other words the Elf variant doesn't get level 2 spells till 4th level and doesn't gain level 3 spells till 7th level. But I just noticed that at 6th and 9th level no spells are gained. I just realized this is because I'm allowing spells at first level. So I need to make an adjustment. But the goal was to make the Elf a better fighter than the variant, allow spells at 1st level and also to reduce the XP needed to level. I just tweaked the spell levels to reflect this error.

Level 1 spell progression for an Elf will be the same as the MU. MU's get their first Level 2 spell at 3rd level. Elf will get theirs at 4th level. MU's get their first Level 3 spell at 5th level while the Elf will get theirs at 6th level. But otherwise the progression follows the MU.

God I hope what I just wrote made an ounce of sense. But to your idea about picking either or is super cool. I may fiddle around with that as an option. It's less complicated too. Thanks for the suggestion.

[merias]

Yep it makes sense! One minor thing, when I read "Spellcasting: The same as a Wizard" I originally thought that meant the spell acquisition was the same, but as you say it's a level off from MUs. I think you mean the mechanics of memorizing and casting spells are the same. Anyway, that is no big deal, it looks good. Thanks for sharing it.

[cbarchuk]

Yep, that's correct. I changed the wording around a bit to hopefully make more sense. The fine folks at the WBFMAG FB group also recommended that I limit the armor to Leather or Magical Chainmail. So added that as well. I also nerfed HD progression some too. Here's hopefully the final below to reflect all of these changes.

[badams30]

Yep, that's correct. I changed the wording around a bit to hopefully make more sense. The fine folks at the WBFMAG FB group also recommended that I limit the armor to Leather or Magical Chainmail. So added that as well. I also nerfed HD progression some too. Here's hopefully the final below to reflect all of these changes.

This is awesome. Thanks for sharing on the FB group as well, we're trying to drive traffic here, so this is great.

[cbarchuk]

Thanks badam30! Good to hear from you. I made one last tweak. I nerfed the attack bonus ever so slightly.