Thangorn wrote:I wont support any solution to this ECL playability issue that involves nerfing the races from their FR canon racial abilities.
Not to be a smart-#%@ to anyone (especially not Thangorn) but Level Adjustment +2 is listed under "Racial Abilities". in the FRCS. I'm still using the 3E book, maybe this has all changed.
Powerful Races pg. 21, paragraph 1:
"You need your DM's approval before playing a character of such a race. To maintain the balance of power between player characters, adjustments have to be made to characters of these races so that the game remains fair and enjoyable for all involved."
This was the main reason I silently accepted the genasi ban, even though I personally love them and had ZERO say in the matter. The DMs said no. I think this semi-heated discussion is proof enough that the issue is detracting from the fun of it all and proves the FRCS true. Sometimes WoTC and Ed Greenwood know why they do things.
Unlike Burger King, DMs have never advertised their campaign as "Have it your way". Are they willing to work with us, yes, but within the rules - hopefully.
A good solution would be to gear the UD encounters to UD characters. Let's face it, most characters confront more human villains than anything else. Why not let Level Adjusted creatures fight similar Level Adjusted creatures? A drow lvl 1 fighting a drow lvl 1 would be in the same danger as a human lvl 1 fighting a human lvl1 while earning the same proportion of xp. Now, if the drow kills CR 1/4 monsters all day and expects to level up like a human doing it, that is unfair.
There are ways to make it more survivable (and make level progression EQUAL in the UD), maintain the fluff, and not unbalance the play-balanced system. I think that would serve to fulfill everyone's wishes for the UD. Since all UD races have this ECL issue, they wouldn't be penalized unless in a very wide-spread leveled party. This should be how it is, anyway.
I personally found this thread rather close-minded and uncompromising. Two parties standing on their soap-boxes and yelling at each other like two Baptist Preachers. "PROVE ME WRONG!" "PROVE YOURSELF WRONG!"
ECL races -could- legitimately (yes, not cheating, not changing ANYTHING, not requiring DM skewing) level up at the same rate as non-ECL. Just throw ECL encounters at them. Don't throw 3rd level priests and wizards and fighters at them. Throw same level duergar, drow, etc. Isn't this how humans, dwarves and elves do it?
paragraph 4:
"The player already has the advantage of playing a powerful race. She should not also get the advantage of starting with more experience points than another starting race."
I think that is pretty clear. Now, if we fancy ourselves as FR purists, straying from that would be pretty severe. Go form a non-ALFA UD server if you want to change how the UD are and not consider a compromise that maintains the rules.
I agree on several points, if anyone forces Lesser Races on the UD races, that would make me cry into my proverbial ale. It would be sad, it would be taking "Racial Abilities" from some great races, but sadly, as the 3E FRCS is written, so would be taking away and/or changing the Level Adjustment +1-3.
I have been outside the US for 4 years now, so I haven't been kept up-to-date with 3.5E. If some of this information changed, please let me know, and I am sorry.
My 2 copper.
