Races: Half-elf

[tpdarkdraco]

I have just done some minor tweeks to this class. Not sure at the moment on this though as the Brecht one gets +4 Dex in total, which might be a bit unbalancing.

Half-Elves, Cerilian

Racial Traits

Average Height: 5’6” - 6’2”
Average Weight: 130 – 190 lbs

Ability Scores: +2 Dex, ( +2 Wis Anuirean, +2 Dex Brechtur, +2 Int Khinasi, +2 Con Rjurik, +2 Str Vos)
Size: Medium
Speed: 6
Vision: Low light

Languages: Sidhelien, Regional language, choice of one other.
Skill Bonus: +2 Perception, +2 Nature
Sidhelien Will: you gain a +2 racial bonus against charm effects.
Dilettante: At 1st level, you choice an at-will power from a class different from yours. You can use that power as an encounter power.
Dual Heritage: You can take feats that have either Sidhelien or human as prerequisites (as well as those specifically for half-elves), as long as you meet any other requirements.
Sidhelien Blood: Half-elves are able to cast true magic without being blooded.

[Sorontar]

+2 Cha for the charming Brecht half-elves? Or is that useless for 4e?

[tpdarkdraco]

+2 Cha for the charming Brecht half-elves? Or is that useless for 4e?

At the moment Brechts fixed ability modifier is Dex and they have a further +2 to one of their choice. We could give them +2 to Cha but this moves away from 2ed modifiers (the other was Int). Could give half-elves +2 to Int and then the Khinasi version would be better Arcane casters, which I think flavour wise is better then the Brechts half-elf having really high dex. Undecided at the moment.

I guess my question is a +4 too over powered for a race or would it be ok.

[dundjinnmasta]

+4 to a single ability is very much overpowered which is exactly why my subhumans aren't allowed to put their +2 anyone ability score in the same score as their culture ones.

[Rey]

And I'd give them only +1 on those region dependent modifiers. They are only half-elven.
Last thing I want to see is a Vos half-elf with pointy ears and a graceful walk of a seal with bulging muscles. Real slick and slender fellow.
Think genetic.

This region separation makes me think like they are separate islands that never had any contact with each other and now we have to make them distinct. Khinasi was built upon the remains of Masetian culture, it had also been under the rule of Anuire for many years and that had an influence, mixing, mingling. They all met each other more or less, it's not like they are all closed societies. When you see an elf, you see why he's an elf. When you see humans or half-elves from different regions, they are only humans and half-elves. Why is there a need to treat them like they are something special? Give them some bonus abilities or skills or something.

I think that the elves of Cerilia should also have the modifiers each, region dependent. Cwmb Bheinn elves should be at least +2 STR (since they're from Vosgaard) and +2 INT (since they are keen on magic). Since they are very old and wise, give them some +2 on WIS, a and because they are such a charming race, +2 to CHA on every contact made with humans or half-elves. And don't forget standard +2 on DEX from PHB.

When we move on to Aduria, what shall we find there? 10 human subraces, and probably some 10 half-beast-men subraces also. Because there are walls separating each region and they never saw or have been out to another region.
Come on.

[AndrewTall]

The elves are immortal and have generations spanning centuries, add in a relativiely non-material culture and significant amounts of travel would have been the historic norm, so having only the three sidhe races (seelie, sidhe, Tuar annwn sidhe) makes sense - they haven't had the isolation to genetically separate.

For humans it is different, firstly travel is quite difficult, so most people never move more than a few tens of miles from their home town, secondly you have very different cultures - the Vos live next door to the Brecht and Khinasi, but inter-marriage will be very rare, a Vos might capture Khinasi women as slaves, but is unlikely to marry otherwise beyond in the one or two realms stated as mixed.

The extreme length of the empire would have encouraged inter-mingling, although possibly less than you might think, the rapid growth and longevity suggesting that cultures remained almost completely intact with only a thin Anuirean veneer - you might get a few marriages between nobles but not many, otherwise it is just sailors and traders.

The question though, is what do you want? Do you want clear regional differences? If so then the nobles are very keen on keeping the blood pure so the only hybrids are sailors get, if you want everyone the same then racial divisions are smaller, or differences between human tribes seen as trivial compared to freaks like goblins and dwarves.

Personally I cut the length of the empire and collapse period to help resolve issues like this...