Plane-touched Beta Test

[Thangorn]

Hi Guys,

Just to let you all know.

I am currently writing a proposal to ALFA admin to allow me to run a Beta test of tiefling implementation on The Moonsea from Beta2/Beta3.. The test will be designed to address all administrative concerns regarding plane-touched implementation.

From my perspective I'm hoping it will get us some more players, DM and builders. Personally I always prefer an informed test on contentious things rather than throw the baby out with the bath water.

please weigh in with your thoughts on the matter if you wish..
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[easter_bunny]

I have a very strong opinion on this. They should be allowed in, as-is.

Ive heard the argument that they are overpowered, but they follow the pattern of all the other ECL races that we already allow. their bonuses leave them somewhere in between the standard races and the drow with their ECL of 2. All the genasi are fair with their bonuses and their drawback, the ECL 1. I would make the exception for the water genasi, they seem UNDERpowered for their ECL of 1, but folks wanting to play one specific race will tend to play it no matter the consequences.

Really, in a slow advancement setting like ALFA, the ECL becomes more of a penalty than it does in most PWs.

Id also like to counter the argument that they are "rare" or special and shouldnt be played, or should be only for approvals. If EVERY alfa player made up a Genasi, even all the same kind... it STILL wouldnt give us even a tiny fraction of the worlds population of said race. I doubt it will ever come to that, or even a significant chunk of our players all being planetouched at once. No one race dominates ALFA now, everyone didnt rush to play a smurf in nwn1. They had much more power and a higher ecl than these teiflings (and so did drow) but you didnt have a rush to play them. Folks play what they want, offering them more variety is always good.

These things are also not simply some invention of nwn, but these things are open to players in regular core D+D.


I also dont think they need to be modified to look more human, those appearances are fine, and a lot of them look just like the examples out of the books. If new, more human-like, heads can be added rather than replace the current ones I would be all for that. Variety is always best.


As far as balance, the best way to settle that is to run a beta campaign with a regularly occuring and racially mixed crew. Ill be happy to help your testing in any capacity.

A very relevant link...

http://www.alandfaraway.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=38764

J

[Thangorn]

did you read my proposal fully bunny-man?

You'll find that I said that plane-touched are actually quite common due to genie influence in the south and the many and varied ways that demons/devils and others have mixed with human bloodlines.

I support player choice and I dont think anyone else in alfa has done anything definitive about getting them into the game except whinge when the old guard wanted to cut them out.

I am attempting to find a way I can add all the human heads to the tieflings at character creation, I thought I made that clear. If I can do that then I'd like to do the same for Aasimar.

I do think the environment needs to respond to a guy with flaming hair or horns walking down the street in some cities (not all) to keep the simulation immersive. Zhentil Keep there probably wouldnt be a huge a problem for tieflings or genasi but the look is distinctive and would get you questioned..
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On indefinite real life hiatus

[KalevD]

Hey Thangorn,

I just saw this thread today and wanted to applaud your efforts to create a workable policy for the inclusion of plane-touched races as playable characters.

I've been trying to get my sister to apply for ALFA membership, but she's had her heart set on having a genasi or tiefling be her starting character.

I hope the work goes smoothly and that we get to hear more about it soon!
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I am the death that waits below the waves, I am the betrayer who's hubris sank a city, I am the flame of revenge who will one day rule the Moonsea entire. I am Akempus, and I am eternal.