Elan as a template rather than a race - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Elan as a template rather than a race

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Dec 30, 2004 21:54:33 So I was looking over stuff for our dark sun campaign, and while looking at the Elan I was thinking "hmm, well if they're created from humans . . . what's to stop them being created from dwarves or half-elves or anything else for that matter?" So then I thought that maybe Elan are better off as a template added to other races. So I decided to treat them as such. I apply their ability adjustments, I add on their inborn power, the type changes to aberration, their max age becomes the Elan max age plus the remainder of their max age from the previous "life." I figured the process could only be applied to humanoid mammals (so no kreen, pterrans or bird-men). One thing I wasn't sure was whether or not a newly-created elan would revert back to 1st level in classes or if they'd keep on going. I'm leaning towards the reversion as it has the whole "new lease on life" thing going for it. Figured the ceremony would require a huge cost in XP or something. I dunno. Thoughts, anyone?

nic
#2
zombiegleemax
Dec 30, 2004 23:37:58 Well the theroy always was that it only worked on humans for some reason. But there's nothing really stoping you. If it's a full on just slap the Elan ablties onto a race I'd put it at +1 ECL.
#3
zombiegleemax
Dec 31, 2004 14:25:46 But Elans have a level adjustment of 0, which means their pros and cons balance out. Still, you may have a good point.....
#4
superpriest
Dec 31, 2004 17:06:36
But Elans have a level adjustment of 0, which means their pros and cons balance out. Still, you may have a good point.....

An LA of +0 doesn't mean a net of 0 abilities. Humans have no penalty that "balances" their bonus feat, and dwarves have only a slower speed to match the many bonuses they get. You can't add the abilities of two LA +0 races and still call it LA +0; it's certainly more powerful than either of the two component races.
#5
franco_un-american
Jan 22, 2005 18:12:42 Dark Sun Elans have LA+1, due to replacing -2 Cha with +2 Wis
#6
zombiegleemax
Jan 22, 2005 19:35:18 I'm looking at their entry in the Expanded Psionics Handbook right now, as I'm typing this, and the level adjustment on the Elan is +0. Replacing one "mental" stat with another of equal value is a balanced trade. If it were a strength increase, you would be right.
#7
zombiegleemax
Jan 23, 2005 2:44:59 What's being said is that expanded psi book elan has a -2 cha. The dark sun elan has no -2 cha, instead having a +2 wis. So it's losing a penalty and gaining a bonus. so it's not a balanced trade.
#8
zombiegleemax
Jan 23, 2005 20:21:39 I see. I wasn't sure which one was being referenced. If it's the Dragon Magazine Elan, it goes without saying that there's a level adjustment, but if one was going to use Elan as a template, I would definetely use the ExPHB version, to avoid big level adjustment. But I can see it either way, I guess, . It'll be cool either way.
#9
superpriest
Jan 26, 2005 12:34:17 I don't know if you read my post, but if you add on all the race's adjustments and abilities, you should probably have a LA no matter what.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Dec 30, 2004 21:54:33	So I was looking over stuff for our dark sun campaign, and while looking at the Elan I was thinking "hmm, well if they're created from humans . . . what's to stop them being created from dwarves or half-elves or anything else for that matter?" So then I thought that maybe Elan are better off as a template added to other races. So I decided to treat them as such. I apply their ability adjustments, I add on their inborn power, the type changes to aberration, their max age becomes the Elan max age plus the remainder of their max age from the previous "life." I figured the process could only be applied to humanoid mammals (so no kreen, pterrans or bird-men). One thing I wasn't sure was whether or not a newly-created elan would revert back to 1st level in classes or if they'd keep on going. I'm leaning towards the reversion as it has the whole "new lease on life" thing going for it. Figured the ceremony would require a huge cost in XP or something. I dunno. Thoughts, anyone? nic
#2 zombiegleemax Dec 30, 2004 23:37:58	Well the theroy always was that it only worked on humans for some reason. But there's nothing really stoping you. If it's a full on just slap the Elan ablties onto a race I'd put it at +1 ECL.
#3 zombiegleemax Dec 31, 2004 14:25:46	But Elans have a level adjustment of 0, which means their pros and cons balance out. Still, you may have a good point.....
#4 superpriest Dec 31, 2004 17:06:36	But Elans have a level adjustment of 0, which means their pros and cons balance out. Still, you may have a good point..... An LA of +0 doesn't mean a net of 0 abilities. Humans have no penalty that "balances" their bonus feat, and dwarves have only a slower speed to match the many bonuses they get. You can't add the abilities of two LA +0 races and still call it LA +0; it's certainly more powerful than either of the two component races.
#5 franco_un-american Jan 22, 2005 18:12:42	Dark Sun Elans have LA+1, due to replacing -2 Cha with +2 Wis
#6 zombiegleemax Jan 22, 2005 19:35:18	I'm looking at their entry in the Expanded Psionics Handbook right now, as I'm typing this, and the level adjustment on the Elan is +0. Replacing one "mental" stat with another of equal value is a balanced trade. If it were a strength increase, you would be right.
#7 zombiegleemax Jan 23, 2005 2:44:59	What's being said is that expanded psi book elan has a -2 cha. The dark sun elan has no -2 cha, instead having a +2 wis. So it's losing a penalty and gaining a bonus. so it's not a balanced trade.
#8 zombiegleemax Jan 23, 2005 20:21:39	I see. I wasn't sure which one was being referenced. If it's the Dragon Magazine Elan, it goes without saying that there's a level adjustment, but if one was going to use Elan as a template, I would definetely use the ExPHB version, to avoid big level adjustment. But I can see it either way, I guess, . It'll be cool either way.
#9 superpriest Jan 26, 2005 12:34:17	I don't know if you read my post, but if you add on all the race's adjustments and abilities, you should probably have a LA no matter what.