How about this for a race for my ninja? Drow are level 2 offset, but the lesser version is level 0 offset.
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Lesser Versions
As an alternative to the use of negative level adjustments to offset racial level adjustments at the lowest character levels, this variant offers different versions of powerful races that aren't as powerful. A "lesser drow," for example, doesn't have all the traits and abilities of the drow described elsewhere in this chapter, but she can be played as a 1st-level character right alongside characters of other, more standard races. Since such characters never have to worry about level adjustments, they are sometimes more enjoyable to play than a character with a negative level adjustment, even if they lack some exciting features of the race.
If you use these lesser racial versions in your campaign, you should use them across the board -- for NPCs as well as player characters. Thus, a party that includes a lesser drow should never encounter drow from the Monster Manual in your game. Instead, all the drow in your campaign should be lesser drow. Of course, nobody calls them "lesser drow," since all drow have the same racial characteristics in the game.
Lesser Drow: Lesser drow have the following racial traits.
Racial Abilities: These traits are in addition to the standard elf abilities in the Player's Handbook, except where noted.
+2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution: The lesser drow have ruthlessly selected for agility at the expense of hardiness over countless generations. These adjustments replace the ability adjustments given for elves in the Player's Handbook.
Darkvision: Lesser drow can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and lesser drow can function just fine with no light at all. This ability replaces the low-light vision noted for elves in the Player's Handbook.
Weapon Proficiency: Lesser drow are automatically proficient with the hand crossbow, rapier, and short sword. These proficiencies replace those of standard elves.
+2 racial bonus on Will saves against spells and spell-like effects.
Spell-Like Abilities: A lesser drow with a Charisma score of at least 10 has the following spell-like abilities: 1/day -- dancing lights, daze, touch of fatigue. Caster level equals the lesser drow's class levels.
Light Blindness: Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds lesser drow for 1 round. On subsequent rounds, they are dazzled as long as they remain in the affected area.
Favored Class: Wizard (male) or cleric (female). This trait replaces the favored class entry for elves in the Player's Handbook.
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Last edited December 4, 2020 12:22 am