Examine Svirfneblin build

[Archnon]

So I know this has been a forum topic already and I doubt I will get an answer here but I would love to see the Svirf traits reevaluated in light of balance.

As a reminder: Svirfneblin
STR -2, DEX +2, WIS +2, CHA -4
Hide +2
Saving Throw Bonus (Universal) +2
+1 AC (untyped)
Darkvision
Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day Invisibility
Spell Resistance: 11+level (Capped at 32)
ECL +2

To compare: Duergar
Retains all base racial abilities, except the stats change
CON +2, CHA -4, STR +2
Listen +1, Move Silently +4, Spot +1
Darkvision
Immunity: Paralysis
Immunity: Poison
Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day Invisibility
Savvy Traders: Duergars deal with all NPC merchants as if they were the same race for determining their reaction.
ECL +1

To Compair: Drow
Retains all base racial abilities, except the stats change
DEX +2, CON -2, INT +2, CHA +2
Darkvision
Spell Resistance: 11+level (capped at 32)
Spell-Like Ability: Darkness with CL equal to Character Level (5 turns cooldown)
Bonus Feat: Rapid Reload
ELC +2

So I went with the clear race based comparisons as these are the dark versions of surface kin and the surface kin have comparable bonuses and all three have race specific items.
Key points:
* Only svirf has -6 to stats.
* the Svirf stats, unlike the drow and dueregar bonuses do not lend themselves to any builds, especially given the charisma hit. The only exception being monk, and then you are doubling up on the only thing worthwhile which is SR. Drow Dex/Int is good for almost anyone and they get gifts, Duregar +str/con is good for figher builds.
* The Drow have a +2 ecl but can move some of their negatives around using gifts to make for better builds

As a final piece of evidence this is not working well: there are almost no svirfs compared to the other UD races. Particularly active svirfs.

Some ideas, though not an exhaustive list:
* Make Svirfs not leave tracks (this should happen no matter what, the race is designed to hide)
* Svirf gifts to shift your negatives/positives around
* +1ecl instead of two to even the attribute shifts up with duergar if not drow.
*

Thanks for your careful consideration in advance.

[Irongron]

I think they lost out quite badly when they were last nerfed of the AC bonus.

Approved






(...because of a shameless pro-gnome agenda?)