Cultural Traits

One of the most famous characters in fantasy literature is Aragorn, a human (more or less) that was raised by elves. Third Edition D&D, for all its flexibility, doesn't allow for such nuances as written. The official rules bunch together all elf traits, whether they stem from elf physiology, such as their enhanced senses, or from elf culture, such as their training with swords and bows. The other core races are afforded the same treatment. Provided here are the purely cultural aspects of the core races, balanced so as to be interchangeable. If you want to play a human character brought up by elves, all you have to do is swap the human traits listed below for the corresponding elf traits.

Humans
* 1 extra feat at 1st level.
* Automatic Language: Common.
* Bonus Languages: Any.
* Favored Class: Any.

Dwarves
* Weapon Familiarity: As dwarf.
* +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against orcs and goblinoids.
* +4 dodge bonus to AC against monsters of the giant type.
* Automatic Languages: Common and Dwarven.
* Bonus Languages: As dwarf.
* Favored Class: Fighter.

Elves
* Weapon Proficiency: As elf.
* Automatic Languages: Common and Elven.
* Bonus Languages: As elf.
* Favored Class: Wizard.

Gnomes
* Weapon Familiarity: As gnome.
* +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against kobolds and goblinoids.
* +4 dodge bonus to AC against monsters of the giant type.
* Automatic Languages: Common and Gnome.
* Bonus Languages: As gnome.
* Favored Class: Bard.

Halflings
* +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear.
* +1 racial bonus on attack rolls with thrown weapons and slings.
* Automatic Languages: Common and Halfling.
* Bonus Languages: As halfling.
* Favored Class: Rogue.

No such breakdowns are provided for half-elves, since it's generally assumed that they're raised by their human parent or community, and the half-human elf is described in the Dungeon Master's Guide for such half-breeds brought up by elves.

Half-orcs that grow up among humans can be distinguished from half-orcs taken in by orcs (half-human orcs) by removing Orc as an automatic language and letting them choose from among any bonus languages like a human.

Half-human orcs, on the other hand, receive Orc as an automatic language but are limited in choosing bonus languages as described in the Player's Handbook.

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