So we're 5 or 6 meets into my first d&d campaign (3.5e), and I'm really enjoying playing my 5th level elven druid. However, the chance that they die at the next meet is pretty high*.
I'm not too sad though, because I discovered the Aarakocra race. As a huge bird lover, I really really really want to play this race, probably as another druid or as a ranger. It's just a 5e race, though, so I'm looking for recommendations as to making an Aarakocra race in 3.5e- racial stat bonuses, abilities, and the like.
I've only ever made my druid (and that was with quite a bit of help), and I've only ever played 3.5e, so I wouldn't exactly call myself experienced xD. Thanks!
*I'm talking wild shape as an eagle flying over a pool of magma with an angry fire elemental that nobody knows how to fight throwing fireballs at me exclusively kind of chances.
Best Answer
While, as The Vagrant Dog’s answer notes, aarakocra are a “playable” race in 3.5e, that is almost a technicality: their LA +2 means you are allowed to play them under the rules, but that you basically never should. Level adjustment, if you are unfamiliar, means you count as a higher level (2 higher, in this case) without actually being higher level. In theory this is done because the race is more powerful than average (e.g. aarakocra can fly, which most races cannot and is a pretty big advantage), but ultimately it is almost never worth it. In fact, it’s almost-always crippling. LA means you have drastically fewer hp, far weaker saves, attacks, and skills, and you have fewer and weaker feats.
Instead, since you are a lover of birds, and not necessarily aarakocra in particular, I would point out the raptorans in Races of the Wild. These can only glide, not truly fly, until 5th level, but they are LA +0—meaning they are playable without any adjustment. That makes them vastly superior to aarakocra, and really, they’re a quite solid race. You will most likely fit in with your party far better, and have a much better time, playing a raptoran rather than an aarakocra.
In fact, in my games, if a player wants to play an aarakocra, my answer would be “OK... as long as you use the stats and rules for raptorans.”