Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GoriceXII 10-16-07, 04:54 AM	Just wondering if anyone has any tips for the use of these creatures to make them effective and interesting in a game session.
Dead_Weasel 10-16-07, 11:24 PM	I used one once, many ages ago. The body theft is a decent infiltration method, or just a confusing tactic. They really shine with a staff, but without one they seem a little vanilla to me. Janni are not overwhelmingly useful in combat, but have some uses outside of it. Yak folk just feel like the rakshasa's pushover little brother to me.
GoriceXII 10-17-07, 07:16 AM	What would people recommend in place of them, for about 8-10 CR?
Igfig 10-17-07, 04:52 PM	I would suggest looking at the adventure "Dread Pagoda of the Inscrutable Ones" in Dungeon #147. It features yak folk quite heavily, in a flavorful manner. They come across as some sort of evil Buddhist monks, leading an ascetic lifestyle in search of enlightenment while enslaving the weaker races that come to them seeking the same. If you're asking because you're already considering running that adventure, then I'd suggest looking up info on Buddhism and trying to imagine what an evil Buddhist could be like.
PhaedrusXY 10-17-07, 06:08 PM	What would people recommend in place of them, for about 8-10 CR?Nothing. I think they are freakin' awesome. :D
baby_kamikaize_kobold 10-18-07, 06:35 PM	There's always the minotaur
GoriceXII 10-19-07, 10:06 PM	Minotaurs can't take over your body though, nor do they (as far as I know) have cool spell like abilities.
Meep222 10-25-07, 11:35 AM	They don't need 'em. Minotaur Half-Dragon Fighter X, Even if you use the base minotaur stats you'll get a stregnth of 29 or so as a CR 9. Have it specialize in natural weapons (taking the Dragon Tail feat), possibly take the Improved natural attack feat for bite and claws, or the Multiattack and Imp. Multiattack feats. Five natural attacks (Bite, 2 Claws, Gore and a Tail) each at the highest attack bonus or with some extra damage on the Bite and Claws. Give it a potion of Enlage person and it starts to get scary.
PhaedrusXY 10-26-07, 12:25 PM	And the Yak Folk uses his Staff of Holy Word to incapacitate the Half-Dragon Minotaur, and steal its body. Then he summons a Janni to bring him a drink to cool off after all his hard work. That's why Yak Folk are cooler than minotaurs. :D
Ryyam 10-26-07, 08:36 PM	I used them in a beefed version of Dread Pagoda of the Inscrutable Ones and found them rather powerful - I made one a powerful warmage instead of the vanilla sorcerer - using alot of arcane strikes. However the real stars of that 'trilogy' were the Spawn of Sehan
GoriceXII 10-26-07, 11:57 PM	Some really good ideas--I'm still working on the Dread Pagoda so this is helpful. And yes, the Spawn can be startlingly effective, specially when pcs don't realize how potent the stuff really is.
Hammerhead 10-27-07, 03:04 PM	I think they should be led by a Rakshasa since they have a similar flavor
The_Great_Green_God 12-04-07, 09:26 AM	Some really good ideas--I'm still working on the Dread Pagoda so this is helpful. And yes, the Spawn can be startlingly effective, specially when pcs don't realize how potent the stuff really is. I'm glad to see folks actually making it as far as the Pagoda. Anyhow here's some free bonus material (http://dungeonmagazine.pbwiki.com/Dread%20Pagoda%20of%20the%20Inscrutable% 20Ones) assuming you can still use it. Matt Lead Design on The Dread Pagoda, Patron Saint of Yak Folk
The_Great_Green_God 12-04-07, 09:34 AM	I think they should be led by a Rakshasa since they have a similar flavor I thought they both had a very similar flavor too, though with slightly different motives and M.O.s. I wrote up an ecology article for the the yaks including a bit about their professional friendship rakshasa and utter contempt of neogi slavers (whom they view as honorless thieves and muderers) to go with the arc, alas it was not accepted. Matt