Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Uratoh 07-21-06, 01:23 AM	I was debating making a new rakshasa type for my Eberron game, and started working on it...and I got so into it I decided to, why not, show off my design process. First, at most basic, it's what all rakshasa have... Note, I excluded the Ak'chazar Rakshasa as it deviates from the 'Rakshasa Formula' on almost every count... Rakshasa (Monster Manual 3.5): Detect Thoughts, Change Shape 7th level Sorcerer equivelent DR 15/good+piercing 7 Outsider HD 40 ft movement bite and claw attacks +9 natural armor +4 racial bonus on bluff and disguise checks stats of 12/14/16/13/13/17 SR = 20 + HD Zakya Rakshasa (Eberron Campaign Setting): Detect Thoughts, Change Shape 7th level Fighter equivelent DR 15/Good/Piercing 7 outsider HD 50 ft movement bite and claw attacks Spell-like abilities +9 natural armor +4 racial on bluff and diplomacy stats of 20/14/20/13/13/11 SR = 15 + HD Naztharune Rakshasa (Monster Manual 3): Detect Thoughts, Change Shape 7th level rogue/4th level shadowdancer equivelent (roughly) DR 15/good+piercing 11 Outsider HD 40 ft movement claw attacks Improved Evasion +5 natural armor +4 racial on bluff and diplomacy stats of 14/20/18/15/11/15 The Naztharune is sort of an outlier, but even in him we can see some common rules to the rakshasa...this is essentially the 'least common denominator' of the rakshasa...what they all have. Generic Rakshasa Detect Thoughts, Change Shape basic abilities/qualafications of a 7th level class DR 15/Good+Piercing 7 Oursider HD 40 ft movement rate bite and claw attacks* +9 natural armor* +4 racial on bluff and diplomacy stats of 12/14/16/13/13*/11 SR 15+HD *The Naztharune deviates from these, but he also deviates in being a 'prestiege class' as well as a normal class, so I'm fudging the LCD because even the Ak'char follows them.
Uratoh 07-21-06, 01:31 AM	And now the complex choices of skills... Rakshasa: Bluff, Disguise, Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Sense Motive, Spot Zakya: Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Diplomacy, Disguise, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot Naztharune: Balance, Bluff, Disguise, Escape Artist, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Spot, Tumble From this, we gather the following... Generic Rakshasa: Bluff, Disguise, Listen, Move Silently, Sense Motive*, Spot *As before, the Naztharune appears to have been 'streamlined' to cope with its massive leeway in abilities, again the Ak'cha has Sense Motive Aside from Concentration on the Zakya, which was obviously added in due to its spell like abilities and front line fighter status, and Perform, which makes no real sense (likely a leftover from 2nd edition), every rakshasa skill not shared by the race was drawn from their themed class.
Uratoh 07-21-06, 01:32 AM	Now, to actually apply the 'template' to a class...in this case, the Warlock (Complete Arcane). The Warlock gains these abilities over its first 7 levels, which are candidates for 'rakshasaism': Eldritch Blast, 4d6 4 Invocations, 3 Least and one Lesser (or 4 Least) Decieve Item, the ability to take 10 on a Use Magic Device check. Detect Magic at will, CL = class level DR 2/Cold Iron It gains the following class skills not on the 'Rakshasa List': Concentration, Craft, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (Planes, Arcana, Religion), Profession, Spellcraft, Use Magic Device Now, we have to consider what abilities from the class keep the theme without being excessively complex. The 'core' of the warlock class is its blast and invocations, so they're in as a gurantee. Decieve item is often seen used by a warlock PC of mine, but for creating a monster type, it only makes things more confusing, so I'm personally nixing it. Detect Magic is unobtrusive and meshes well with Detect Thoughts. I'm going to make its CL a static 18, equal to detect thoughts. DR 2/cold iron is overly complex and will make no difference really. Skills: to function as close/mid range will require the Concentration skill. Craft and Profession aren't needed as rakshasa 'are' their purpose. Jump seems out of place, as does intimidate. Use Magic Device is unneeded for the same reason we're leaving off Decieve Item. This leaves us with Concentration, Spellcraft, and the three knowledge skills. Stats: A warlock really only needs dex and cha to function well, so I'm arbitrarily setting them at 18. the Zakya took a 12 to a 20 (and strength at that!), so I don't think this breaks the 'rules'. Up next, the finalized Warlock Rakshasa!
Uratoh 07-21-06, 01:47 AM	Warlock Rakshasa Size/Type: Medium Outsider (Native) Hit Dice: 7d8+21 (52 hp) Initiative: +4 Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares) Armor Class: 23 (+4 Dex, +9 natural), touch 14, flatfooted 19 Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+8 Attack: Claw +8 Melee (1d4+1) or Eldritch Blast +11 Ranged Touch (4d6) Full Attack: 2 Claws +8 Melee (1d4+1) and Bite +3 Melee (1d6) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Special Attacks: Detect Thoughts, Eldritch Blast Special Qualities: Change Shape, Detect Magic, DR 15/Good and Piercing, Darkvision 60 ft, Invocations, Outsider Traits, SR 22 Saves: Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +6 Abilities: Str 12, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 16, Wis 13, Cha 18 Skills: Bluff +18, Concentration +13, Diplomacy +8, Disguise +18 (+20 acting), Knowledge (Arcana) +13, Knowledge (Planes) +13, Knowledge (Religion) +13, Listen +11, Move Silently +14, Sense Motive +11, Spellcraft +15, Spot +11 Feats: Challenge Rating: 7-8 Treasure: Standard Alignment: Always Lawful Evil Advancement: By Character Class Note that the Rakshasa recieves the standard +10 on disguise when using its Change Shape ability, +4 bluff/disguise when reading someone's mind, etc. I didn't pick the Eldritch Invocations, because it's only 4 and give a bit of customization room. I can toss up some suggestions if wanted. The Rakshasa is treated as a 7th level warlock for purposes of eldritch blast damage and invocations known, if he takes levels in warlock he does blast damage and knows invocations as his warlock lv +7. The caster level for his Detect Thoughts and Detect Magic spell-like abilities are 18, and both are useable at will. Also, note I increased its Int so it could max the ranks in all its skills, and due to its high Cha and two bonuses from Synergy, I included its Diplomacy modifier.
BladefellMaster 07-21-06, 01:37 PM	I remember seeing in 2nd ed about how the raksasha were spirits. How about doing a raksasha with more etheral/ghostly properties? I know outsiders are not really supposed to be able to become unead so I'm not suggesting a true ghost raksasha, although that would be interesting and scary fo the poor characters, just something similar. Have you ever seen the cartoon Danny Phantom? Maybe something like that. Or maybe a shadowy raksaha with the ability to assume shadow form temporarily.
Uratoh 10-12-06, 09:18 PM	I liked my insane ramblings here, so giving it one more chance to shine.