Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dog_O_War 07-29-07, 12:09 AM	this is a P.E.A.C.H. Avereans (like the name implies) are a flying race of men (credit Ogre Battle for the idea) I am developing for my campaign setting, Phenn. They are not flying elves, nor are they the gay (in my opinion) races of the wild one. They are humans with certain subtle bird-like features and looks. There are five different types of Avereans, referred to by their bird-like heritage. The basic statistics I have for them are as follows. These are traits all Avereans share, modified by their sub-race; Medium size Base land speed of 30 feet. +2 racial bonus to spot checks. -2 Con penalty. Base Fly speed of 30 feet (average). Avereans carrying a load heavier than light cannot fly, but may glide at a fly speed 20 feet, falling 5 feet per round. Avereans carrying a load heavier than medium or wearing heavy armour cannot fly, but still treat falls as 10 feet less for the perpose of taking falling damage. If an Avereans' wings are bound or held in any way, in these situations they lose all aforementioned benefits of flight. Avereans are considered unusual creatures for the pricing and construction of armour. Level adjustment: +1. Eagleborn are apart of the royal bloodline. They are the leaders and speakers of the Averean clans. +2 racial bonus to diplomacy checks. +2 racial bonus to handle animal checks (birds only). Eagleborn royals consider it a mark of prestige to own well trained birds. Powerful flyer(Ex): Eagleborn have a very muscular wing structure and treat medium loads as light, heavy loads as medium, and do not suffer a penalty for wearing heavy armour for the perposes of flight. Favored Class: Fighter. Falconborn are wild and most free-spirited of the avereans. They are the watchmen and protectors of the clans. +4 racial bonus to spot checks. This replaces the +2 bonus. Arial Superiority(Ex): Falconborn are the best natural flyers of all avereans. Their base fly speed is 40 feet with good manuverablity. Favored Class: Ranger. Owlborn are the sagacious advisors of the clans. They have a long tradition as the lore keepers of the averean race. Low-light vision. Lore Keeping: All Owlborn are trained in a knowledge skill, as such they may choose one knowledge skill as a class skill for any class they possess. If all knowledge concentrations are already class skills or they choose a knowledge skill that is already a class skill, they instead gain a +2 bonus. This bonus is only applicable at 1st level. +2 racial bonus on gather information checks. Owlborn are very inquisitive. +2 bonus on move silently checks. An Owlborns' natural grace and wing structure make them stealthy. Favored Class: Bard. Crowborn are the merchants and spies of the averean clans. Their secretive nature and suspicious tendancies make them distrusted even amoung their own kind. Traders: a Crowborns' nature is to trade, to socialize and to gossip. They start this from a very young age, growing up in the markets and ale houses of the clans, perfecting their tongue and wits to a strong degree. Crowborn have a +2 racial bonus to gather information checks and sense motive checks. If a Crowborn has an intelligence score of at least ten, he also recieves a bonus starting language. +2 racial bonus to hide checks and move silently checks. A Crowborns' dark feather colour and clandestine tendancies make them natural skulkers. Favored Class: Rogue. Doveborn are special omens amoung the Averean race. Every Doveborn is female; they are the spiritual leaders and healers of the clans. The Doveborn are taken at a young age to recieve the religious teachings of the clans' patron god. Healing Hands(Su): Doveborn have a close connection with the gods, granting them the unique and special gift of the healers' touch. Doveborn have a +2 racial bonus to heal checks (this is an extrodinary ability), also spells of the healing subtype are treated as +1 caster level. Finally, Doveborn have a natural healing pool equal to their character level plus charisma modifier (minimum 1). This healing pool works exactly as a paladins' lay on hands special ability. Birthrite: In order to be a Doveborn character, you must be female and must take the feat: Doveborn at first level. Favored Class: Cleric. This is the basics of the bird-men of Phenn. A better physical description is as follows; Avereans are of human height, but have the following weight modifier. MEN: base weight 100lbs. weight modifier is height modifier x (2d4-1)lbs. WOMEN: base weight 80lbs. weight modifier is height modifier x (2d4-1)lbs. An Avereans' wings extend from the back, at the shoulders. Avereans have hair colour within a tone of their wing colour, and often have feathers mixed in with their hair (feathery eyebrows is a very common trait amoungst the Owlborn). They have standard human facial features and eye colours. In my game Avereans speak Ariox, an ancient cross between auran and celian (the equivalent to common in my setting), which uses the celestial alphabet as a base. There is a forbidden language spoken by a few, called Ariezen, which has a similar cross but with different sentence structure, and uses the infernal alphabet.
Nathreet 07-29-07, 12:21 AM	Looks nice, good flavor, good balance IMO. I'd give the eagles a +2 to charisma and the owls a +2 to wisdom, perhaps with a penalty to some other stat. And I thought eagles were supposed to be the ones with the goot spot checks. But I'm just being nitpicky here. Good flying manuevaribility is the same as hummingbirds. I don't think that's what you want for a falcon. Falcons are supposed to be the fastest flyers. I'd maybe increase the speed even more (or not) and reduce the manuevaribility back down to average (same as birds). If you mean for other versions to be less manuevarable, give them poor manuevaribility. That'll still let them soar, turn and what not, kinda like a dragon. They just won't be able to make super sharp turns, etc. Exact turn radiuses, climb angles, etc. are in the DMG somewhere.
Dog_O_War 07-29-07, 03:06 AM	Thanks for the comments. I'd give the eagles a +2 to charisma and the owls a +2 to wisdom, perhaps with a penalty to some other stat. And I thought eagles were supposed to be the ones with the goot spot checks. But I'm just being nitpicky here. Good flying manuevaribility is the same as hummingbirds. I don't think that's what you want for a falcon. Falcons are supposed to be the fastest flyers. I'd maybe increase the speed even more (or not) and reduce the manuevaribility back down to average (same as birds). If you mean for other versions to be less manuevarable, give them poor manuevaribility. That'll still let them soar, turn and what not, kinda like a dragon. They just won't be able to make super sharp turns, etc. Exact turn radiuses, climb angles, etc. are in the DMG somewhere. I didn't want to use lots of stat bonuses and penalties; in earlier versions I did and all of a sudden they were too powerful and stat modification heavy - which isn't what I wanted. As for the spot thing; all birds have good eyesight, but I have been told (and looked with a little research) it is the falcons' eyesight that is most superior of all birds, so that is what I have given them. They are faster because it suits the falcon theme, and they are manueverable because of their roll as scouts in the races' long (and unwritten - so don't ask) history. Besides, manueverability can be increased with feats.
Dog_O_War 07-29-07, 03:14 AM	Oh yeah; as a side note (because I failed to include it in the main post) Doveborn are birthed to any mating pair. Also, there are no "half Avereans", as either half PHB race or half Eagleborn, half Crowborn, or any of the other combinations. They are either Eagleborn or Crowborn, or Human or Averean, or whatever any other combinations there are. You of course can still template them with half celestial or half draconic, I'm just getting at their are no Half-Avereans like there are Half-Orcs and Elves.
TempleofAsura 07-29-07, 05:02 PM	Looks nice, good flavor, good balance IMO. I'd give the eagles a +2 to charisma and the owls a +2 to wisdom, perhaps with a penalty to some other stat. And I thought eagles were supposed to be the ones with the goot spot checks. But I'm just being nitpicky here. Good flying manuevaribility is the same as hummingbirds. I don't think that's what you want for a falcon. Falcons are supposed to be the fastest flyers. I'd maybe increase the speed even more (or not) and reduce the manuevaribility back down to average (same as birds). If you mean for other versions to be less manuevarable, give them poor manuevaribility. That'll still let them soar, turn and what not, kinda like a dragon. They just won't be able to make super sharp turns, etc. Exact turn radiuses, climb angles, etc. are in the DMG somewhere. what's the worst maneuverability you can have and still hover? Because falcons can hover in place, and if he wants them to have as good as maneuverability as falcons, they need to be able to hover. I'm surprised hummingbirds don't have perfect maneuverability, they have really amazing maneuverability in real life. Is perfect maneuverability just reserved for creatures with supernaturally good flight? As for falcons being fast, yes they are incredibly so, they have been clocked at over 100mph, and I've heard claims that their top speeds closer to 200 in a dive. And on the eye site thing, yes the eye sight of most birds, and especially of raptors, is vastly superior to that of humans. Plus, I don't know if this applies specifically to raptors as well (it probably does) many birds can see more colors than humans can. I'm pretty much positive I read somewhere that raptors like most birds can see ultraviolet. Not that seeing more colors would give a stat bonus or anything in D&D, but the spot bonus that the race gets is appropriate, though I don't know that I'd just give falconborn a better spot than the others.
d24478667 07-29-07, 05:07 PM	What does the Doveborn feat do? Does it only make you a doveborn? I noticed the feat is missing. What are the requirements? Also, don't call something gay if you don't like it. That's derogatory to homosexual people.
Dog_O_War 07-29-07, 07:21 PM	What does the Doveborn feat do? Does it only make you a doveborn? I noticed the feat is missing. What are the requirements? Also, don't call something gay if you don't like it. That's derogatory to homosexual people. The Doveborn feat I alluded to in an earlier post is merely the vehicle to be a Doveborn, it confers no other benefit (currently). I was mulling the idea of a holy sisterhood prestige class (that is not the name, just the descriptor) for the Avereans, with being a doveborn one of the requirements. Also, I forgot I was on the internet, and thus have to appease everyone. Sorry about the gay comment; the Races of the Wild bird-people are Shipped High In Transit. Loophole found and exploited, with a bit of slang language history thrown in.
Dog_O_War 07-29-07, 07:44 PM	what's the worst maneuverability you can have and still hover? Because falcons can hover in place, and if he wants them to have as good as maneuverability as falcons, they need to be able to hover. Actually nearly all flyers in DnD can hover, if they take the appropriate feat (Hover). It says in the book you need a good manueverability to hover naturally; I didn't give them this manueverability because I thought falcons were superior flyers, I gave it to them because Falconborn have the best flight training from a young age. And on the eye site thing, yes the eye sight of most birds, and especially of raptors, is vastly superior to that of humans. Plus, I don't know if this applies specifically to raptors as well (it probably does) many birds can see more colors than humans can. I'm pretty much positive I read somewhere that raptors like most birds can see ultraviolet. Not that seeing more colors would give a stat bonus or anything in D&D, but the spot bonus that the race gets is appropriate, though I don't know that I'd just give falconborn a better spot than the others. I too have heard that some birds can see ultraviolet. on another note; to ease the Falconborn having a better spot bonus than the rest, some of that bonus is derived from training as a youth, like the improved manueverability. Also I would like the readers to note that Avereans and their racial types are not the birds themselves, and are only based loosely on the concept of their avian look-a-likes (except Doveborn obviously).
Supercupcake 07-29-07, 08:27 PM	Wow! Very well done! At first I was a bit scepticle of it I was like: "*Sigh* Another winged race... *Eyeroll*" But then I ended up loving it! Great work!
d24478667 07-30-07, 02:45 PM	Ah, thanks for clearing that up. And you don't have to appease everyone; you just want to offend as few people as possible.
Dog_O_War 08-01-07, 02:33 AM	To give you a bit of history on the Avereans and their place in Phenn; the Averean race dates back to the time of the dragon-mage war, where mortal men sought out god-like power with both holy and unholy magics. It was during this time that men of magic, keen on attaining the dragons' advantage of flight, worked many powerful rituals and spells to combine their mortal blood with that of birds - but only those kept strong with ties to outsiders - to gain this ability. This was to be the birth of the Avereans; Mages with the power to fly, with the power to dominate the dragons. The war was out of control; both sides using more and more drastic, more devistating, tactics and attacks to dominate and destroy each other. This was having a terrible affect on the surrounding landscape - as all of Phenn was at war. It was nearly 100 years since the first Averean was born, and it was during this time that a small group of them set to end the war - one way or another. A secret alliance with the dragons was enacted to destroy the other Avereans, as these war wizards had now even turned on their land-bound brethren. The end came and gone in but an instant, as the striking of a tinder-twig in a strong wind. Assassination of a grand scale took place, with no chance of counter-attack. Afterwards the alliance, and the war ended and the remaining Avereans left earthly Phenn and the magics which had devistated it. This was nearly three thousand years ago, at the time of the dragon-mage war and the rising of the old empires, and it is only now that the Avereans had begun returning to Phenn and to Eyrunia. The Avereans of modern Phenn come from the sky islands (credit Ogre Battle), the ancient home-fortresses of the mages during the dragon-mage war. Since then, the Averean race has lived a simple path, with family, friendship, and god the focus of their efforts, having only a brave few through out the generations as keepers of arcane magic - to remind the Avereans of the follies of their past, and to better protect against those ones who would seek its power once again. The Sky Islands are ancient wonders of Phenn created long ago; some are "anchored" magically to spots on Phenn, others float about the world like great ships, riding on the currents of the wind. The number of islands are small, but the exact amount remains unknown. Each island is usually quite large, able to host three or four clans of Avereans. These islands have varying geographies and climates, as were the whims and wishes of the mages who created them so very long ago. One final note on Avereans; every once in a while, say maybe one in onehundred born, a human - not an Averean - is birthed. This is another omen to the Avereans as it reminds them of their connection with the mortal races and humbles those who would begin to think of themselves as gods. Tell me what you guys think of their history; you can find the campaign setting they were created for here http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=885787
Dog_O_War 08-04-07, 10:42 PM	No comments or critiques? ah man... Anyways, I figured I would throw this out there; An exotic weapon for winged creatures, like Avereans. Something akin to a blade fixed to the joint of the wing, used in a dive to deal extra damage. I know this is more appropriate for the weapon and equipment section, but I will ask your thoughts on it here. So what do you think?
Dog_O_War 08-28-07, 06:47 PM	I'm gonna bump this to try and drum up some additional comments/critiques.
atomisk9455 10-08-07, 04:50 PM	:cool: i like your race can i have permission to use it? i think you should make one with barbarian fav class:D and a bump for you :bump:
atomisk9455 10-08-07, 07:00 PM	look at this pic http://laranesight.deviantart.com/art/Quetzal-Man-11289407 not mine
Dog_O_War 10-08-07, 11:51 PM	Yes, you may use it; anyone who likes this race may use it, as long as they bump this thread.
Kayli 10-09-07, 12:28 AM	I have to say that so far this is the best flying race I have seen so far so here is my Bump, cause I am definitly going to be using these sometime! now for my input: I realy like the idea of the birthright feat. instead of makeing each of the varients a subrace (with the doveborn as an exception), make each of the varients the result of a birhtright feat. This makes the race as a whole more consistant through out. the Birthright feat would supply the differing bonus' that the varient has from the base race. So you would have one Race, with a choice of one birthright feat (racial bonus feat), that would determine the individuals place in the averean society. also, I would add a statement that the doveborn healing hands does not stack with the paladon ability "lay on hands." Edit PS: I think you mean to say: sagacious
Arscura 10-09-07, 04:46 AM	Looks like a race I created in homebrew. Not posted here though, I have some bonuses though. It sounds to me to be slightly weak for some of its sub-races for a +1 LA, but I like it.
Dog_O_War 10-09-07, 12:12 PM	Originally posted by Kayli I have to say that so far this is the best flying race I have seen so far so here is my Bump, cause I am definitly going to be using these sometime! now for my input: I realy like the idea of the birthright feat. instead of makeing each of the varients a subrace (with the doveborn as an exception), make each of the varients the result of a birhtright feat. This makes the race as a whole more consistant through out. the Birthright feat would supply the differing bonus' that the varient has from the base race. So you would have one Race, with a choice of one birthright feat (racial bonus feat), that would determine the individuals place in the averean society. also, I would add a statement that the doveborn healing hands does not stack with the paladon ability "lay on hands." Edit PS: I think you mean to say: sagacious Thanks for the imput. I won't change it over to birthrite feats for my game given the history they follow, but I will make suggestions for you to do so. First, the "basic" averean is slightly weak then for an LA+1, but is still too powerful for no LA. Maybe give them a bonus to saves, like halflings have - +1 to all saves. This wouldn't represent how lucky they are, but rather a natural resiliency they are born with. Maybe a +2 bonus to listen or spell-craft checks as well. I wouldn't go into stat bonuses, as these quickly become out of hand; the original design I had for them had bonuses and penalties, which proved either overpowering or to bad of a hinderance. Thanks for the edit - I forget how to spell certain words sometimes (and it bothers the hell outta me). Also, it wouldn't matter if the doveborn healing pool did or did not stack with the paladin special ability, as they would still be two seperate pools, with standard actions to use either one, a doveborn would just have a slightly larger pool. At 5th level with a 14 cha it is only 7 points - not that big of a deal; maybe they should get a slight boost too if being one requires a feat... ...something like: Choosen of <insert name of god here> (Su): as a champion of <blank>, the doveborn are always proficient with their god's favored weapon(extrodinary ability), and recieve a +1 divine bonus to armour class.
atomisk9455 10-09-07, 04:51 PM	barbarian woud be cool and what color are thare wings generaly:confused:
Kayli 10-10-07, 12:32 AM	This is how I would modify the race, I have removed all the fluff since there really is no need to repeat it here. I will also not reprint the rules and discriptions of Special Abilities as they are remaining the same form above. When I have some more time, I will tweek them some more, with new edits in a diff color. Averean: Medium size Base land speed of 30 feet. +2 racial bonus to spot checks. +2 Dex -2 Con penalty. Fly 30 (average) LA +1 Bonus Feat: Birthright Only Avereans may take a birthright feat. Only 1 birthright feat may be tacken and it must be taken at character creation. Crowborn Prereq: Bonus: +2 racial bonus to gather information, sense motive, hide and move silently checks. If a Crowborn has an intelligence score of at least 10, he also receives a bonus starting language. Favored Class: Rogue. Doveborn Prereq: Must be female Bonus: gives Healing Hands(Su) ability, Favored Class: Cleric Eagleborn Prereq: Bonus: +2 racial bonus to diplomacy and to handle animal checks (birds only). Gains Racial trait Powerful flyer(Ex) and Fighter as a Favored Class. Falconborn Prereq: Bonus: +4 racial bonus to spot checks. Gains Arial Superiority(Ex) and Ranger as a Favored Class. Owlborn Prereq: Bonus: Low-light vision. Gains Lore Keeping(Ex). +2 racial bonus on gather information and on move silently checks. Favored Class: Bard.
Arscura 10-10-07, 06:07 AM	First, the "basic" averean is slightly weak then for an LA+1, but is still too powerful for no LA. Maybe give them a bonus to saves, like halflings have - +1 to all saves. This wouldn't represent how lucky they are, but rather a natural resiliency they are born with. As said I made a likewise variant. They have +2 to Reflex saves, because of their wings, just like Lizardfolk have a bonus.
Dog_O_War 10-10-07, 11:30 AM	I never realized I had not given a description of them. They have fair to dark skin, and appear to be of average human build. Wing colour varies amoung the different races of avereans; they are as follows. Eagleborn have golden-feathered wings. They often have a few feathers mixed in with their hair (that is, the hair on the top of their head). Falconborn have brown to a varying white-gray feathered wings. They often have short feathers growing from their elbows, and usually have alot of feathers mixed in with their hair (like the eagleborn). Owlborn have the widest range of feather colours, from a range of browns and grays, to white - this colouring is shared by the entire family. A unique trait of the owlborn are small feathers mixed with their eyebrows; they never have feathers growing out of their scalp. Crowborn have black-feathered wings. they always have black hair, often with a few feathers mixed in. Doveborn have beautiful white to gray-white wings. they lack feathers anywhere else. Humans born to avereans lack wings - along with averean racial traits, but often have the same feathered markings of their parents. The reason Avereans do not have barbarian as a favored class is because they are an advanced society, despite there simple living style. Again, I thank you people for ressurecting this thread and taking an interest.
atomisk9455 10-10-07, 05:44 PM	can i make a variant like this Ravenborn -2 wis +2 spot and intimidate?
HCL 10-10-07, 06:53 PM	great stuff :) whats your favorite ogre battle installment I have OB64 and tactics (for gba) and love them both :) if you have the Miniatures handbook, favored soul seems closer to what you are looking for with doveborn (angel knights? :D)
Dog_O_War 10-12-07, 01:05 PM	My favorite instalment of Ogre battle was March of the Black Queen for the SNES (I just wish I could find a legit copy with an intact box - got it on emulator though). I've got Ogre Battle 64 which I also really liked. I don't use alot of the extra classes in my setting, the favored soul being one of them (doesn't fit the confines of the world). I was striving for a race that did have a closer connection with the divine though. On Phenn (my game setting) most divine powers have a weakened connection with the realm (which translates to a -1 caster level for most clerics and paladins, as well as certain PrsC, druids, and rangers). The doveborn of Phenn have a +1 caster level with cleric or paladin levels. On a side note**I have been working on compensating for this caster level penalty; so far I've just thrown gold at it, but this is a temporary solution. For those of you wishing to modify the avereans I have presented; of course you can - this is your perogative as DM. Know this though; what I have presented here follows Phenn and the averean history - this is why they are not heavily stat-modified, as they are winged humans (the con penalty was to represent some of the bird-like features applied, mainly hollow bones [and to help balance the ability to fly]). Also, I only created the four presented (with the doveborn being the special exception), as these were the most Iconic (and so that I didn't completely rip off ogre battle - eagleborn is the exception). I will offer this suggestion though for those of you trying to make your own variants; steer away from stat mods - they too quickly become out of hand.
atomisk9455 10-12-07, 05:49 PM	http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi22.photobucket.com% 2Falbums%2Fb302%2FCrazyPeopleHaveMoreFun %2FAnime%2520Animal%2Feagle.jpg&searchTerm=anime%20man&pageOffset=14 ;)
HCL 10-12-07, 08:49 PM	http://luct.tacticsogre.com/characters/sleonard.gif they look a bit more like this
atomisk9455 10-12-07, 10:16 PM	EWWWWWWWW!!! :eek:
Kelmourne 11-29-07, 08:16 PM	atomisk, is your picture from Howl's moving castle? That was a good movie. Princess Mononoke was better though.
Dracomortis 11-29-07, 08:20 PM	atomisk, is your picture from Howl's moving castle? That was a good movie. Princess Mononoke was better though. I can't say whether it was inspired by the movie or not, but that's not Howl himself (or rather, if it is, the artist has used quite a bit of artistic license). Of course, it's been a few months since I saw that movie, so I could be wrong.
Kelmourne 12-08-07, 01:42 AM	I seem to remember howl's clothing looking like that and the fact that the more he transformed, the more like the bird he became. Also his hair was blonde but it started changing colour. Anyways it seems to fit with the race.
atomisk9455 12-12-07, 05:06 PM	no its just one i found
Kelmourne 12-12-07, 07:17 PM	Anyways, the race seems a little weak for Lvl.Adj +1
Dog_O_War 12-13-07, 10:12 AM	It's the flight; they fly with an average manueverability. Flight alone is nearly worth an LA, but since most fly as good as or better than a bird, I figured it was worth a +1 to level adjustment.
Kelmourne 12-13-07, 09:43 PM	I've discussed this thouroughly and playtested this and the ability to fly isn't that powerful if you make it so they can only fly for a limited amount of time.
atomisk9455 02-09-08, 10:57 AM	:bump: :]