Bear-Man race [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bear-Man race [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
fuzzycrusader
01-03-08, 11:12 PM This is something I've been toying with for a while, I know I can't play an actual Grizzly or anything, but I figure this is the next best thing. A Race of Bear people.

Ursa(singular Ursan) are a race of nomads who travel through the forests and across tundra in small family groups. They aren't very skilled hunters, but they occasionally fish or scavange a recent kill from a predator. Ursa feed primarily on plant matter, and they definitly aren't picky eaters. They are known for their large stature, usually ranging from 6 1/2 to 8 feet tall and weighing anywhere from 300-450 pounds.

Despite their size however, Ursa are a peaceful people who attack onl if provoked or to defend hearth and home. In combat they prefer to roar at their opponents to frighten them. If that fails they charge foreward with their clubs or other typically wooden weapons.

Ursan Racial Traits
- +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma
Ursa are ferocious fighters and tenacious survivors, but they lack finese both in movement and social graces.
- Medium: As medium creatures, Ura have no special bonuses or penalties due to sie.
- Ursan base land speed is 30 feet
- Low Light Vision: An Ursan can see twice as far as human in starlight, moonliht, torchlight, and similar conditions of por illumination. She retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these circumstances.
- +2 racial bonus on Spot and listen checks: Ursa have keen senses that allow them to survive in the wild
- +2 racial bonus on search checks in a woodland environment. Ursa are skilled at finding diferent herbs and vegitation they might use for food.
- +2 on survival checks
- Automatic languages: common and sylvan. Bonus languages: Goblin, Orc, Gnoll, Terran, Elven
- Spell like abilities 1/day Cause Fear. The Ursan lets out a tremendous roar that strikes fear into the hearts of many creatures. The subject must be able to hear to Ursan for this effect to work.
- Favored Class- Barbarian

im new at this kind of stuff, so feed back and suggestions are most welcolme!
Pandapeep
01-04-08, 12:43 AM I think these sound fun, but they'd need at least a +1 adjustment.
tenguroEd
01-04-08, 01:32 AM maybe give them a bonus with wooden weapons, like a +1 racial bonus.
Silverthumb
01-04-08, 12:56 PM If you don't want a Level adjustment(which, as written, your Ursa will need), you might try the Shifter from Eberron. They're descended from Lycanthropes, and as such, you could very easily be descended from a Werebear, just because you say so. ;)

I've built a Bear-themed character once before, and here's a list of what I used to build him:

-Razorclaw Shifter
You get a claw attack when you Shift, and you can take a feat that also gives you a Bite attack

-Bear Totem Barbarian
You lose your speed bonus but gain Improved Grapple for free

-Weretouched Master
PrC from Eberron Campaign Setting, it'll help you get a better feel for using the Shifter Race as Lycanthropes. Plus, you'll get a badass set of ability bonuses while shifting

-Bear Warrior
This PrC's something you can overlook, as it takes a while for you to get to the really good stuff. Basically, as a Barbarian, you can turn into a Bear while raging. At level 10, you can turn into a Dire Bear. From Complete Warrior

-Animal(Bear) Lord
From Complete Adventurer, IIRC. Basically built for Druids & Rangers, but you can take it as well without much trouble, as a Barbarian. You'll be able to summon a small number of bears while getting several bear-themed abilities. Its not meant for Barbarians, but its just so cool.

Other than those, feats that improve your Grappling are very nice. Look into Shifter feats, they're really cool.

I noticed you wanted to Roar, I'd say Intimidating Rage or Ki Shout(Oriental Adventures campaign setting) are going to be good for you. Best of all, you don't have to do it only 1/day.
Crimson_Concerto
01-04-08, 01:56 PM *looks at the title*

Okay, so are they half Bear and half Man-Race?
No, wait, I think they're half Man-Bear and half Race.
Maybe they're half Man and half Bear-Race...

Sorry, I couldn't resist. It was the first thing to pop into my head when I saw the title.
Cookie for anybody who gets the reference...

Anyways, I think they're too much for LA +0. One problem I have with it is it has more than one stat bonus, and I can't think of any LA +0 race with a bonus to more than one stat... Well not a balanced one anyways. There are the Gensai, I think, but I never liked that because they were the same as the +1 LA version only without the Outsider type, as though that were the only thing that made them a +1 LA to begin with...

I also for some reason don't feel like that SLA is in theme. I'd rather it be a Supernatural ability that could be activated as a Swift action. Making it an SLA means that it's useless at higher levels since the save DC won't increase any, and it also means it takes a standard action to activate, and it's never a smart move for a warrior-type character to spend an action casting a debuff when he could be attacking... Also, the penalty to CHA hurts its usefulness further by making the save lower.

Try giving them one stat bonus (either STR or CON) and one stat penalty (DEX, not CHA) and changing Cause Fear to a Supernatural ability that can be activated once per day as a Swift action and give it the [Sonic] descriptor.
AtsuiShoto
01-04-08, 03:32 PM I know I can't play an actual Grizzly or anythingWait... why not? You're already delving into homebrew territory here, so why not figure out how to make a grizzly work? Whether or not you can play a grizzly is totally up to you and the other people in the gaming group.
slwoyach
01-04-08, 04:39 PM "Bear-****er, do you need assistance?!"

I like the idea for the race, but I think you should drop cause fear and limit all their bonuses to their favored environment (usually forest, but sometimes arctic.) The cause fear ability could be a feat available only to Ursan. As is, it's a little too powerful, but not enough to justify a level adjustment.
slwoyach
01-04-08, 04:40 PM Or just play an awakened bear. You were awakened by a friendly druid.
Silverthumb
01-04-08, 05:52 PM Sorry, I couldn't resist. It was the first thing to pop into my head when I saw the title.
Cookie for anybody who gets the reference...

One cookie, this deserves a batch!
http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-715613

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
fuzzycrusader 01-03-08, 11:12 PM	This is something I've been toying with for a while, I know I can't play an actual Grizzly or anything, but I figure this is the next best thing. A Race of Bear people. Ursa(singular Ursan) are a race of nomads who travel through the forests and across tundra in small family groups. They aren't very skilled hunters, but they occasionally fish or scavange a recent kill from a predator. Ursa feed primarily on plant matter, and they definitly aren't picky eaters. They are known for their large stature, usually ranging from 6 1/2 to 8 feet tall and weighing anywhere from 300-450 pounds. Despite their size however, Ursa are a peaceful people who attack onl if provoked or to defend hearth and home. In combat they prefer to roar at their opponents to frighten them. If that fails they charge foreward with their clubs or other typically wooden weapons. Ursan Racial Traits - +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma Ursa are ferocious fighters and tenacious survivors, but they lack finese both in movement and social graces. - Medium: As medium creatures, Ura have no special bonuses or penalties due to sie. - Ursan base land speed is 30 feet - Low Light Vision: An Ursan can see twice as far as human in starlight, moonliht, torchlight, and similar conditions of por illumination. She retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these circumstances. - +2 racial bonus on Spot and listen checks: Ursa have keen senses that allow them to survive in the wild - +2 racial bonus on search checks in a woodland environment. Ursa are skilled at finding diferent herbs and vegitation they might use for food. - +2 on survival checks - Automatic languages: common and sylvan. Bonus languages: Goblin, Orc, Gnoll, Terran, Elven - Spell like abilities 1/day Cause Fear. The Ursan lets out a tremendous roar that strikes fear into the hearts of many creatures. The subject must be able to hear to Ursan for this effect to work. - Favored Class- Barbarian im new at this kind of stuff, so feed back and suggestions are most welcolme!
Pandapeep 01-04-08, 12:43 AM	I think these sound fun, but they'd need at least a +1 adjustment.
tenguroEd 01-04-08, 01:32 AM	maybe give them a bonus with wooden weapons, like a +1 racial bonus.
Silverthumb 01-04-08, 12:56 PM	If you don't want a Level adjustment(which, as written, your Ursa will need), you might try the Shifter from Eberron. They're descended from Lycanthropes, and as such, you could very easily be descended from a Werebear, just because you say so. ;) I've built a Bear-themed character once before, and here's a list of what I used to build him: -Razorclaw Shifter You get a claw attack when you Shift, and you can take a feat that also gives you a Bite attack -Bear Totem Barbarian You lose your speed bonus but gain Improved Grapple for free -Weretouched Master PrC from Eberron Campaign Setting, it'll help you get a better feel for using the Shifter Race as Lycanthropes. Plus, you'll get a badass set of ability bonuses while shifting -Bear Warrior This PrC's something you can overlook, as it takes a while for you to get to the really good stuff. Basically, as a Barbarian, you can turn into a Bear while raging. At level 10, you can turn into a Dire Bear. From Complete Warrior -Animal(Bear) Lord From Complete Adventurer, IIRC. Basically built for Druids & Rangers, but you can take it as well without much trouble, as a Barbarian. You'll be able to summon a small number of bears while getting several bear-themed abilities. Its not meant for Barbarians, but its just so cool. Other than those, feats that improve your Grappling are very nice. Look into Shifter feats, they're really cool. I noticed you wanted to Roar, I'd say Intimidating Rage or Ki Shout(Oriental Adventures campaign setting) are going to be good for you. Best of all, you don't have to do it only 1/day.
Crimson_Concerto 01-04-08, 01:56 PM	looks at the title Okay, so are they half Bear and half Man-Race? No, wait, I think they're half Man-Bear and half Race. Maybe they're half Man and half Bear-Race... Sorry, I couldn't resist. It was the first thing to pop into my head when I saw the title. Cookie for anybody who gets the reference... Anyways, I think they're too much for LA +0. One problem I have with it is it has more than one stat bonus, and I can't think of any LA +0 race with a bonus to more than one stat... Well not a balanced one anyways. There are the Gensai, I think, but I never liked that because they were the same as the +1 LA version only without the Outsider type, as though that were the only thing that made them a +1 LA to begin with... I also for some reason don't feel like that SLA is in theme. I'd rather it be a Supernatural ability that could be activated as a Swift action. Making it an SLA means that it's useless at higher levels since the save DC won't increase any, and it also means it takes a standard action to activate, and it's never a smart move for a warrior-type character to spend an action casting a debuff when he could be attacking... Also, the penalty to CHA hurts its usefulness further by making the save lower. Try giving them one stat bonus (either STR or CON) and one stat penalty (DEX, not CHA) and changing Cause Fear to a Supernatural ability that can be activated once per day as a Swift action and give it the [Sonic] descriptor.
AtsuiShoto 01-04-08, 03:32 PM	I know I can't play an actual Grizzly or anythingWait... why not? You're already delving into homebrew territory here, so why not figure out how to make a grizzly work? Whether or not you can play a grizzly is totally up to you and the other people in the gaming group.
slwoyach 01-04-08, 04:39 PM	"Bear-****er, do you need assistance?!" I like the idea for the race, but I think you should drop cause fear and limit all their bonuses to their favored environment (usually forest, but sometimes arctic.) The cause fear ability could be a feat available only to Ursan. As is, it's a little too powerful, but not enough to justify a level adjustment.
slwoyach 01-04-08, 04:40 PM	Or just play an awakened bear. You were awakened by a friendly druid.
Silverthumb 01-04-08, 05:52 PM	Sorry, I couldn't resist. It was the first thing to pop into my head when I saw the title. Cookie for anybody who gets the reference... One cookie, this deserves a batch! http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-715613