Campaign Settings' Races. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Campaign Settings' Races. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
AdenThornwood
12-01-07, 03:13 AM My campaign setting adds in two new races based around legendary, mythological serpents. They include the Ourobori and the Nidhoggri;

Ourobori; D&D Race

Description: Ourobori are looked up to as demi-gods by some. They are wise and intelligent, but clumsy and fragile creatures who respect all races with dragon blood. Some ourobori shamans are even looked to for spiritual guidance in kobold tribes. The ourobori are immortal of age but there are few in the world. Yet, the ones that do exist are well educated in the lore of arcane magic and are proficient in the magical practice of scrying. Many ourobori become wizards - their already vast knowledge in the workings of arcane magic are an obligation to deeper learnings of arcane spellcraft.

Appearance: Ourobori are tall, lanky, and unbalanced creatures. They are between 7.5 and 8.5 tall, but weigh between 100 to 120 lbs. Ourobori with high strength are uncommonly smaller and heavier than normal Ourobori, but they maintain their lack of balance and lanky stature. Ourobori have sleek, scaly snouts, two pairs of long, thick, black whiskers on each side, and eyes very similar to those of Nidhoggri; pitch black with glowing, yellow, cat-like pupils. Their ears are small holes on each side of their head - like a reptile's. In addition, Ourobori have two, long cartilage horns that spire along their skulls and each measure between 1' and 1.2' feet at their longest.

- +2 Wisdom, +2 Intelligence, -2 Dexterity.
- Medium size.
- An ourobori’s base land speed is 30 feet.
- Darkvision: Ourobori can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
- Racial Feats: Ourobori gain feats according to its class levels.
- Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day - scrying. Caster level equals ourobori's class levels.
- Racial Skills: Ourobori have a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft.
- Dragon Blood: For all effects related to race, an ourobori is considered a dragon.
- Natural Armor: Ourobori have a +1 natural armor increase.
- Automatic Languages: Common, Draconic. Bonus Languages; Any (other than secret languages, such as Druidic).
- Favored Class: Wizard.
- Level Adjustment +1.

Nidhoggri; D&D Race

Description: The nidhoggri are a stereotypically nomadic, fearsome, and cruel race of 'lesser half-dragons'. Most of them are hateful towards the world and are usually chaotic. Their great strength and finesse-based fighting style lead most of them to pursue a life as a barbarian. Some are hired as elite troops for humanoid tribes, and are also occasionally hired as guards for the wealthy or powerful (even though a good percent of nidhoggri are tempted to instead kill them out of hate or angst). Nidhoggri can be found in human, goblinoid, and mixed societies, mostly as mercenaries for hire, guards, or even slaves. Other nidhoggri are wanderers of the world who travel with other adventurers, mainly to find treasure or,for some, to attempt showing others that not all nidhoggri are bad. It's never a good idea to tempt a nidhoggri berserker into killing, as they may create more bloodshed than you want.

Appearance: Nidhoggri are between 6 to 7 feet tall and weigh from 150 to 200 lbs. Their faces are broad, bumpy, and spiny, with skin ranging from dark green to dark, olive green. Some have locks of hair, and very few have a lot of hair. The few that do have hair that ranges from brown to black. Their ears are high up on their head, and they are long, bony appendages with leathery "wing-like" flaps hanging off of them. They have two small, cartilage horns protruding from their skull that measure between 1" and 1 1/2". Lining their chins are pointy scales that grow longer as they get older. Their noses are ugly, bumpy snouts and their eyes are pitch black, with glowing, yellow, cat-like pupils.

- +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma.
- Medium size.
- A nidhoggri’s base land speed is 30 feet.
- Darkvision: Nidhoggri can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
- Racial Feats: Nidhoggri gain feats according to its class levels.
- Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day - cause fear. Caster level equals nidhoggri's class levels .
- Racial Skills: Nidhoggri have a +2 racial bonus on Intimidate.
- Dragon Blood: For all effects related to race, a nidhoggri is considered a dragon.
- Resistance to Disease: Nidhoggri have a +2 racial bonus vs disease.
- Natural Armor: Nidhoggri have a +1 natural armor increase.
- Automatic Languages: Common, Draconic. Bonus Languages; Ogre, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Orc.
- Favored Class: Barbarian.
- Level Adjustment +1.

Tell me what you think.

EDIT:EDIT: Updates;
12/1 5:55PM;
- Nidhoggri are now resistant to disease effects, are LA +0, and have been given a bonus to the Intimidate skill.
- Ourobori are now LA +0.
- Both races have been given appearance descriptions.

12/2 8:58PM;
- Re-added in the LA for both races. Reason being; I looked up ability bonus/penalty equivalencies, and the Nidhoggri were way too powerful and the Ourobori were way too weak. So, I gave the Nidhoggri a weak spell-like ability and I gave the Ourobori a powerful spell-like ability. Then, I re-added the LA to both because they both had very powerful traits (the spell-like ability for the Ourobori and the ability bonuses for the Nidhoggri).
- Ourobori lost their read magic and detect magic spell-like abilities, and they were replaced with the scrying spell-like ability.
- Nidhoggri have lost their penalty to Wisdom.
- Ourobori have lost their penalty to Constitution.

12/27 10:02PM;
- Ourobori now have a 30 ft base speed.
pogrom666
12-01-07, 12:51 PM Why are the Ourobori slower moving than average medium creatures? Curiosity really begs me to ask.
In general though, these races seem pretty sweet. Do you have a potential picture as to what they look like, or should we more-or-less envision half-dragons?
Talisman
12-01-07, 01:36 PM Ourobori
~As Pogrom666 noted, they're strangely slow for their size. I'm envisioning tall, slender creatures with tiny little limbs.
~Are they actually of the dragon type, or humanoids with the (dragonblood) subtype?
~Looks like a strong LA +0 to me. I can only justify the +1 LA at all by assuming that all ourobori will be wizards or clerics, and even then, no one wants to take a hit to Dex or Con. Compare to the aasimar: +2 Wis and Cha, NO penalties, energy resistance, a 2nd-level SLA.

Nidhoggri
~No racial skill bonuses? I think a bonus to Intimidate would be appropriate.
~May I suggest some sort of "eat anything" ability, as is appropriate to their namesake? If they're somehow related to the "Corpse Tearer," maybe a +4 racial bonus on Fortitude saves vs. disease?
~Looks like a weakish +1 LA, assuming the typical nidhoggri is a warrior-type. The penalties hurt warriors less than the ourobori's penalties hurt spellcasters, while the benefits are significant. For a +1 LA, I'd consider dropping one of the stat penalties, probably Charisma (they're dragon-blooded, after all).

Overall, looks pretty decent.
AdenThornwood
12-01-07, 06:06 PM Why are the Ourobori slower moving than average medium creatures? Curiosity really begs me to ask.
In general though, these races seem pretty sweet. Do you have a potential picture as to what they look like, or should we more-or-less envision half-dragons?

They trip very easily. Their limbs are quite tender compared to other races, so they learn to walk carefully, in order to maintain their delicate balance.

Thank you all for the feedback. I'll make the necessary changes that seem fit in the first post.

P.S. I think I'll keep the Nidhoggri's penalty to Charisma. Despite the fact that they're related to dragons, they are reclusive and not very polite in most cases.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
AdenThornwood 12-01-07, 03:13 AM	My campaign setting adds in two new races based around legendary, mythological serpents. They include the Ourobori and the Nidhoggri; Ourobori; D&D Race Description: Ourobori are looked up to as demi-gods by some. They are wise and intelligent, but clumsy and fragile creatures who respect all races with dragon blood. Some ourobori shamans are even looked to for spiritual guidance in kobold tribes. The ourobori are immortal of age but there are few in the world. Yet, the ones that do exist are well educated in the lore of arcane magic and are proficient in the magical practice of scrying. Many ourobori become wizards - their already vast knowledge in the workings of arcane magic are an obligation to deeper learnings of arcane spellcraft. Appearance: Ourobori are tall, lanky, and unbalanced creatures. They are between 7.5 and 8.5 tall, but weigh between 100 to 120 lbs. Ourobori with high strength are uncommonly smaller and heavier than normal Ourobori, but they maintain their lack of balance and lanky stature. Ourobori have sleek, scaly snouts, two pairs of long, thick, black whiskers on each side, and eyes very similar to those of Nidhoggri; pitch black with glowing, yellow, cat-like pupils. Their ears are small holes on each side of their head - like a reptile's. In addition, Ourobori have two, long cartilage horns that spire along their skulls and each measure between 1' and 1.2' feet at their longest. - +2 Wisdom, +2 Intelligence, -2 Dexterity. - Medium size. - An ourobori’s base land speed is 30 feet. - Darkvision: Ourobori can see in the dark up to 60 feet. - Racial Feats: Ourobori gain feats according to its class levels. - Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day - scrying. Caster level equals ourobori's class levels. - Racial Skills: Ourobori have a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft. - Dragon Blood: For all effects related to race, an ourobori is considered a dragon. - Natural Armor: Ourobori have a +1 natural armor increase. - Automatic Languages: Common, Draconic. Bonus Languages; Any (other than secret languages, such as Druidic). - Favored Class: Wizard. - Level Adjustment +1. Nidhoggri; D&D Race Description: The nidhoggri are a stereotypically nomadic, fearsome, and cruel race of 'lesser half-dragons'. Most of them are hateful towards the world and are usually chaotic. Their great strength and finesse-based fighting style lead most of them to pursue a life as a barbarian. Some are hired as elite troops for humanoid tribes, and are also occasionally hired as guards for the wealthy or powerful (even though a good percent of nidhoggri are tempted to instead kill them out of hate or angst). Nidhoggri can be found in human, goblinoid, and mixed societies, mostly as mercenaries for hire, guards, or even slaves. Other nidhoggri are wanderers of the world who travel with other adventurers, mainly to find treasure or,for some, to attempt showing others that not all nidhoggri are bad. It's never a good idea to tempt a nidhoggri berserker into killing, as they may create more bloodshed than you want. Appearance: Nidhoggri are between 6 to 7 feet tall and weigh from 150 to 200 lbs. Their faces are broad, bumpy, and spiny, with skin ranging from dark green to dark, olive green. Some have locks of hair, and very few have a lot of hair. The few that do have hair that ranges from brown to black. Their ears are high up on their head, and they are long, bony appendages with leathery "wing-like" flaps hanging off of them. They have two small, cartilage horns protruding from their skull that measure between 1" and 1 1/2". Lining their chins are pointy scales that grow longer as they get older. Their noses are ugly, bumpy snouts and their eyes are pitch black, with glowing, yellow, cat-like pupils. - +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma. - Medium size. - A nidhoggri’s base land speed is 30 feet. - Darkvision: Nidhoggri can see in the dark up to 60 feet. - Racial Feats: Nidhoggri gain feats according to its class levels. - Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day - cause fear. Caster level equals nidhoggri's class levels . - Racial Skills: Nidhoggri have a +2 racial bonus on Intimidate. - Dragon Blood: For all effects related to race, a nidhoggri is considered a dragon. - Resistance to Disease: Nidhoggri have a +2 racial bonus vs disease. - Natural Armor: Nidhoggri have a +1 natural armor increase. - Automatic Languages: Common, Draconic. Bonus Languages; Ogre, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Orc. - Favored Class: Barbarian. - Level Adjustment +1. Tell me what you think. EDIT:EDIT: Updates; 12/1 5:55PM; - Nidhoggri are now resistant to disease effects, are LA +0, and have been given a bonus to the Intimidate skill. - Ourobori are now LA +0. - Both races have been given appearance descriptions. 12/2 8:58PM; - Re-added in the LA for both races. Reason being; I looked up ability bonus/penalty equivalencies, and the Nidhoggri were way too powerful and the Ourobori were way too weak. So, I gave the Nidhoggri a weak spell-like ability and I gave the Ourobori a powerful spell-like ability. Then, I re-added the LA to both because they both had very powerful traits (the spell-like ability for the Ourobori and the ability bonuses for the Nidhoggri). - Ourobori lost their read magic and detect magic spell-like abilities, and they were replaced with the scrying spell-like ability. - Nidhoggri have lost their penalty to Wisdom. - Ourobori have lost their penalty to Constitution. 12/27 10:02PM; - Ourobori now have a 30 ft base speed.
pogrom666 12-01-07, 12:51 PM	Why are the Ourobori slower moving than average medium creatures? Curiosity really begs me to ask. In general though, these races seem pretty sweet. Do you have a potential picture as to what they look like, or should we more-or-less envision half-dragons?
Talisman 12-01-07, 01:36 PM	Ourobori ~As Pogrom666 noted, they're strangely slow for their size. I'm envisioning tall, slender creatures with tiny little limbs. ~Are they actually of the dragon type, or humanoids with the (dragonblood) subtype? ~Looks like a strong LA +0 to me. I can only justify the +1 LA at all by assuming that all ourobori will be wizards or clerics, and even then, no one wants to take a hit to Dex or Con. Compare to the aasimar: +2 Wis and Cha, NO penalties, energy resistance, a 2nd-level SLA. Nidhoggri ~No racial skill bonuses? I think a bonus to Intimidate would be appropriate. ~May I suggest some sort of "eat anything" ability, as is appropriate to their namesake? If they're somehow related to the "Corpse Tearer," maybe a +4 racial bonus on Fortitude saves vs. disease? ~Looks like a weakish +1 LA, assuming the typical nidhoggri is a warrior-type. The penalties hurt warriors less than the ourobori's penalties hurt spellcasters, while the benefits are significant. For a +1 LA, I'd consider dropping one of the stat penalties, probably Charisma (they're dragon-blooded, after all). Overall, looks pretty decent.
AdenThornwood 12-01-07, 06:06 PM	Why are the Ourobori slower moving than average medium creatures? Curiosity really begs me to ask. In general though, these races seem pretty sweet. Do you have a potential picture as to what they look like, or should we more-or-less envision half-dragons? They trip very easily. Their limbs are quite tender compared to other races, so they learn to walk carefully, in order to maintain their delicate balance. Thank you all for the feedback. I'll make the necessary changes that seem fit in the first post. P.S. I think I'll keep the Nidhoggri's penalty to Charisma. Despite the fact that they're related to dragons, they are reclusive and not very polite in most cases.