Forsaken [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Forsaken [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sleepwalker13666
03-07-07, 02:09 AM Me and my Dm were playing world of warcrack (first time for me) and I decided to play an undead rogue, he played an undead warlock, afterwards he thought the race seemed like a good idea, and asked me to come up with the write up for one, so I figured I'd post what I came up with and get some feedback before I present it to him. These are not meant to be identicle to the Warcraft Undead so I'm not concerned where they don't match. I balance the race by comparing it to warforged.

Forsaken

Once normal mortal beings, the forsaken are cursed by untamed necromancy and will forever live in a twisted mockery of thier former life. Forsaken usually rise in places of war against large numbers of undead, or lands soiled by zealous necromancers. The forsaken stand outside the society denied them, seeking acceptance and found waiting.

Personality: Forsaken can have personalities like that of their former selfs, however being stuck in an undying corspe and unwilling ripped from the spirit realm has taken it's toll on the sanity of many forsaken. Others who have attempted to rejoin society and been spurned find themselves cruel or depressed streaks. Many become bitter and hateful, while others try to retain what humanity they have left.

Phsyical Description: Forsaken resemble their former selfs with the scars and wounds of their death, they may have pale skin or a sickly green, their hair tends to be stringy and unkept. Thankfully the moment a forsaken rises he no longer decays, meaning they don't tend to become more horrific as they life out their tortured existance.

Relations: It is very difficult for a forsaken to find allies, few can accept a corpse amoungest them, very few societies actually view them as a race, those that do would still much rather have them as far away as possible.

Alignment: Any, however forsaken tend towards neutral and evil alignments.

Forsaken Lands: Forsaken are often forced to live in normally uninhabitable places, many choose to life in swamps, others hide in caverns. Some are lucky enough to find abandoned villages. It is not uncommon for lone forsaken to hide in graveyards. In cases where forsaken can gather in numbers large enough to make a community they often attempt to build a community like that they knew in life. Such sites are quite unsettling for outsiders.

Relegion: Some forsaken continue to worship the deity they knew in life, some take on dieties known for necromancy or undeath such as Nerull or We-Jas. Most however decide that the gods abandoned them and refuse to bow before any divine being.

Languages: Forsaken have the languages they knew in life, they do not have a language of thier own yet. *

Names: Most forsaken prefer to keep their former names, however many decide that their names no longer have meaning since their old life is gone and adapt a new name or title.

Adventurers: Many forsaken go adventuring, some in hopes of finding a way to break their curse, some in hopes of finding companions (with as many unusual things adventurers see, forsaken can find acceptance in an adventuring party with some effort). Some forsaken believe that they where given a second chance to full-fill a destiny, others simply hope to die once and for all.

Forsaken Racial Traits

Forsaken benefit from a unique creature type, Living Dead, simular to the warforged of Ebberon, the forsaken have some of the strengths and weaknesses of the undead.
As living dead, forsaken receive their hit dice, base attack bonuses, saves, and skills based on character class rather than creature type.
As living dead, forsaken have constitution scores.
As living dead, forsaken are still vulnerable to poison, further than can be turned, but not destroyed or rebuked.
As living dead, forsaken are still vulnerable to spells and effects (such as holy water) as though they where undead creatures unless one of their immunities would otherwise negate it.
As living dead, forsaken do not age, they do not have age catagories and do not die of old age.
As living dead, forsaken when reduced to less than 0 hp enter an immobile state and are unaware of their surroundings. Forsaken are slain at -10.
As living dead, forsaken are subject to ability damage, critical hits, and extra damage such as sneak attack or skirmish.
As living dead, forsaken are immune to mind control, ability drain, sleep effects (and have no need to sleep but must still rest for 8 hours to regain spells or simular abilities), paralysis, disease, nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, and sickened conditions.
As living dead, forsaken are harmed by positive energy and healed by negative energy, however only take half the effect of either. Forsaken do not heal naturally.
As living dead, forsaken, if slain, can be raised or ressurected, but rise as a forsaken. A True Ressurection, Wish or Miracle spell can restore a living forsaken to it's living form.

-2 str, +2 con, + Dex,-2 wis, -2 cha

Size: Forsaken retain the size of their former race, usually a forsaken is medium. *

Speed: 30 feet

+2 natural armor

Light Fortification: Forsaken can shrug off impressive amounts of damage, whenever subject to a critical hit or extra damage such as that from a rogues sneak attack there is a 25% chance the damage is ignored. This ability does not stack with the magical armor ability of the same name.

Light Sensitivity: In brightly lit areas the forsaken have a -1 penalty to ac and attack roles.

Natural Weapons: Forsaken have two claw attacks that deal 1d4+str damage and have a crit range of 20 (x2). In the forsaken has the improved unarmed strike feat he may use his claws allowing his unarmed strike to function as one size catagory larger. Attacking in this manner counts as a unarmed strike and not a natural attack.

Consume: Once per day a forsaken can feed on recently deceased flesh, when doing so the forsaken must consume at least 5 pounds of food, and must rest for 1 hour afterwards. A forsaken that does so recovers 1 hp per character level.

Favored Class: As former race, unless formerly human or half elf, if formerly human or half elf rogue is the new favored class. *

* While the forsaken is not a template it does retain a few minor details of it's former race including languages, size and favored class.
Naderion
03-07-07, 07:12 AM Looks nice, but it just screams LA.

I think +1 should be enough.
CzarGarrett
03-07-07, 08:12 AM You might want to take a look at Libris Mortis.

Its got plenty of stuff in there about playing Undead characters, including one rather easy to deal with pseudo-template called a Necropolitian.
gullas
03-07-07, 11:22 AM maybe -2 in int or maybe wis?

either way it would be La 0 ok:)
Imsolost
03-07-07, 01:13 PM I made a similar undead race here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=788545)
I think It would be easier to make them humanoids with the unliving subtype, that way they are clearly defined in what can and cannot effect them. I would also recommend giving them endurance as a bonus feat to represent their undead like metabolism. You can borrow whatever fits from my race if you wish, although i'm pretty sure the blood pool won't fit in.
Sleepwalker13666
03-07-07, 03:27 PM Thank you for your comments and suggesstions, I've edited the OP with a few tweaks.

maybe -2 in int or maybe wis?

either way it would be La 0 ok:)

I added the penalty to wisdom to the OP. It fits with the description I've given.

Looks nice, but it just screams LA.

I think +1 should be enough.

I had thought about that, but they where balanced along side the warforged which didn't receive a level adjustment. Then again war forged are fairly powerful. Do you think with the recent penalty to wisdom and holy abilities they still deserve a level adjustment?

You might want to take a look at Libris Mortis.

Its got plenty of stuff in there about playing Undead characters, including one rather easy to deal with pseudo-template called a Necropolitian.

I did look over Libris Mortis before writing up the forsaken, and while the necropolitian is a good race, I didn't feel it fit what I was looking for.

I made a similar undead race here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=788545)
I think It would be easier to make them humanoids with the unliving subtype, that way they are clearly defined in what can and cannot effect them. I would also recommend giving them endurance as a bonus feat to represent their undead like metabolism. You can borrow whatever fits from my race if you wish, although i'm pretty sure the blood pool won't fit in.

You have a very well written race, after reviewing it I realized I forgot to mention they are still vulnerable to spells and effects as though they where undead.
UnrelentingHoror
03-07-07, 07:18 PM You might want to take a look at the bone creature and corpse creature templates in the BOVD for a little bit of inspiration if you wanted them to be abit more on the undead side of things.
Naderion
03-07-07, 07:20 PM No, I think now they are perfectly balanced without LA.

I wouldn't give them + dex and con and - str, wis and cha, but that's personal preferences.

Corpse Creature Template came to my mind, too, but that template is quite boring. It just changes type to undead but doesn't do much else.
Sleepwalker13666
03-08-07, 04:12 AM You might want to take a look at the bone creature and corpse creature templates in the BOVD for a little bit of inspiration if you wanted them to be abit more on the undead side of things.

While they are good templates, like the necropolitan they did'nt quite fit what I was looking for, but thanks for the suggestion.

No, I think now they are perfectly balanced without LA.

I wouldn't give them + dex and con and - str, wis and cha, but that's personal preferences.

Corpse Creature Template came to my mind, too, but that template is quite boring. It just changes type to undead but doesn't do much else.

Deciding what to penalize was a tricky decision, I though con seemed like a good idea to boost because of undead typically shrugging off blows as thought they where not harmed, usually this comes from DR but that would have most likly warranted a level adjustment. I penalyzed strength as more of a balance issue, with a bonus to dex and con I felt a penalty to other physical ability score was nessessary. I

In hindsight however I'm not sure why I thought to boost dex, maybe I should remove the dex bonus and the str penalty. What do you all think?
Naderion
03-08-07, 07:42 AM As undead, I think the ability that most obvious is intelligence. They are a bit rotten and the brain suffers the most, so there should be a intelligence-penalty.

Even Ogres and most animals have a wisom of 10, so I think there is no need for any modification there.

Charisma is hard to say, that really depends most on how you imagine them to be: Sly and sneaky or easy to control and barely resisting?

Unlike true undead, they have a constitution score but since undead have no constitution modificator, the average score of forsaken should be 10.

Strength and dexterity really depend on how you want them to appear. Sneaky or brutish? I would prefer a +2 bonus to Strength because even when you are making a rouge character, their dexterity is the same as of a living rouge, but their strength is impresive because of their unliving nature.

Immunity to mind-affecting magic is very powerfull and I don't really think it fits in well here. The idea behind this immunity in undead is probably, that there is basically "no one in there" who you could charm. Forsaken are still people and not just animated corpses, so I would make them still vulnerable to it.

Immunity to poison and disease however, seems pretty apropiate, because they bodies are dead. Immunity to gas and no need to breath would be cool, too.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sleepwalker13666 03-07-07, 02:09 AM	Me and my Dm were playing world of warcrack (first time for me) and I decided to play an undead rogue, he played an undead warlock, afterwards he thought the race seemed like a good idea, and asked me to come up with the write up for one, so I figured I'd post what I came up with and get some feedback before I present it to him. These are not meant to be identicle to the Warcraft Undead so I'm not concerned where they don't match. I balance the race by comparing it to warforged. Forsaken Once normal mortal beings, the forsaken are cursed by untamed necromancy and will forever live in a twisted mockery of thier former life. Forsaken usually rise in places of war against large numbers of undead, or lands soiled by zealous necromancers. The forsaken stand outside the society denied them, seeking acceptance and found waiting. Personality: Forsaken can have personalities like that of their former selfs, however being stuck in an undying corspe and unwilling ripped from the spirit realm has taken it's toll on the sanity of many forsaken. Others who have attempted to rejoin society and been spurned find themselves cruel or depressed streaks. Many become bitter and hateful, while others try to retain what humanity they have left. Phsyical Description: Forsaken resemble their former selfs with the scars and wounds of their death, they may have pale skin or a sickly green, their hair tends to be stringy and unkept. Thankfully the moment a forsaken rises he no longer decays, meaning they don't tend to become more horrific as they life out their tortured existance. Relations: It is very difficult for a forsaken to find allies, few can accept a corpse amoungest them, very few societies actually view them as a race, those that do would still much rather have them as far away as possible. Alignment: Any, however forsaken tend towards neutral and evil alignments. Forsaken Lands: Forsaken are often forced to live in normally uninhabitable places, many choose to life in swamps, others hide in caverns. Some are lucky enough to find abandoned villages. It is not uncommon for lone forsaken to hide in graveyards. In cases where forsaken can gather in numbers large enough to make a community they often attempt to build a community like that they knew in life. Such sites are quite unsettling for outsiders. Relegion: Some forsaken continue to worship the deity they knew in life, some take on dieties known for necromancy or undeath such as Nerull or We-Jas. Most however decide that the gods abandoned them and refuse to bow before any divine being. Languages: Forsaken have the languages they knew in life, they do not have a language of thier own yet. * Names: Most forsaken prefer to keep their former names, however many decide that their names no longer have meaning since their old life is gone and adapt a new name or title. Adventurers: Many forsaken go adventuring, some in hopes of finding a way to break their curse, some in hopes of finding companions (with as many unusual things adventurers see, forsaken can find acceptance in an adventuring party with some effort). Some forsaken believe that they where given a second chance to full-fill a destiny, others simply hope to die once and for all. Forsaken Racial Traits Forsaken benefit from a unique creature type, Living Dead, simular to the warforged of Ebberon, the forsaken have some of the strengths and weaknesses of the undead. As living dead, forsaken receive their hit dice, base attack bonuses, saves, and skills based on character class rather than creature type. As living dead, forsaken have constitution scores. As living dead, forsaken are still vulnerable to poison, further than can be turned, but not destroyed or rebuked. As living dead, forsaken are still vulnerable to spells and effects (such as holy water) as though they where undead creatures unless one of their immunities would otherwise negate it. As living dead, forsaken do not age, they do not have age catagories and do not die of old age. As living dead, forsaken when reduced to less than 0 hp enter an immobile state and are unaware of their surroundings. Forsaken are slain at -10. As living dead, forsaken are subject to ability damage, critical hits, and extra damage such as sneak attack or skirmish. As living dead, forsaken are immune to mind control, ability drain, sleep effects (and have no need to sleep but must still rest for 8 hours to regain spells or simular abilities), paralysis, disease, nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, and sickened conditions. As living dead, forsaken are harmed by positive energy and healed by negative energy, however only take half the effect of either. Forsaken do not heal naturally. As living dead, forsaken, if slain, can be raised or ressurected, but rise as a forsaken. A True Ressurection, Wish or Miracle spell can restore a living forsaken to it's living form. -2 str, +2 con, + Dex,-2 wis, -2 cha Size: Forsaken retain the size of their former race, usually a forsaken is medium. * Speed: 30 feet +2 natural armor Light Fortification: Forsaken can shrug off impressive amounts of damage, whenever subject to a critical hit or extra damage such as that from a rogues sneak attack there is a 25% chance the damage is ignored. This ability does not stack with the magical armor ability of the same name. Light Sensitivity: In brightly lit areas the forsaken have a -1 penalty to ac and attack roles. Natural Weapons: Forsaken have two claw attacks that deal 1d4+str damage and have a crit range of 20 (x2). In the forsaken has the improved unarmed strike feat he may use his claws allowing his unarmed strike to function as one size catagory larger. Attacking in this manner counts as a unarmed strike and not a natural attack. Consume: Once per day a forsaken can feed on recently deceased flesh, when doing so the forsaken must consume at least 5 pounds of food, and must rest for 1 hour afterwards. A forsaken that does so recovers 1 hp per character level. Favored Class: As former race, unless formerly human or half elf, if formerly human or half elf rogue is the new favored class. * * While the forsaken is not a template it does retain a few minor details of it's former race including languages, size and favored class.
Naderion 03-07-07, 07:12 AM	Looks nice, but it just screams LA. I think +1 should be enough.
CzarGarrett 03-07-07, 08:12 AM	You might want to take a look at Libris Mortis. Its got plenty of stuff in there about playing Undead characters, including one rather easy to deal with pseudo-template called a Necropolitian.
gullas 03-07-07, 11:22 AM	maybe -2 in int or maybe wis? either way it would be La 0 ok:)
Imsolost 03-07-07, 01:13 PM	I made a similar undead race here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=788545) I think It would be easier to make them humanoids with the unliving subtype, that way they are clearly defined in what can and cannot effect them. I would also recommend giving them endurance as a bonus feat to represent their undead like metabolism. You can borrow whatever fits from my race if you wish, although i'm pretty sure the blood pool won't fit in.
Sleepwalker13666 03-07-07, 03:27 PM	Thank you for your comments and suggesstions, I've edited the OP with a few tweaks. maybe -2 in int or maybe wis? either way it would be La 0 ok:) I added the penalty to wisdom to the OP. It fits with the description I've given. Looks nice, but it just screams LA. I think +1 should be enough. I had thought about that, but they where balanced along side the warforged which didn't receive a level adjustment. Then again war forged are fairly powerful. Do you think with the recent penalty to wisdom and holy abilities they still deserve a level adjustment? You might want to take a look at Libris Mortis. Its got plenty of stuff in there about playing Undead characters, including one rather easy to deal with pseudo-template called a Necropolitian. I did look over Libris Mortis before writing up the forsaken, and while the necropolitian is a good race, I didn't feel it fit what I was looking for. I made a similar undead race here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=788545) I think It would be easier to make them humanoids with the unliving subtype, that way they are clearly defined in what can and cannot effect them. I would also recommend giving them endurance as a bonus feat to represent their undead like metabolism. You can borrow whatever fits from my race if you wish, although i'm pretty sure the blood pool won't fit in. You have a very well written race, after reviewing it I realized I forgot to mention they are still vulnerable to spells and effects as though they where undead.
UnrelentingHoror 03-07-07, 07:18 PM	You might want to take a look at the bone creature and corpse creature templates in the BOVD for a little bit of inspiration if you wanted them to be abit more on the undead side of things.
Naderion 03-07-07, 07:20 PM	No, I think now they are perfectly balanced without LA. I wouldn't give them + dex and con and - str, wis and cha, but that's personal preferences. Corpse Creature Template came to my mind, too, but that template is quite boring. It just changes type to undead but doesn't do much else.
Sleepwalker13666 03-08-07, 04:12 AM	You might want to take a look at the bone creature and corpse creature templates in the BOVD for a little bit of inspiration if you wanted them to be abit more on the undead side of things. While they are good templates, like the necropolitan they did'nt quite fit what I was looking for, but thanks for the suggestion. No, I think now they are perfectly balanced without LA. I wouldn't give them + dex and con and - str, wis and cha, but that's personal preferences. Corpse Creature Template came to my mind, too, but that template is quite boring. It just changes type to undead but doesn't do much else. Deciding what to penalize was a tricky decision, I though con seemed like a good idea to boost because of undead typically shrugging off blows as thought they where not harmed, usually this comes from DR but that would have most likly warranted a level adjustment. I penalyzed strength as more of a balance issue, with a bonus to dex and con I felt a penalty to other physical ability score was nessessary. I In hindsight however I'm not sure why I thought to boost dex, maybe I should remove the dex bonus and the str penalty. What do you all think?
Naderion 03-08-07, 07:42 AM	As undead, I think the ability that most obvious is intelligence. They are a bit rotten and the brain suffers the most, so there should be a intelligence-penalty. Even Ogres and most animals have a wisom of 10, so I think there is no need for any modification there. Charisma is hard to say, that really depends most on how you imagine them to be: Sly and sneaky or easy to control and barely resisting? Unlike true undead, they have a constitution score but since undead have no constitution modificator, the average score of forsaken should be 10. Strength and dexterity really depend on how you want them to appear. Sneaky or brutish? I would prefer a +2 bonus to Strength because even when you are making a rouge character, their dexterity is the same as of a living rouge, but their strength is impresive because of their unliving nature. Immunity to mind-affecting magic is very powerfull and I don't really think it fits in well here. The idea behind this immunity in undead is probably, that there is basically "no one in there" who you could charm. Forsaken are still people and not just animated corpses, so I would make them still vulnerable to it. Immunity to poison and disease however, seems pretty apropiate, because they bodies are dead. Immunity to gas and no need to breath would be cool, too.