Illumians.....What the Heck Are They? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Illumians.....What the Heck Are They? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Maldroc_the_Mad
03-25-07, 09:29 PM Hey Guys,

I dont have Races of Destiny and I'm intrigued by the race. I was suggested to play one and I want to know about them. Please post stats, racial abilities and other general knowledge.
Shadowhowler
03-25-07, 09:40 PM I belive that would be in opposition to WotC policy.

I didn't find the race terribly interisting in the first place, but if your REALLY into it, your gonna have to find yourself a copy of Race's of Destiny and go to town. :)
Krusk
03-25-07, 10:15 PM The stats can be found for a small fee if you pick up a copy of the book. Races Of Destiny

basically the concept is somehow a race of Humans? got the ability to gain a spell as a spell like ability.

The race is definatly not worth picking the book up for, and i give it 2 thumbs down as a race.
retillin
03-25-07, 10:27 PM Illumians..... What the Heck Are They? Answer = lame. I really normaly like most things that i read in most books. I like it when Wizards tries new things (ie Incarrum) but man, the Illumians just seem to suck to me. But hey, you might like it so go to the closest Borders store and read them to see if you want to buy the book.
ClementWillowbreaker
03-25-07, 11:52 PM Bookish humans that get scaling bonuses and odd ability-interaction perks from glowing runes floating around their heads. I stopped just about there. Why oh why to they have to completely screw up one race per book? I shudder to think that Goliaths are the most thought-out and plausible race in a supplement.
chromeraven
03-26-07, 01:31 AM they're interesting if you like to multiclass. definitely check them out to see if they are up your alley, and don't listen to the haters till after that.
Part-Human2
03-26-07, 01:59 AM Check the online Excerpt (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20041203a&page=2)
Arcane Guyver
03-26-07, 02:51 AM If you want a good altered human race, you're better off trying the Elan from the Expanded Psionics Handbook (or the psionics SRD).

I'm still appalled at the amount of time and attention given to this incredibly lame race. Most of the damn book is focused on them. Just mindboggling.
StruckingFuggle
03-26-07, 03:03 AM They can be sickly good for powergaming, especially gish builds.

And that is about ALL they're good for.
Finfreeze
03-26-07, 03:11 AM They're humans...with glowy things around their heads. That's about it.
Spinal_Tap
03-26-07, 06:58 AM I don't know, I kind of like their flavour/fluff – the whole Astral Plane Library/Githyanki action.
ArcTan
03-26-07, 05:57 PM Hey, I liked the illumians a lot (and for the flavor of the race more than the mechanics -- you could replace the mechanics with that of the elan and I wouldn't complain).

I like secret societies. It fit a lot with the theme of Races of Destiny, of humans being destined to rule the world because of their power to modify themselves.
Kresalak
03-26-07, 05:59 PM Bookish humans that get scaling bonuses and odd ability-interaction perks from glowing runes floating around their heads. I stopped just about there. Why oh why to they have to completely screw up one race per book? I shudder to think that Goliaths are the most thought-out and plausible race in a supplement.

I don't know. I mean really, how many people actually wanted a race of humans with glowing runes floating around their heads? I know the concept comes from the Illuminati, but really, do you need a race for that? Couldn't we have gotten a race that people actually wanted, like a LA +0 Catfolk or a playable Pixie or something?

But hey, at least it wasn't another elf.
Raynx
03-26-07, 06:31 PM I do not, under any means, think that Illumians are the best characters to play if you are a powergamer or metagamer, but the Illumian race is my absolute favorite race. Humans second.
You are all entitled to your own opinions, but I feel like adding a bit more about the Illumians' good sides:

Illumians began as humans. The scholar Tarmuid created the Rite of Words Made Flesh, which transforms Humans into the living embodiments of language, Illumians. Illumians can naturally reproduce, however. The Rite was considered to be too powerful, so it was split into its individual words, and each word is guarded by a cabal, a secluded group of Illumians that collectively share a belief system.
The Illumian capitol city, Elirhondas, is built on the Plane of Shadow, as decreed by Tarmuid.
The glowing sigils around the Illumians' heads grant them bonuses to certain ability checks and ability based skill checks, and when two different sigils orbit the same head, the two create a combined power. A standard Illumian has one to two sigils, at the most, but can take feats to add more sigils, or increase the power of one type of sigil. What's more? The sigils can be hidden away, but while out, they provide a light source (counter is that the light could also serve as a homing beacon for monsters...).
They love complex, expensive clothing, and hate to not be clean. They all love to learn, and come to near obsession over it. That is seen in the High Library on the Astral Plane. However, the Library was destroyed by the Githyanki, which the Illumians now place as their highest foes.
When Illumians die, they begin to spout out all of the words they know in a lengthy, difficult oratory in a desperate bid to ascend to godhood, which some accomplish.
The sigils also resonate and react in different ways when exposed to runic spells and effects. Either the Illumian will become overwhelmed, or the runes will be dispelled.
Due to being literally made of words, Illumians are never illiterate, and always have Speak Language as a class skill, and can learn any language they so choose...within reason.

There is so much more to being an Illumian, but I don't want to give it all away; You'll just have to buy the book. :D

*As a side note, I don't know if I've said too much. If I gave away too much information (violated the Code of Conduct), someone please tell me so I can edit it! I was excited; I couldn't help myself!
The Livewire
03-26-07, 07:12 PM They are poor cousins of the Elan :D

Personally, I looked at them and went 'meh'. I understand some people like them, and more power to you folks, but they're a 'meh' race to me.

I wish WotC would add the catfolk/illumians/raptorans to the SRD. The Goliath seems to be popular enough to have lovin' If 3rd parties could use the races, maybe they'd get some attention as well.
Raynx
03-26-07, 07:20 PM I wish WotC would add the catfolk/illumians/raptorans to the SRD. The Goliath seems to be popular enough to have lovin' If 3rd parties could use the races, maybe they'd get some attention as well.

Agreed.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Maldroc_the_Mad 03-25-07, 09:29 PM	Hey Guys, I dont have Races of Destiny and I'm intrigued by the race. I was suggested to play one and I want to know about them. Please post stats, racial abilities and other general knowledge.
Shadowhowler 03-25-07, 09:40 PM	I belive that would be in opposition to WotC policy. I didn't find the race terribly interisting in the first place, but if your REALLY into it, your gonna have to find yourself a copy of Race's of Destiny and go to town. :)
Krusk 03-25-07, 10:15 PM	The stats can be found for a small fee if you pick up a copy of the book. Races Of Destiny basically the concept is somehow a race of Humans? got the ability to gain a spell as a spell like ability. The race is definatly not worth picking the book up for, and i give it 2 thumbs down as a race.
retillin 03-25-07, 10:27 PM	Illumians..... What the Heck Are They? Answer = lame. I really normaly like most things that i read in most books. I like it when Wizards tries new things (ie Incarrum) but man, the Illumians just seem to suck to me. But hey, you might like it so go to the closest Borders store and read them to see if you want to buy the book.
ClementWillowbreaker 03-25-07, 11:52 PM	Bookish humans that get scaling bonuses and odd ability-interaction perks from glowing runes floating around their heads. I stopped just about there. Why oh why to they have to completely screw up one race per book? I shudder to think that Goliaths are the most thought-out and plausible race in a supplement.
chromeraven 03-26-07, 01:31 AM	they're interesting if you like to multiclass. definitely check them out to see if they are up your alley, and don't listen to the haters till after that.
Part-Human2 03-26-07, 01:59 AM	Check the online Excerpt (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20041203a&page=2)
Arcane Guyver 03-26-07, 02:51 AM	If you want a good altered human race, you're better off trying the Elan from the Expanded Psionics Handbook (or the psionics SRD). I'm still appalled at the amount of time and attention given to this incredibly lame race. Most of the damn book is focused on them. Just mindboggling.
StruckingFuggle 03-26-07, 03:03 AM	They can be sickly good for powergaming, especially gish builds. And that is about ALL they're good for.
Finfreeze 03-26-07, 03:11 AM	They're humans...with glowy things around their heads. That's about it.
Spinal_Tap 03-26-07, 06:58 AM	I don't know, I kind of like their flavour/fluff – the whole Astral Plane Library/Githyanki action.
ArcTan 03-26-07, 05:57 PM	Hey, I liked the illumians a lot (and for the flavor of the race more than the mechanics -- you could replace the mechanics with that of the elan and I wouldn't complain). I like secret societies. It fit a lot with the theme of Races of Destiny, of humans being destined to rule the world because of their power to modify themselves.
Kresalak 03-26-07, 05:59 PM	Bookish humans that get scaling bonuses and odd ability-interaction perks from glowing runes floating around their heads. I stopped just about there. Why oh why to they have to completely screw up one race per book? I shudder to think that Goliaths are the most thought-out and plausible race in a supplement. I don't know. I mean really, how many people actually wanted a race of humans with glowing runes floating around their heads? I know the concept comes from the Illuminati, but really, do you need a race for that? Couldn't we have gotten a race that people actually wanted, like a LA +0 Catfolk or a playable Pixie or something? But hey, at least it wasn't another elf.
Raynx 03-26-07, 06:31 PM	I do not, under any means, think that Illumians are the best characters to play if you are a powergamer or metagamer, but the Illumian race is my absolute favorite race. Humans second. You are all entitled to your own opinions, but I feel like adding a bit more about the Illumians' good sides: Illumians began as humans. The scholar Tarmuid created the Rite of Words Made Flesh, which transforms Humans into the living embodiments of language, Illumians. Illumians can naturally reproduce, however. The Rite was considered to be too powerful, so it was split into its individual words, and each word is guarded by a cabal, a secluded group of Illumians that collectively share a belief system. The Illumian capitol city, Elirhondas, is built on the Plane of Shadow, as decreed by Tarmuid. The glowing sigils around the Illumians' heads grant them bonuses to certain ability checks and ability based skill checks, and when two different sigils orbit the same head, the two create a combined power. A standard Illumian has one to two sigils, at the most, but can take feats to add more sigils, or increase the power of one type of sigil. What's more? The sigils can be hidden away, but while out, they provide a light source (counter is that the light could also serve as a homing beacon for monsters...). They love complex, expensive clothing, and hate to not be clean. They all love to learn, and come to near obsession over it. That is seen in the High Library on the Astral Plane. However, the Library was destroyed by the Githyanki, which the Illumians now place as their highest foes. When Illumians die, they begin to spout out all of the words they know in a lengthy, difficult oratory in a desperate bid to ascend to godhood, which some accomplish. The sigils also resonate and react in different ways when exposed to runic spells and effects. Either the Illumian will become overwhelmed, or the runes will be dispelled. Due to being literally made of words, Illumians are never illiterate, and always have Speak Language as a class skill, and can learn any language they so choose...within reason. There is so much more to being an Illumian, but I don't want to give it all away; You'll just have to buy the book. :D *As a side note, I don't know if I've said too much. If I gave away too much information (violated the Code of Conduct), someone please tell me so I can edit it! I was excited; I couldn't help myself!
The Livewire 03-26-07, 07:12 PM	They are poor cousins of the Elan :D Personally, I looked at them and went 'meh'. I understand some people like them, and more power to you folks, but they're a 'meh' race to me. I wish WotC would add the catfolk/illumians/raptorans to the SRD. The Goliath seems to be popular enough to have lovin' If 3rd parties could use the races, maybe they'd get some attention as well.
Raynx 03-26-07, 07:20 PM	I wish WotC would add the catfolk/illumians/raptorans to the SRD. The Goliath seems to be popular enough to have lovin' If 3rd parties could use the races, maybe they'd get some attention as well. Agreed.