New Psionic Type Race [Archive] - Wizards Community

New Psionic Type Race [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
CryoSilver
10-21-07, 08:23 PM Dalit, the People of the Mind

The dalit area race that has come a long way from their primitive origins. They are a race few in number, but great in power, choosing to live apart from the rest of the world and seek the furtherance of their ineffable goals. Little is known about them, and few other creatures have had the chance to meet a dalit that did not choose to be met.

Personality: Dailt may seem to be very impatient or patronizing toward those they consider to be less intelligent than themselves (eg: most everyone). As a very long-lived, intelligent race, they tend to take the long view, but by that same token, they think very fast. The dalit cultural phobia of being touched is often quite evident as well.

Physical Description: Dalit look like nothing so much as large, fleshy blobs with vestigial limbs: four legs and four arms, all withered nearly to uselessness. They have weak eyes, but very keen ears. Dalit vary in color from blinding white to very fair. The most striking feature of a dalit is its “third eye,” a crystalline outcropping about the size of a fist that slowly moves about the dalit’s body. No non-dalit knows what purpose it serves.

Relations: The dalit do not care to associate with most other races. What contact they have is generally with psions and wizards, or with the more intelligent races, such as dragons, mind flayers and some outsiders.

Alignment: Most dalit are neutral, with some tending toward law. The contemplative and introspective nature of their culture does not lend itself much to moralizing.

Religion: Dalit acknowledge the gods only as more powerful beings than themselves, and do not worship any god as a people. Some individual dalit, usually those who have more contact with other races may offer supplication, but the practice is frowned upon.

Language: Dalit communicate solely by telepathy, but often understand several languages.

Names: Dalit do not have names; they can recognize each other by the subtle differences in their psychic auras. When dealing with outsiders, they often use the name of their contact, a custom that is often quite perturbing to that contact.

Adventures: Young dalit sometimes adventure to gain perspective on the world, and to report how things have changed to their elders. Other than that, a dalit who associates too much with the “lesser races” may be cast out of the community and forced to make its way in the world.

Dalit Racial Traits

• Aberration creature type. Note: Dalit are non-humanoid, and require special armor. Also note that a dalit has four arms and four legs, and the attendant bonuses.
• -6 Str, -4 Dex, +4 Int, +4 Wis: Dalit are weak and clumsy, but extremely intelligent. A dalit’s Intelligence score increases by 1 point every decade, as its mind matures.
• Medium size
• Scorn Earth: as the elocater ability. Speed 30 ft
• Telepathy. A dalit can communicate with any creature within 100 feet telepathically
• Poor vision: a dalit’s vision is half as good as a human’s, and it takes a -4 racial penalty on Spot checks
• +2 racial bonus on Listen checks
• Amorphous Body: a dalit's body is more or less a floating blob with few distinct features. Critical hits and other such effects suffer a 25% chance of failure against a dalit (like the lesser fortification power for armor).
• Dalit do not eat. Instead, if they spend one hour per day within ten feet of another living creature with Intelligence 3 or higher, they can feed off the radiant psychic energy. This does not harm the creature being fed off of.
• Power Points: a dalit has a pool of 3 power points, plus one per level gained and knows Synesthete. It can also use Far Hand at will at no cost. Every four levels, it gains access to a new power with a level equal to half its character level or less.
• Inertial Armor: a dalit can generate a field of psychic energy around itself. It has a +4 armor bonus to AC that applies even against touch attacks (like the power). This bonus increases by 1 point for each 3 levels the dalit gains.
• Third Eye: If a dalit’s third eye is covered, it cannot use any psychic powers, and it falls to the ground, where its speed is reduced to 5 feet. A dalit psion can detach and use its third eye as a psicrystal, but if it is ever out of line of sight of the dalit, the dalit suffers the same penalty as if it were covered. Also, if the third eye is ever broken, the dalit takes 1 point of Constitution damage per hour until it is restored (by Limited Wish, Wish, or Miracle).
• Favored class: psion
• LA: +3
Finfreeze
10-21-07, 09:46 PM "Dalit" ("oppressed") is the Hindi word for what most English-speaking people (or at least my old history textbooks) call the "untouchable" caste. Although apparently, "Scheduled Caste" is the official term now.

Whatever the case may be, this race is not LA +3. The flight is worse than the fly spell and has a harsh restriction. They have a net ability score penalty, with bonuses only in mental stats—which tend to scare horribly with level adjustments. In addition, it has a great weakness in its Third Eye. Not to mention it can't see all that well. The mental stat bonuses and the power point bump don't make up for the fact that you'll be behind several manifester levels and miss out on the later levels where you get 29847295470590 billion power points (a bit of a pet peeve with the power point system).

Suggestions if you want to keep this LA +3...

1. Tone down the penalties, pump up the mental stat bonuses. Consider adding a charisma or constitution bonus.
2. Remove the restriction on flying, and either increase the speed and/or give them perfect mobility.
3. Give them +1-2 power points per level and a bonus power or two known so they can do something with those bonus points.
4. Probably needs something else.
5. Maybe reduce the penalty for destroying a third eye to a penalty to all stats until you can restore it or create a new one?

• Aberration.
• -4 Str, -2 Dex, +6 Int, +4 Wis, +2 Cha.
• Medium size.
• Speed: Fly 30 feet (perfect).
• Telepathy 100'.
• -4 racial penalty on spot checks.
• +2 racial bonus on Listen, Knowledge (psionics), and Psicraft checks.
• Automatically feed off of the psionic energy of creatures with at least 3 intelligence.
• +2 bonus power points at first character level, +2 bonus point points at each additional character level.
• Bonus Powers Known: Any three first level powers. Manifester level for these bonus powers equal to its character level +2. The DCs are Intelligence-based.
• Psi-like Ability: Far Hand at will. Manifester level for this psi-like is equal to its character level +2.
• Third Eye.
• Favored class: Psion.
• LA: +2.
CryoSilver
10-21-07, 09:55 PM I know what the word means. I thought it sounded cool and thats the only reason I used it, though.

It doesn't NEED to be LA +3. Thanks for the input though. I'm not really familiar with psionics.
Finfreeze
10-21-07, 10:32 PM Ah, I guess that's fine then.
CryoSilver
10-22-07, 11:17 PM I remember the other reason I named them Dalit now. I was gonna give them an AC bonus, a la Mage Armor, or the psionic variant thereof (Inertial Armor?).

"Untouchable." It's a terrible pun, but I COULD have named them "Hammers."

Please note I've made a couple changes.
RobbyPants
10-23-07, 03:48 PM I like the fluff (and the basics of the mechanics) on these guys. I agree with Finfreeze in that they're a bit weak for a LA +3 race. Also, if you want them to have a cross between flight and levitation (but use an existing published ability), consider using the Scorn Earth (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/elocater.htm#scornEarth) ability the elocator (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/elocater.htm) gets (XPH), which lets them float a small distance above the earth. You have to see if you like the ability, but I thought it might be a simple comprimise.

"Untouchable." It's a terrible pun, but I COULD have named them "Hammers."
Stop!....... Dalit time!

Sorry :P
CryoSilver
10-23-07, 05:40 PM It is a simple compromise. Like I said, I don't do much with psionics, so I never would have noticed it. Thanks.

Also, losing the third eye now deals 1 point of Con damage/hour, which will probably give the character a little more time to get the spell cast, as well as allowing death to be held off by Restoration and such. At higher levels, even long enough for an allied spellcaster to rest and prep the right spell.
CryoSilver
10-26-07, 02:13 AM :bump:

Some more changes made. Input appreciated.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CryoSilver 10-21-07, 08:23 PM	Dalit, the People of the Mind The dalit area race that has come a long way from their primitive origins. They are a race few in number, but great in power, choosing to live apart from the rest of the world and seek the furtherance of their ineffable goals. Little is known about them, and few other creatures have had the chance to meet a dalit that did not choose to be met. Personality: Dailt may seem to be very impatient or patronizing toward those they consider to be less intelligent than themselves (eg: most everyone). As a very long-lived, intelligent race, they tend to take the long view, but by that same token, they think very fast. The dalit cultural phobia of being touched is often quite evident as well. Physical Description: Dalit look like nothing so much as large, fleshy blobs with vestigial limbs: four legs and four arms, all withered nearly to uselessness. They have weak eyes, but very keen ears. Dalit vary in color from blinding white to very fair. The most striking feature of a dalit is its “third eye,” a crystalline outcropping about the size of a fist that slowly moves about the dalit’s body. No non-dalit knows what purpose it serves. Relations: The dalit do not care to associate with most other races. What contact they have is generally with psions and wizards, or with the more intelligent races, such as dragons, mind flayers and some outsiders. Alignment: Most dalit are neutral, with some tending toward law. The contemplative and introspective nature of their culture does not lend itself much to moralizing. Religion: Dalit acknowledge the gods only as more powerful beings than themselves, and do not worship any god as a people. Some individual dalit, usually those who have more contact with other races may offer supplication, but the practice is frowned upon. Language: Dalit communicate solely by telepathy, but often understand several languages. Names: Dalit do not have names; they can recognize each other by the subtle differences in their psychic auras. When dealing with outsiders, they often use the name of their contact, a custom that is often quite perturbing to that contact. Adventures: Young dalit sometimes adventure to gain perspective on the world, and to report how things have changed to their elders. Other than that, a dalit who associates too much with the “lesser races” may be cast out of the community and forced to make its way in the world. Dalit Racial Traits • Aberration creature type. Note: Dalit are non-humanoid, and require special armor. Also note that a dalit has four arms and four legs, and the attendant bonuses. • -6 Str, -4 Dex, +4 Int, +4 Wis: Dalit are weak and clumsy, but extremely intelligent. A dalit’s Intelligence score increases by 1 point every decade, as its mind matures. • Medium size • Scorn Earth: as the elocater ability. Speed 30 ft • Telepathy. A dalit can communicate with any creature within 100 feet telepathically • Poor vision: a dalit’s vision is half as good as a human’s, and it takes a -4 racial penalty on Spot checks • +2 racial bonus on Listen checks • Amorphous Body: a dalit's body is more or less a floating blob with few distinct features. Critical hits and other such effects suffer a 25% chance of failure against a dalit (like the lesser fortification power for armor). • Dalit do not eat. Instead, if they spend one hour per day within ten feet of another living creature with Intelligence 3 or higher, they can feed off the radiant psychic energy. This does not harm the creature being fed off of. • Power Points: a dalit has a pool of 3 power points, plus one per level gained and knows Synesthete. It can also use Far Hand at will at no cost. Every four levels, it gains access to a new power with a level equal to half its character level or less. • Inertial Armor: a dalit can generate a field of psychic energy around itself. It has a +4 armor bonus to AC that applies even against touch attacks (like the power). This bonus increases by 1 point for each 3 levels the dalit gains. • Third Eye: If a dalit’s third eye is covered, it cannot use any psychic powers, and it falls to the ground, where its speed is reduced to 5 feet. A dalit psion can detach and use its third eye as a psicrystal, but if it is ever out of line of sight of the dalit, the dalit suffers the same penalty as if it were covered. Also, if the third eye is ever broken, the dalit takes 1 point of Constitution damage per hour until it is restored (by Limited Wish, Wish, or Miracle). • Favored class: psion • LA: +3
Finfreeze 10-21-07, 09:46 PM	"Dalit" ("oppressed") is the Hindi word for what most English-speaking people (or at least my old history textbooks) call the "untouchable" caste. Although apparently, "Scheduled Caste" is the official term now. Whatever the case may be, this race is not LA +3. The flight is worse than the fly spell and has a harsh restriction. They have a net ability score penalty, with bonuses only in mental stats—which tend to scare horribly with level adjustments. In addition, it has a great weakness in its Third Eye. Not to mention it can't see all that well. The mental stat bonuses and the power point bump don't make up for the fact that you'll be behind several manifester levels and miss out on the later levels where you get 29847295470590 billion power points (a bit of a pet peeve with the power point system). Suggestions if you want to keep this LA +3... 1. Tone down the penalties, pump up the mental stat bonuses. Consider adding a charisma or constitution bonus. 2. Remove the restriction on flying, and either increase the speed and/or give them perfect mobility. 3. Give them +1-2 power points per level and a bonus power or two known so they can do something with those bonus points. 4. Probably needs something else. 5. Maybe reduce the penalty for destroying a third eye to a penalty to all stats until you can restore it or create a new one? • Aberration. • -4 Str, -2 Dex, +6 Int, +4 Wis, +2 Cha. • Medium size. • Speed: Fly 30 feet (perfect). • Telepathy 100'. • -4 racial penalty on spot checks. • +2 racial bonus on Listen, Knowledge (psionics), and Psicraft checks. • Automatically feed off of the psionic energy of creatures with at least 3 intelligence. • +2 bonus power points at first character level, +2 bonus point points at each additional character level. • Bonus Powers Known: Any three first level powers. Manifester level for these bonus powers equal to its character level +2. The DCs are Intelligence-based. • Psi-like Ability: Far Hand at will. Manifester level for this psi-like is equal to its character level +2. • Third Eye. • Favored class: Psion. • LA: +2.
CryoSilver 10-21-07, 09:55 PM	I know what the word means. I thought it sounded cool and thats the only reason I used it, though. It doesn't NEED to be LA +3. Thanks for the input though. I'm not really familiar with psionics.
Finfreeze 10-21-07, 10:32 PM	Ah, I guess that's fine then.
CryoSilver 10-22-07, 11:17 PM	I remember the other reason I named them Dalit now. I was gonna give them an AC bonus, a la Mage Armor, or the psionic variant thereof (Inertial Armor?). "Untouchable." It's a terrible pun, but I COULD have named them "Hammers." Please note I've made a couple changes.
RobbyPants 10-23-07, 03:48 PM	I like the fluff (and the basics of the mechanics) on these guys. I agree with Finfreeze in that they're a bit weak for a LA +3 race. Also, if you want them to have a cross between flight and levitation (but use an existing published ability), consider using the Scorn Earth (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/elocater.htm#scornEarth) ability the elocator (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/elocater.htm) gets (XPH), which lets them float a small distance above the earth. You have to see if you like the ability, but I thought it might be a simple comprimise. "Untouchable." It's a terrible pun, but I COULD have named them "Hammers." Stop!....... Dalit time! Sorry :P
CryoSilver 10-23-07, 05:40 PM	It is a simple compromise. Like I said, I don't do much with psionics, so I never would have noticed it. Thanks. Also, losing the third eye now deals 1 point of Con damage/hour, which will probably give the character a little more time to get the spell cast, as well as allowing death to be held off by Restoration and such. At higher levels, even long enough for an allied spellcaster to rest and prep the right spell.
CryoSilver 10-26-07, 02:13 AM	:bump: Some more changes made. Input appreciated.