Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kearif 03-05-07, 02:43 PM	I have created a new race of LA +0 reptilian humanoids, the Butaan. But I'm only good at crunchy, not chewy; so I need some suggestions for Personality, Relations, Alignment, Butaan Lands, Religion, Language, Names, and Adventurers. I have some base stuff in the racial traits below please use that as a starting point. Butaan Racial Traits +2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma: Butaan are naturally agile and graceful, but they are not social creatures. Medium: As medium creatures, butaan have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size. Butaan base land speed is 30 feet. Butaan also have a climb speed equal to their land speed. -4 racial penalty on Fortitude saving throws against cold: Butaan are exothermic (cold-blooded) and are vulnerable to cold temperatures and cold damage. Scent: Butaan has the ability to detect approaching enemies, locate hidden foes, find food, and track by sense of smell. They can identity familiar odors lust as humans do familiar sights. A butaan do not use its nose for this ability, but its forked tongue. The tongue collects particles from the air and moves them to the smell receptors on the roof of the butaan’s mouth. Butaan can detect opponents within 30 feet by sense of smell. If the opponent is upwind, the range increases to 60 feet; if downwind it drops to 15 feet. Strong scents, such as smoke or rotting garbage, can be detected at twice the normal ranges. Overpowering scents, like skunk musk or troglodyte stench, can detected at triple the normal ranges. When a butaan detects a scent, the exact location of the source is not revealed - only its presence within range. The butaan can take a move action to note the direction of the scent. Whenever the butaan comes within 5 feet of the source, it pinpoints the location of the creature. A Butaan with the Track feat and the scent ability can follow tracks by smell, making a Wisdom (or Survival) check to find or follow a track. The typical DC for following a fresh trail by scent is 10 (no matter what kind of surface holds the scent). This DC increases or decreases depending on how strong the quarry’s odor is, the number of creatures, and the age of the trail. For each hour that the trail is cold the DC increases by 2. The ability otherwise follows the rules for the Track feat. Butaan tracking by scent ignore the effects of surface conditions and poor visibility. Weapon Familiarity: Butaan may treat bolas, kamas, and whips as martial weapons, rather than exotic weapon. These weapons are used by the butaan for their ability to trip opponents and as such butaan who are trained in combat are skilled in their use and all butaan are raised near these weapons. (DM’s may wish to add or substitute other weapons that are known for their capacity for trip attacks) +2 racial bonus on trip attacks: Butaan specialize in tripping their opponents and attacking them while they’re down. +2 racial bonus on Climb and Survival checks. Butaan live in untamed forests and have to get to the top of the trees to get their favorite fruit. +2 social bonus on Intimidate checks. Butaan have very sharp teeth and a generally fearsome appearance. Despite their calm personalities, butaan often find that they have no trouble scaring others. This bonus is an option to the DM and should used or not used on a case-by-case basis. Some races and cultures may not be bothered by the butaan's appearance; such has the Yuan-Ti or Lizardfolk. Automatic Languages: Butaan. Bonus Languages: Common, Elven, Gnoll, Halfling, and Sylvan. Most butaan only know their own rarely used language but, particularly intelligent butaan sometimes learn the languages of the races that live on the ground. Favored Class: Ranger. A multiclass butaan’s ranger class does not count when determining whether he takes an experience point penalty for multiclassing. Butaan are often loners and the ranger’s self-sufficiency comes easily to them.
shadowsofwhite 03-05-07, 08:41 PM	This is at least a +1 LA. Sorry, but a +1 natural armor AND scent is really powerful. Scent is a crazy ability already.
Huzzah! 03-05-07, 11:54 PM	Butaan? Do you say it like Bhutan, that little country above India?
Kearif 03-06-07, 03:56 PM	shadowsofwhite, sorry but no, Scent is actually a very week and limited ability. Let’s compare it to Darkvision 60ft. A dwarf can tell you where (distance [within 60ft] and location) something is, what something is, as long he/she has line of sight. A creature with scent can tell that there is something with FAMALIAR smell within 30ft, but not where (neither direction nor location [unless it takes a move action to determine direction]). Really without the Track feat Scent is almost useless. The butaan has scent because is goes with the forked tongue, it has the forked tongue because it is based on a REAL species of monitor lizard. Huzzah!, if you can find it there is an Animal Planet Special about the species of lizard that I named the butaan after (and based it on).
Joush Mark 03-06-07, 04:15 PM	It's a vary powerful creature for +0 LA +2 dex is balanced by -2 con in elves and -2 str in halflings. It's a vary big bonus that isn't offset by a cha penalty. Mostly.. I'd say that this race would be roughly balanced if it had just scent or natural armor, but with both I would say that it is certainly too powerful for +0 LA.
gullas 03-06-07, 05:50 PM	maybe giving the -2 in con :confused:
Return of the Flumph 03-06-07, 06:32 PM	Take away the martial weapon proficiencies and trip bonuses, and it should be LA +0 (although still on the strong side).
Kearif 03-08-07, 02:37 PM	READ IT BEFORE YOU PEACH IT!!!! The natural armor is only there because someone at WotC decided that scaly skin is tougher than mammalian skin. I am planning on submitting this at Regdar's Repository, so I thought it would be best to follow their example. I have pet snakes and I have helped friends take care of monitor lizards (this race is based on Gray's Monitor, a fruit eating monitor lizard) and I know that their skin is not that tough so I will probably delete the Natural Armor +1. The trip attacks and trip related weapons also come from the monitor. Monitor lizards are known for their ability to use their tail as a whip on enemies or prey to bring them down. The butaan are Humanoids not Monstrous Humanoid and thus don't have tails, so I gave them the trip bonus and trip weapon FAMILIARITY to reflect the monitors whip-like tail. I am not a follower of the belief that some of the ability scores are more useful or important than the others in a general sense. Charisma is the only thing that made sense to put the minus in, except for maybe intelligence. Anyone who has spent time with monitors will tell you that they are strong, agile, tough, and show some natural wisdom, but they are not social and not pretty. I didn't the put a minus in intelligenec for two reasons. 1) Monitor lizards aren't stupid, they aren't especially bright but they're not door knobs either. 2) I don't want people to play butaans named Ohg! And why is everyone ignoring the Cold-Blooded entry. None of the races in the Player’s Handbook have disadvantages like that. Since someone decided to compare butaan to elves, let’s compare butaan to elves. Both races have a -2 in one ability score and a +2 in another. Both races have a +2 bonus in each of three skills. Butaan have scent (which I have already pointed out is a weak ability), elves have low-light vision and the ability to locate hidden doors just by standing near them. Elves have weapon PROFICIENCY with 4 weapons butaan have weapon FAMILIARITY with 3. Elves are IMMUNE to magical sleep and resistant to other enchantments, butaan are good at tripping people and VULNERABLE to cold. Even with the natural armor how is it that people keep saying that the butaan are over-powered? I carefully prevented them from becoming overpowered, and I am offended that everyone seems to think that I failed at that. The level adjustment is NOT a matter of debate, because I already know that it is in fact quite balanced. Please, PEACH the background information not the traits. Like I said, I need help with the story and enhancing the background.
Bhaal006 03-08-07, 02:49 PM	Bugbears have a LA +1 and the have 3 NA, +4 str, +2con, +2 Dex, -2 Cha. this seems well balanced to me.
Kearif 03-08-07, 02:54 PM	I have removed to natural armor, It really isn't accurite to the lizard, and I've changed the +2 to Intimidate it now reads: +2 social bonus on Intimidate checks. Butaan have very sharp teeth and a generally fearsome appearance. Despite their calm personalities, butaan often find that they have no trouble scaring others. This bonus is an option to the DM and should used or not used on a case-by-case basis. Some races and cultures may not be bothered by the butaan's appearance; such has the Yuan-Ti or Lizardfolk. Thank you for your support, Bhaal006.
Raptorial 03-08-07, 03:23 PM	If you want it based on the butaan, you might want a Climb speed. I like this race. I would love to see more races based on real reptile species.
Kearif 03-09-07, 05:29 PM	On Climb speed; I wish I'd thought of that! Good show, Raptorial! I'd have to get rid of the +2 to Climb because having a natural climb speed gives a +8 to Climb. Does anyone think Climb 40' would be overpowering?
Bhaal006 03-09-07, 05:51 PM	Give it a climb speed equal to its base land speed.
Kearif 03-09-07, 05:52 PM	Give it a climb speed equal to its base land speed. Don't humans have that?
Bhaal006 03-09-07, 05:56 PM	I'm pretty sure you climb at half your base land speed if not slower.
Kearif 03-09-07, 06:10 PM	:doh: I can't believe I forgot that!! How about this, "(added on to the base speed info) Butaan can climb at their land speed. Butaan are not a predatory race and often have to hide from predators in the upper brances." This way a butaan barbarian will walk and climb 40'.
morbid_freak 03-09-07, 06:32 PM	Eh, in my games this would probably be balanced. More or less. The +2 trip and weapon proficiences would make a character that makes use of those abilities quite effective in combat. Except against things that are resistant or cannot be tripped. Which can be quite often depending on the DM. Eh, balanced enough for play. Maybe not enough in the long run.
YabaTheWhat 03-13-07, 11:35 AM	Butaan Racial Traits +2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma: Butaan are naturally agile and graceful, but they are not social creatures. [+4-3 = 1 FP] Medium: As medium creatures, butaan have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size. [0 FP] Butaan base land speed is 30 feet. [0 FP] -4 racial penalty on Fortitude saving throws against cold: Butaan are exothermic (cold-blooded) and are vulnerable to cold temperatures and cold damage. [-0.5 FP (see below)] Scent (standard range) [6 FP] Weapon Familiarity: Butaan may treat bolas, kamas, and whips as martial weapons, rather than exotic weapons. [1.5 FP] +2 racial bonus on trip attacks: Butaan specialize in tripping their opponents and attacking them while they’re down. [1 FP] +2 racial bonus on Climb and Survival checks. [2 FP] +2 social bonus on Intimidate checks. [1 FP] Automatic Languages: Butaan. Bonus Languages: Common, Elven, Gnoll, Halfling, and Sylvan. [0 FP] Favored Class: Ranger. [0 FP] Total = 12 FP, LA+0 balanced. The cold vulnerability would be worth more if it wasn't limited to fortitude saves. Many cold-based attack spells use reflex saves.
Kearif 03-13-07, 02:45 PM	That you very much, YabaTheWhat, for completely killing the overpowered/balanced arguement once and for all. Now, Can we please get back to the point of this thread. I still need help with Personality, Relations, Alignment, Butaan Lands, Religion, Language, Names, and Adventurers.
Raptorial 03-14-07, 01:10 AM	Let me see... Hmm, I have some possible suggestions in those matters. Personality-I can guess that the Butaan might be somewhat timid around bigger things but still an overall brave species. Relations-Most likely it would be a good idea to have Butaan be small community dwellers, creating canopy structures to live in. Alignment-I'd vote for usually chaotic neutral or chaotic good. Lands-Some pristine jungle land. Religion-Nature worship led by a shaman. Language-The written form could be clawlike writing and the spoken form consisting of growls, hisses, and guttural croaks. Names-Pula'kaliskisan, Malakas'kumalmot, Malayo'magugulatin (Lizard or jungle-related Filipino words used for the two parts of the name). Adventurers-Most Butaan would prefer to stick to jungles, but there are those that may leave the comfort of the humid treelands to other climates, usually if their homes are destroyed or torn down.
Kearif 03-14-07, 08:29 PM	Relations-Most likely it would be a good idea to have Butaan be small community dwellers, creating canopy structures to live in. Relations refers to relations with other races. I've rather figured that they'd be loners only really spending time with butaan during mating and caring for children (the female's job) (I'm not being sexist, in most animal species that even bother to care for their young it's the female's job. Perhaps a crocodilian social structure would work will, minus the whole biggest reptile gets the chicks thing. I love the canopy structures idea, that should go into Lands Alignment-I'd vote for usually chaotic neutral or chaotic good. It has been suggested to me by other people I've talked to that they should be true neutral. why do you pick chaotic neutral or chaotic good Lands-Some pristine jungle land. Religion-Nature worship led by a shaman. These make perfect sense to me. Language-The written form could be clawlike writing and the spoken form consisting of growls, hisses, and guttural croaks. Names-Pula'kaliskisan, Malakas'kumalmot, Malayo'magugulatin (Lizard or jungle-related Filipino words used for the two parts of the name). Adventurers-Most Butaan would prefer to stick to jungles, but there are those that may leave the comfort of the humid treelands to other climates, usually if their homes are destroyed or torn down. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Where did you get those words for the names? I'd love to get some more names on that list. Does anyone else have any ideas? Any expansions on these or in place of them?
Kolbane_Ferretmaster 04-15-07, 11:47 PM	an expansion on the shaman thing; The shaman is the advisor to the chieftain (or whatever the leader is called), and tends the shrine to the gods. The most virtuous children are chosen to aid the shamen, and when the shaman dies, a ritual happens, where a dagger is held in the air by all candidates. They then drop it, and whoever the popint faces has been 'chosen' by the gods to become the new shaman. Shamen are considered equally powerful as the chieftain, but the it is the chieftain who rules the tribe. All major decisions, however, are decided on by both chief and shaman. The shaman wears a simple cloth robe and also wears a cloak. The dagger is always kept at the side, on a belt, but is not sacrificial, and is only used for performing the above ritual. Just my 2 coppers.
FatMonkey13 04-15-07, 11:58 PM	Seems good to me But why does it not speak common automatically?
the_great_mighty_nerd 04-16-07, 01:05 AM	I had a friend who had a lizard I think it was monitor, it just sat on a rock all day and ate crickets that got near: that probably demonstrates behavior, stat wise con is a better match than dex: that lizard was a tough ************ but a bit slow
Raptorial 04-16-07, 01:57 AM	Captive lizards tend to lack the get-up-and-goness of wild ones. A perentie or savannah monitor in the wild can book it if the need arrives.
Kearif 04-16-07, 04:22 PM	But why does it not speak common automatically?Just to be different. Also, I figure no one seen Butaan since well be for the formatiopn of the Common language. I had a friend who had a lizard I think it was monitor, it just sat on a rock all day and ate crickets that got near: that probably demonstrates behavior, stat wise con is a better match than dex: that lizard was a tough ************ but a bit slow Captive lizards tend to lack the get-up-and-goness of wild ones. A perentie or savannah monitor in the wild can book it if the need arrives. Raptorial is quite right. the_great_mighty_nerd, you should consider watching a science/nature video of these things, you'd be surprised. Also, the species of monitor lizard that this race is based on is more dexterious than tough.
the_great_mighty_nerd 04-16-07, 04:59 PM	this is probably the first time I've ever been told that I dont watch enough TV
Kearif 06-16-07, 05:52 PM	Butaan are a litttle known, rarely seen species of reptilian humanoids Personality: Physical Description: Relations: Alignment: Butaan Lands: Religion: Language: Names: Male Names: Female Names: Adventurers:
turalisj 06-17-07, 02:10 AM	Total = 12 FP, LA+0 balanced. The cold vulnerability would be worth more if it wasn't limited to fortitude saves. Many cold-based attack spells use reflex saves. What is FP? And how do you figure out FP?
Kearif 06-20-07, 02:12 PM	Send a PM the YabaTheWhat.