Playable Races with "Scent" [Archive] - Wizards Community

Playable Races with "Scent" [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Platstud
07-04-07, 10:10 AM Can anyone list some playable races with the "Scent" ability? I'll probably only be using Core and Eberron, but feel free to mention others(please include which book(s) they are in). I am specifically looking for one with low or no level adjustment, but again, feel free to include others. Thanks in advance. :)
runestar
07-04-07, 10:16 AM I houserule orcs and half-orcs to have the scent ability.:)
Platstud
07-04-07, 10:44 AM That sounds like a reasonable house rule. However, I am looking for official stuff.
Thiez
07-04-07, 10:46 AM I houserule orcs and half-orcs to have the scent ability.:)

:love: I so want to play a cool orc character and scent would be great. IIRC the 3.0 DMG suggested it as a feat for orcs and half-orcs, but it's not in our current edition.
Lawlicron
07-04-07, 10:49 AM I don't think hes looking for house rules or older edition rules that let half-orcs and orcs gain scent, so stop suggesting them.

I think one of the shifter traits is scent for a minute for every shifter feat you have. Thats within your books too. I also think there is a wolf-like race in an issue of dragon that has the scent ability iirc. But I don't know the issue # sorry.
Platstud
07-04-07, 10:52 AM I think one of the shifter traits is scent for a minute for every shifter feat you have.

I did look at this. Does anyone know how this works, exactly? Can you track using scent, even if you can only use it for a few minutes at a time?
Thiez
07-04-07, 10:57 AM I very much doubt you can. The moment you lose your scent you don't know where to go anymore, unless you are tracking creatures that can be tracked without scent, but that'd make scent useless.
Platstud
07-04-07, 11:06 AM I very much doubt you can. The moment you lose your scent you don't know where to go anymore, unless you are tracking creatures that can be tracked without scent, but that'd make scent useless.

Yeah, that's what I figured. :(

Anyway, it seems as though no one knows any other races with this ability. Thanks anyway guys, guess it's time to start asking my DM about house rules.
Neutronium_Dragon
07-04-07, 11:24 AM If it's low level adjustment then I believe that catfolk have Scent, and they're +1 LA with no racial hit dice.
Platstud
07-04-07, 12:02 PM If it's low level adjustment then I believe that catfolk have Scent, and they're +1 LA with no racial hit dice.

Thanks. Is this from Races of the Wild?
Majick
07-04-07, 12:34 PM What class you wanna play? Take a level in Swordsage or Warblade and then take the 1st level stance from the Tiger Claw school that gives you scent (as long as your concious i believe)

:cool:
Malchius
07-04-07, 12:44 PM I'm pretty sure Minotaurs have scent and I this Bugbear's have scent but you'd have a LA and a couple of racial HD for each of those
Neutronium_Dragon
07-04-07, 12:48 PM I think that Races of the Wild covers catfolk, as does the older Miniatures Handbook.
Platstud
07-04-07, 01:02 PM I'm pretty sure Minotaurs have scent and I this Bugbear's have scent but you'd have a LA and a couple of racial HD for each of those

Thanks anyway, but we'll be starting at level 1, so LA +1 is probably max, but I may convince the DM to allow LA +2. Five is right out.
Kadasbrass
07-04-07, 01:06 PM Catfolk do not have scent, neither do bugbears nor minotuars. I would of remembered if any of the three races had a cool ability like that :P

I've personally made gnolls into wolf-like race and gave them scent, and catfolk could be deemed worthy of such a houserule too. But unfortantly your not here looking for houserules and not many playable races have scent. Lycon template gives it I do believe, not sure if its animal/hybred form only or if its all forms.
Platstud
07-04-07, 01:09 PM What class you wanna play? Take a level in Swordsage or Warblade and then take the 1st level stance from the Tiger Claw school that gives you scent (as long as your concious i believe)

:cool:

I'm not really a fan of one-level dips, if only for aesthetic reasons. I plan to play a ranger who tracks with scent. If I can't find another way, I may do this. Thanks for the idea.
Platstud
07-04-07, 01:11 PM Catfolk do not have scent, neither do bugbears nor minotuars. I would of remembered if any of the three races had a cool ability like that :P

I don't know about Catfolk, but:

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/bugbear.htm

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/minotaur.htm
Yadot
07-04-07, 01:14 PM I believe that the the Lupins from the Dragon Compendium have Scent at LA 0.

EDIT: I'm wrong, see below.
Platstud
07-04-07, 01:23 PM I believe that the the Lupins from the Dragon Compendium have Scent at LA 0.

By Dragon Compendium, do you mean Draconomicon? Or is this a different book? Also, can anyone give me a rough idea of what this race is like(without violating copyright) before I rush out to buy this book? Thanks.
Yadot
07-04-07, 01:38 PM By Dragon Compendium, do you mean Draconomicon? Or is this a different book? Also, can anyone give me a rough idea of what this race is like(without violating copyright) before I rush out to buy this book? Thanks.
Sorry, but I made a mistake. Lupins only have the Acute Sense of Smell ability. It's like Scent only non-automatic - although it does aid in tracking. By Dragon Compendium I mean the book released by Piazo that compiled some of the best material from Dragon magazine.

Lupins are humanoid dogs that are believed to be descended from werewolves that rejected their murderous ways. They culture revolves around the outdoors and nature, in a similar way to Eberron's Shifters. Their stats are like Humans only with abilities related to scent and bonuses to hunting werewolves and living in the outdoors. You might find more information on Crystalkeep.com.
Platstud
07-04-07, 01:43 PM Sorry, but I made a mistake. Lupins only have the Acute Sense of Smell ability. It's like Scent only non-automatic - although it does aid in tracking. By Dragon Compendium I mean the book released by Piazo that compiled some of the best material from Dragon magazine.

Lupins are humanoid dogs that are believed to be descended from werewolves that rejected their murderous ways. They culture revolves around the outdoors and nature, in a similar way to Eberron's Shifters. Their stats are like Humans only with abilities related to scent and bonuses to hunting werewolves and living in the outdoors. You might find more information on Crystalkeep.com.

Cool. Thanks a lot.
Kadasbrass
07-04-07, 02:30 PM I never noticed that about bugbears and minotuars. Thou it doesn't make sense for them to have scent and not gnolls... but in case of bugbears I hate it when the stat block says something and the "As character section" leaves out some abilities...
Platstud
07-04-07, 02:37 PM I never noticed that about bugbears and minotuars. Thou it doesn't make sense for them to have scent and not gnolls... but in case of bugbears I hate it when the stat block says something and the "As character section" leaves out some abilities...

Ummm..."Scent" is listed under Bugbears as Characters.
Kelmourne
07-04-07, 04:12 PM Maybe this has already been said but in a Dragon Magazine (The one with the wizard on the front, somewhere between #310-#325) there is an ECL +0 race called lupins that gets scent. They are really cool. They also get bonuses on it when trsacking lycanthropes, which they hate because people often attack them after mis-taking them for werewolves.
KhosatralKhel
07-04-07, 05:17 PM Lupins (as of Dragon Compendium) do not have full scent. They instead have acute smell: Wis check to scent lycanthropes as normal scent ability, and assorted modifiers to tracking (scent clues) and identifying individuals (+5 vs disguise). So on and what not.

Tibbits (I prefer "catwere" also in Dragon Compendium) have full scent but only in catform.

Bugbears FTW!
Firestick42
07-04-07, 05:39 PM Dromites, Expanded Psionics Handbook. +1 LA Link (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicRaces.htm#dromites)
Platstud
07-05-07, 11:16 AM Dromites, Expanded Psionics Handbook. +1 LA Link (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicRaces.htm#dromites)

Oh man, I forgot Dromites have Scent! Thanks! I'll probably use this.
RobbyPants
07-05-07, 11:25 AM IIRC the 3.0 DMG suggested it as a feat for orcs and half-orcs, but it's not in our current edition.
I think the way it worked was that in 3.0, scent was a feat intended for monsters, but WotC suggested allowing it for half-orcs and gnomes. Since then, it's been decided that it's too strong for a feat.
Morphail_o
07-05-07, 12:21 PM Lupins are humanoid dogs that are believed to be descended from werewolves that rejected their murderous ways. They culture revolves around the outdoors and nature, in a similar way to Eberron's Shifters. Their stats are like Humans only with abilities related to scent and bonuses to hunting werewolves and living in the outdoors. You might find more information on Crystalkeep.com.

Yes, Lupins a race from the Mystara campaign setting, first appeared in dragon magazine's Voyages of the Princess Arc by Bruce Heard. Search The Vaults of Pandius (www.pandius.com) for more info on Mystara.
LokiOdinstorm
07-05-07, 03:08 PM Could be a memory glitch, but I thought one of the races from the 3.0 Oriental Adventures had scent? Nezumi maybe? Or the ape-folk I forgot the name of? *shrugs* I'd go look it up, but well, as the saying goes, I'd be more apathetic if I wasn't so lethargic.
RobbyPants
07-05-07, 04:08 PM Yes, Nezumi had (have) scent.
bkdubs123
07-05-07, 04:16 PM Nezumi only sort of have scent though. I remember reading them thinking, "oh cool these guys have scent," but then I read a little further and found that it only allows them to pick up a racial feat that gives them scent.

You can however do that at level one and play your ranger as you please.
Bihlbo
07-05-07, 08:47 PM I think the way it worked was that in 3.0, scent was a feat intended for monsters, but WotC suggested allowing it for half-orcs and gnomes. Since then, it's been decided that it's too strong for a feat.

I agree that it's too strong for a feat. It's one of the few non-magical means of negating Hide and Move Silently. Since it also allows you to know the location of everyone within 5 feet, it hinders invisibility too. With a wolf animal companion in the group we have to constantly remind the DM that the wolf automatically knows that there are bad guys nearby, all the time, no checks involved. And every time he looks at us like we're trying to pull a fast one on him because it sounds so uber considering it's just a little animal. Oh yeah, it it lets the wolf track too. It's like three feats in one.
WolfHati
07-05-07, 09:42 PM One of the shifter traits lets you use the scent ability while shifted. Also, the weretouched master level 3 ability grants you scent all the time, so if you want to use one of the other shifter traits, you can just take some levels in weretouched master.

Also, it seems reasonable to have some sort of stink bomb that blocks the scent ability. Actually. I think I've seen one in a book somewhere, but I don't remember exactly where. Complete adventurer would be my random guess.
Otto the Bugbear
07-05-07, 09:59 PM Ummm..."Scent" is listed under Bugbears as Characters.

Ummm... no, it's not. At least it's not when you use the official version of the SRD, instead of the version "some guy" put on a web site.

BUGBEARS AS CHARACTERS
Bugbear characters possess the following racial traits.
— +4 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, –2 Charisma.
—Medium size.
—A bugbear’s base land speed is 30 feet.
—Darkvision out to 60 feet.
—Racial Hit Dice: A bugbear begins with three levels of humanoid, which provide 3d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +2, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +3, and Will +1.
—Racial Skills: A bugbear’s humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 6 x (2 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Climb, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, and Spot.
—Racial Feats: A bugbear’s humanoid levels give it two feats.
— +3 natural armor bonus.
— +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks.
—Automatic Languages: Common, Goblin. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Elven, Giant, Gnoll, Orc.
—Favored Class: Rogue.
—Level adjustment +1.

Here's the link to the official SRD, if anyone is interested.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35

And, yes, the fact that bugbears as characters don't get Scent makes me:rant:
Kadasbrass
07-06-07, 01:31 AM Yeah it was the wotc srd I use, downloaded them all awhile back. The statblocks are hard to read sometimes and the scent ability never stuck out and character section leaves it out (thou if the statblock has it, its good enough for me).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Platstud 07-04-07, 10:10 AM	Can anyone list some playable races with the "Scent" ability? I'll probably only be using Core and Eberron, but feel free to mention others(please include which book(s) they are in). I am specifically looking for one with low or no level adjustment, but again, feel free to include others. Thanks in advance. :)
runestar 07-04-07, 10:16 AM	I houserule orcs and half-orcs to have the scent ability.:)
Platstud 07-04-07, 10:44 AM	That sounds like a reasonable house rule. However, I am looking for official stuff.
Thiez 07-04-07, 10:46 AM	I houserule orcs and half-orcs to have the scent ability.:) :love: I so want to play a cool orc character and scent would be great. IIRC the 3.0 DMG suggested it as a feat for orcs and half-orcs, but it's not in our current edition.
Lawlicron 07-04-07, 10:49 AM	I don't think hes looking for house rules or older edition rules that let half-orcs and orcs gain scent, so stop suggesting them. I think one of the shifter traits is scent for a minute for every shifter feat you have. Thats within your books too. I also think there is a wolf-like race in an issue of dragon that has the scent ability iirc. But I don't know the issue # sorry.
Platstud 07-04-07, 10:52 AM	I think one of the shifter traits is scent for a minute for every shifter feat you have. I did look at this. Does anyone know how this works, exactly? Can you track using scent, even if you can only use it for a few minutes at a time?
Thiez 07-04-07, 10:57 AM	I very much doubt you can. The moment you lose your scent you don't know where to go anymore, unless you are tracking creatures that can be tracked without scent, but that'd make scent useless.
Platstud 07-04-07, 11:06 AM	I very much doubt you can. The moment you lose your scent you don't know where to go anymore, unless you are tracking creatures that can be tracked without scent, but that'd make scent useless. Yeah, that's what I figured. :( Anyway, it seems as though no one knows any other races with this ability. Thanks anyway guys, guess it's time to start asking my DM about house rules.
Neutronium_Dragon 07-04-07, 11:24 AM	If it's low level adjustment then I believe that catfolk have Scent, and they're +1 LA with no racial hit dice.
Platstud 07-04-07, 12:02 PM	If it's low level adjustment then I believe that catfolk have Scent, and they're +1 LA with no racial hit dice. Thanks. Is this from Races of the Wild?
Majick 07-04-07, 12:34 PM	What class you wanna play? Take a level in Swordsage or Warblade and then take the 1st level stance from the Tiger Claw school that gives you scent (as long as your concious i believe) :cool:
Malchius 07-04-07, 12:44 PM	I'm pretty sure Minotaurs have scent and I this Bugbear's have scent but you'd have a LA and a couple of racial HD for each of those
Neutronium_Dragon 07-04-07, 12:48 PM	I think that Races of the Wild covers catfolk, as does the older Miniatures Handbook.
Platstud 07-04-07, 01:02 PM	I'm pretty sure Minotaurs have scent and I this Bugbear's have scent but you'd have a LA and a couple of racial HD for each of those Thanks anyway, but we'll be starting at level 1, so LA +1 is probably max, but I may convince the DM to allow LA +2. Five is right out.
Kadasbrass 07-04-07, 01:06 PM	Catfolk do not have scent, neither do bugbears nor minotuars. I would of remembered if any of the three races had a cool ability like that :P I've personally made gnolls into wolf-like race and gave them scent, and catfolk could be deemed worthy of such a houserule too. But unfortantly your not here looking for houserules and not many playable races have scent. Lycon template gives it I do believe, not sure if its animal/hybred form only or if its all forms.
Platstud 07-04-07, 01:09 PM	What class you wanna play? Take a level in Swordsage or Warblade and then take the 1st level stance from the Tiger Claw school that gives you scent (as long as your concious i believe) :cool: I'm not really a fan of one-level dips, if only for aesthetic reasons. I plan to play a ranger who tracks with scent. If I can't find another way, I may do this. Thanks for the idea.
Platstud 07-04-07, 01:11 PM	Catfolk do not have scent, neither do bugbears nor minotuars. I would of remembered if any of the three races had a cool ability like that :P I don't know about Catfolk, but: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/bugbear.htm http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/minotaur.htm
Yadot 07-04-07, 01:14 PM	I believe that the the Lupins from the Dragon Compendium have Scent at LA 0. EDIT: I'm wrong, see below.
Platstud 07-04-07, 01:23 PM	I believe that the the Lupins from the Dragon Compendium have Scent at LA 0. By Dragon Compendium, do you mean Draconomicon? Or is this a different book? Also, can anyone give me a rough idea of what this race is like(without violating copyright) before I rush out to buy this book? Thanks.
Yadot 07-04-07, 01:38 PM	By Dragon Compendium, do you mean Draconomicon? Or is this a different book? Also, can anyone give me a rough idea of what this race is like(without violating copyright) before I rush out to buy this book? Thanks. Sorry, but I made a mistake. Lupins only have the Acute Sense of Smell ability. It's like Scent only non-automatic - although it does aid in tracking. By Dragon Compendium I mean the book released by Piazo that compiled some of the best material from Dragon magazine. Lupins are humanoid dogs that are believed to be descended from werewolves that rejected their murderous ways. They culture revolves around the outdoors and nature, in a similar way to Eberron's Shifters. Their stats are like Humans only with abilities related to scent and bonuses to hunting werewolves and living in the outdoors. You might find more information on Crystalkeep.com.
Platstud 07-04-07, 01:43 PM	Sorry, but I made a mistake. Lupins only have the Acute Sense of Smell ability. It's like Scent only non-automatic - although it does aid in tracking. By Dragon Compendium I mean the book released by Piazo that compiled some of the best material from Dragon magazine. Lupins are humanoid dogs that are believed to be descended from werewolves that rejected their murderous ways. They culture revolves around the outdoors and nature, in a similar way to Eberron's Shifters. Their stats are like Humans only with abilities related to scent and bonuses to hunting werewolves and living in the outdoors. You might find more information on Crystalkeep.com. Cool. Thanks a lot.
Kadasbrass 07-04-07, 02:30 PM	I never noticed that about bugbears and minotuars. Thou it doesn't make sense for them to have scent and not gnolls... but in case of bugbears I hate it when the stat block says something and the "As character section" leaves out some abilities...
Platstud 07-04-07, 02:37 PM	I never noticed that about bugbears and minotuars. Thou it doesn't make sense for them to have scent and not gnolls... but in case of bugbears I hate it when the stat block says something and the "As character section" leaves out some abilities... Ummm..."Scent" is listed under Bugbears as Characters.
Kelmourne 07-04-07, 04:12 PM	Maybe this has already been said but in a Dragon Magazine (The one with the wizard on the front, somewhere between #310-#325) there is an ECL +0 race called lupins that gets scent. They are really cool. They also get bonuses on it when trsacking lycanthropes, which they hate because people often attack them after mis-taking them for werewolves.
KhosatralKhel 07-04-07, 05:17 PM	Lupins (as of Dragon Compendium) do not have full scent. They instead have acute smell: Wis check to scent lycanthropes as normal scent ability, and assorted modifiers to tracking (scent clues) and identifying individuals (+5 vs disguise). So on and what not. Tibbits (I prefer "catwere" also in Dragon Compendium) have full scent but only in catform. Bugbears FTW!
Firestick42 07-04-07, 05:39 PM	Dromites, Expanded Psionics Handbook. +1 LA Link (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicRaces.htm#dromites)
Platstud 07-05-07, 11:16 AM	Dromites, Expanded Psionics Handbook. +1 LA Link (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicRaces.htm#dromites) Oh man, I forgot Dromites have Scent! Thanks! I'll probably use this.
RobbyPants 07-05-07, 11:25 AM	IIRC the 3.0 DMG suggested it as a feat for orcs and half-orcs, but it's not in our current edition. I think the way it worked was that in 3.0, scent was a feat intended for monsters, but WotC suggested allowing it for half-orcs and gnomes. Since then, it's been decided that it's too strong for a feat.
Morphail_o 07-05-07, 12:21 PM	Lupins are humanoid dogs that are believed to be descended from werewolves that rejected their murderous ways. They culture revolves around the outdoors and nature, in a similar way to Eberron's Shifters. Their stats are like Humans only with abilities related to scent and bonuses to hunting werewolves and living in the outdoors. You might find more information on Crystalkeep.com. Yes, Lupins a race from the Mystara campaign setting, first appeared in dragon magazine's Voyages of the Princess Arc by Bruce Heard. Search The Vaults of Pandius (www.pandius.com) for more info on Mystara.
LokiOdinstorm 07-05-07, 03:08 PM	Could be a memory glitch, but I thought one of the races from the 3.0 Oriental Adventures had scent? Nezumi maybe? Or the ape-folk I forgot the name of? shrugs I'd go look it up, but well, as the saying goes, I'd be more apathetic if I wasn't so lethargic.
RobbyPants 07-05-07, 04:08 PM	Yes, Nezumi had (have) scent.
bkdubs123 07-05-07, 04:16 PM	Nezumi only sort of have scent though. I remember reading them thinking, "oh cool these guys have scent," but then I read a little further and found that it only allows them to pick up a racial feat that gives them scent. You can however do that at level one and play your ranger as you please.
Bihlbo 07-05-07, 08:47 PM	I think the way it worked was that in 3.0, scent was a feat intended for monsters, but WotC suggested allowing it for half-orcs and gnomes. Since then, it's been decided that it's too strong for a feat. I agree that it's too strong for a feat. It's one of the few non-magical means of negating Hide and Move Silently. Since it also allows you to know the location of everyone within 5 feet, it hinders invisibility too. With a wolf animal companion in the group we have to constantly remind the DM that the wolf automatically knows that there are bad guys nearby, all the time, no checks involved. And every time he looks at us like we're trying to pull a fast one on him because it sounds so uber considering it's just a little animal. Oh yeah, it it lets the wolf track too. It's like three feats in one.
WolfHati 07-05-07, 09:42 PM	One of the shifter traits lets you use the scent ability while shifted. Also, the weretouched master level 3 ability grants you scent all the time, so if you want to use one of the other shifter traits, you can just take some levels in weretouched master. Also, it seems reasonable to have some sort of stink bomb that blocks the scent ability. Actually. I think I've seen one in a book somewhere, but I don't remember exactly where. Complete adventurer would be my random guess.
Otto the Bugbear 07-05-07, 09:59 PM	Ummm..."Scent" is listed under Bugbears as Characters. Ummm... no, it's not. At least it's not when you use the official version of the SRD, instead of the version "some guy" put on a web site. BUGBEARS AS CHARACTERS Bugbear characters possess the following racial traits. — +4 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, –2 Charisma. —Medium size. —A bugbear’s base land speed is 30 feet. —Darkvision out to 60 feet. —Racial Hit Dice: A bugbear begins with three levels of humanoid, which provide 3d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +2, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +3, and Will +1. —Racial Skills: A bugbear’s humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 6 x (2 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Climb, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, and Spot. —Racial Feats: A bugbear’s humanoid levels give it two feats. — +3 natural armor bonus. — +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks. —Automatic Languages: Common, Goblin. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Elven, Giant, Gnoll, Orc. —Favored Class: Rogue. —Level adjustment +1. Here's the link to the official SRD, if anyone is interested. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35 And, yes, the fact that bugbears as characters don't get Scent makes me:rant:
Kadasbrass 07-06-07, 01:31 AM	Yeah it was the wotc srd I use, downloaded them all awhile back. The statblocks are hard to read sometimes and the scent ability never stuck out and character section leaves it out (thou if the statblock has it, its good enough for me).