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

Sylvanni [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
AnonymousInternets
09-15-07, 02:48 PM http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/6619/sylvanniit4.png
Sylvanni
Sylvanni are a graceful and majestic race believed to be the ancestors of modern Elves and Gnomes. They tend to avoid permanently living amongst outsiders, but are willing to adventure, converse, and work with them for sizeable periods of time. Sylvanni have strong cultural and racial connections to nature and magic, and most live in forests.
Personality: Sylvanni are relatively reserved towards complete strangers, but are very quick to acquaint themselves to anyone they find agreeable or interesting. They tend to speak poetically and light-heartedly in soft tones. Sylvanni respect all things about nature, and are passionate about defending animals. Nearly all Sylvanni are vegetarian.
Physical Description: Sylvanni are just under 3-1/2 feet tall and rarely weigh more than 35 pounds. Their skin and hair are always lightly-colored, and their eyes are usually a mix of green and brown. They never have body or facial hair. As they age, a Sylvanni’s hair usually changes from a blond or similar color to white or silver, and although their age does affect them internally, it’s almost impossible to tell an old Sylvanni from a young one without looking at their hair. Sylvanni usually wear trim, elegant clothes with tan and green shades. Sylvanni age half as quickly as Elves.
Sylvanni “sleep” much in the same way elves do for 4 hours each night. Instead of dreaming normally, however, Sylvanni spend this time of meditation connecting themselves with the natural forces around them, although some do it subconsciously. Those with a deep enough understanding will sometimes reveal a small magical aura to those who use Detect Magic nearby.
Relations: Sylvanni are generally friendly to most peoples that respect nature, although they do occasionally seem to favor Elves, as their cultures mix well. As Sylvanni generally do not live with other races while growing up, they usually find outsiders to be interesting curiosities.
Alignment: As calm and gentle creatures, Sylvanni are rarely evil. They tend to oppose strict laws and regulations and appreciate change, but they act meditatively and have strong insight into the lawful balance of nature. As such, most Slyvanni are neutral on the law-chaos spectrum.
Sylvanni Lands: Sylvanni usually live in forested areas, though it’s not uncommon to find then living in moist underground environments living off of various mushrooms instead of fruits and vegetables. Sylvanni are very open with each other within their own communities, and usually share their homes with one another. The actual form of shelter they use can very, but most reside either in treetop huts or underground.
Most Sylvanni communities teach their young about the divine magic of druid and rangers, but this is not always the case. Interestingly enough, some Sylvanni communities believe arcane magic to be as natural as plants and animals, and are quite proficient with using it.
Sylvanni living in human lands usually don’t reside their permanently, as the artificial environment makes them feel uncomfortable after long periods of time. However, Sylvanni are quite willing to venture with non-Sylvanni allies, as they find outsiders and new lands quite interesting.
Religion: Sylvanni religious practices very, though most worship Ehlonna, Obad-Hai, and/or nature as a whole. Whatever deity they pray to, Sylvanni usually don’t recognize them by their actual names or treat them like individuals, instead worshipping them as concepts or universal nameless spirits.
Language: Sylvanni speak Sylvan—a language similar to that of elves. Sylvanni don’t write as often as most races, but are known to be very concise and metaphorical in their text.
Names: Sylvanni names are quite literally just variations of sylvan words that sound appealing. They think of names as just sounds put together to address someone—just a symbol. Why wouldn’t you want a symbol that represents you to be pleasant?
Sylvanni names tend to have 2 syllables, and over time there have been discernable gender-distinct trends in name sounds.
Male Names: Most male names start with a sound of r, g, d, b, n, or m; they usually end in a sound like e, r, o, h, j, or x. Examples include Nytix, Gromsij, Muerjah, and Druyir.
Female Names: Most female names start with a sound of q, p, s, f, l, or v; they usually end in a sound like a, y, i, or s. Examples include Prishia, Sisnias, Fluayni, and Queyla.
Adventures: Sylvanni oftentimes adventure out of curiosity and eagerness to explore nature and the world. They are very interested in far away places and peoples, and tend to be very agreeable adventuring comrades.

SYLVANNI RACIAL TRAITS
— +2 Charisma, -2 Strength. Sylvanni are pleasant creatures, but tend to be too gentle and don’t have the meat in their diet for muscle building.
— Fey Type: Sylvanni are Fey, not humanoid.
— Small: As a Small creature, a Sylvanni gains a +1 size bonus to Armor Class, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, and a +4 size bonus on Hide checks, but she uses smaller weapons than humans use, and her lifting and carrying limits are three-quarters those of a Medium character.
— Sylvanni based land speed is 20 feet.
— Mortal Blood (Ex): Due to their distance from their fey heritage, Sylvanni are susceptible to any effects that would affect elves and/or gnomes in addition to Fey (a ranger with a Feybane bow and Favored Enemy (Humanoid (Elves)) would get bonuses from both against a Sylvanni).
— +2 racial bonus Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks: Sylvanni are connected to nature and live in the wild.
— +1 racial bonus on saving throws against spells and spell-like effects: Sylvanni are racially attuned to magic, and are used to interacting with it.
— +2 to hide checks and a +2 dodge bonus to Armor Class against monsters of the animal type: Sylvanni don’t usually kill animals, but have experience encountering them, and are used to avoiding dangerous ones.
— Automatic Languages: Common and Sylvan. Bonus Languages: Aquan, Auran, Elven, Gnome, and Terran. Sylvanni learn the languages of the beings of the natural world.
— Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day—Detect Animals or Plants (1 minute duration), Detect Magic (2 round duration). A Sylvanni with a Charisma score of at least 10 also has the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—Speak with Animals, Summon Nature’s Ally I. Caster level 1st.
— Favored Class: Druid. A multiclass Sylvanni’s druid class does not count when determining whether she take an experience point penalty for multiclassing. Sylvanni are strongly in tune with nature and have a deep respect for it and those who understand it.

Subrace: Arcanic Sylvanni
There is a different breed of Sylvanni--one tied to the arcane, chaotic elements of Fey--an Arcanic Sylvanni. Births of Arcanic Sylvanni can randomly happen in normal Sylvanni families, but the occurance is rare; rather, it's more likely that either or both of the child's parents are Arcanic themselves. Depending on what Sylvanni village the child was born into, this could mean that he/she was valued as a unique individual, alienated for being different, or accepted as the norm (Arcanic Sylvanni societies--though rare--do exist).
Your appearance changes slightly: your hair color changes to a light blue or cyan, and your eye color changes to a magenta or purple. Your connection to nature shifts, and you instead become more tied to free-flowing chaotic, arcane energies.
Alignment: Always nonlawful.
Skills: Your +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks is removed and replaced by a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (arcana) and Use Magic Device checks.
Special Qualities: You lose your racial AC and hide bonuses against animals.
Spell-Like Abilities: Your spell-like ability Detect Animals or Plants (1 minute duration) is removed. The duration on your racial spell-like ability Detect Magic is increased to 1 minute. Your 1/day spell-like abilities, Speak with Animals and Summon Nature's Ally I, are removed. You may use Detect Chaos (1 minute duration) 1/day as a spell-like ability, and use Prestidigitation (1 minute duration) as a spell-like ability at will. All spell-like abilities are caster level 1st.
Favored Class: Your favored class changes to Enigmist (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=922890).

Inspiration from numerous places. Picture from Guild Wars 2 concept art. Hope you guys like it, and if there are balance issues, spill 'em.

I know that the normal Sylvanni's flavor is kind've typecast Druid, but the ability scores will probably have it showing up as a spontaneous caster just as much (especially Arcanic ones). I know it's taboo to have ECL0 races with mental ability score bonuses, but I find it annoying that the reverse happens all the time without coming into question (mental penalties at ECL0).

For the Book of Fey Project (http://z11.invisionfree.com/Feybook/index.php), hopefully.
AnonymousInternets
09-15-07, 03:22 PM [Reserved for upcoming Racial Feats.]

Almost forgot.
Knitsuge
09-15-07, 03:52 PM Overall, I really like the class. I don't like them being the ancestors of elves and gnomes, though. I think maybe sharing a common ancestry makes more sense. Why would elves and gnomes be descendants of fey?

With the spell like abilities I might make the STR -3 for balance, or give some other weakness. Mortal blood helps, but it doesn't offset a race getting 6 spells per day without even having a class yet. An idea I had was that if they ever kill or eat an animal, even accidentally, they loose all their racial spells until they go off by themselves to perform a month long ritual (maybe from new moon to new moon or from full moon to full moon).

Once again, I love your choice in artwork (even if it doesn't go with the description hair-wise).

The really like the sub race, too. I think it gives more flavor to the whole race. I would make the favored class any arcane magic class, though. Just like with a human, where the first class they take is their favored class, the first class the Arcanic Sylvanni take that can cast arcane spells is their favored class.

This wouldn't work well in my current campaign, but I've been thinking about starting a new one. If I do, I think I would probably allow the Sylvanni as a race!
skydin
09-15-07, 04:52 PM Umm, elves, to me, absolutely scream "WE USED TO BE FEY!!!"

the pointed ears and love of nature help quite a bit...

I love the race personally, its awesome.
Knitsuge
09-15-07, 05:05 PM Umm, elves, to me, absolutely scream "WE USED TO BE FEY!!!"

the pointed ears and love of nature help quite a bit...

I love the race personally, its awesome.

True, but it still seems that they must have some humanoid ancestry, too. It just makes more sense to me to make this a race that are more fey than humanoid, but still share a common ancestry.

I also love this race, though. Especially the Arcanic. Awesome ideas!
slayerdrag1
09-15-07, 05:47 PM this is an interesting race.......i like it
AnonymousInternets
09-15-07, 06:26 PM Glad you guys like it. =]

Knitsuge, I put time into finding the right piece of art for my material; thanks for noticing. XP

I was basing the bonuses and Sp's on the gnome's setup, but if you think it's too much for -2 Str, I could nerf them a bit.
ravennight
09-29-07, 12:06 PM I love this race, both the primary and the subrace. I do have to say about the favored class, though, that the warlock is supposed to have fiendish heritage. I would change that to sorcerer since they commonly have fey heritage, and doesn't have the evil overtones of the warlock.

Other than that, it could use a little something to imply their history as a race, or their nature as a creator race as the elves and gnomes evolved from them, something to imply their ancientness. I'm not sure how that would be reflected, maybe by feat selection or something...
AnonymousInternets
10-03-07, 04:56 PM Warlocks can also have Fey heritage. :0
I always thought of sorcerers as dragon-descendant...

In the end, Enigmist matches the Arcanic Sylvanni the most, really. Any objections to it becoming that?

Yes, I was thinking of giving them feats or PrC's or paragon levels. You think I should give that a shot?
Viktor_Von_Doom
02-12-08, 03:29 PM Really like this, know what I'm doing for my next Warlock.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
AnonymousInternets 09-15-07, 02:48 PM	http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/6619/sylvanniit4.png Sylvanni Sylvanni are a graceful and majestic race believed to be the ancestors of modern Elves and Gnomes. They tend to avoid permanently living amongst outsiders, but are willing to adventure, converse, and work with them for sizeable periods of time. Sylvanni have strong cultural and racial connections to nature and magic, and most live in forests. Personality: Sylvanni are relatively reserved towards complete strangers, but are very quick to acquaint themselves to anyone they find agreeable or interesting. They tend to speak poetically and light-heartedly in soft tones. Sylvanni respect all things about nature, and are passionate about defending animals. Nearly all Sylvanni are vegetarian. Physical Description: Sylvanni are just under 3-1/2 feet tall and rarely weigh more than 35 pounds. Their skin and hair are always lightly-colored, and their eyes are usually a mix of green and brown. They never have body or facial hair. As they age, a Sylvanni’s hair usually changes from a blond or similar color to white or silver, and although their age does affect them internally, it’s almost impossible to tell an old Sylvanni from a young one without looking at their hair. Sylvanni usually wear trim, elegant clothes with tan and green shades. Sylvanni age half as quickly as Elves. Sylvanni “sleep” much in the same way elves do for 4 hours each night. Instead of dreaming normally, however, Sylvanni spend this time of meditation connecting themselves with the natural forces around them, although some do it subconsciously. Those with a deep enough understanding will sometimes reveal a small magical aura to those who use Detect Magic nearby. Relations: Sylvanni are generally friendly to most peoples that respect nature, although they do occasionally seem to favor Elves, as their cultures mix well. As Sylvanni generally do not live with other races while growing up, they usually find outsiders to be interesting curiosities. Alignment: As calm and gentle creatures, Sylvanni are rarely evil. They tend to oppose strict laws and regulations and appreciate change, but they act meditatively and have strong insight into the lawful balance of nature. As such, most Slyvanni are neutral on the law-chaos spectrum. Sylvanni Lands: Sylvanni usually live in forested areas, though it’s not uncommon to find then living in moist underground environments living off of various mushrooms instead of fruits and vegetables. Sylvanni are very open with each other within their own communities, and usually share their homes with one another. The actual form of shelter they use can very, but most reside either in treetop huts or underground. Most Sylvanni communities teach their young about the divine magic of druid and rangers, but this is not always the case. Interestingly enough, some Sylvanni communities believe arcane magic to be as natural as plants and animals, and are quite proficient with using it. Sylvanni living in human lands usually don’t reside their permanently, as the artificial environment makes them feel uncomfortable after long periods of time. However, Sylvanni are quite willing to venture with non-Sylvanni allies, as they find outsiders and new lands quite interesting. Religion: Sylvanni religious practices very, though most worship Ehlonna, Obad-Hai, and/or nature as a whole. Whatever deity they pray to, Sylvanni usually don’t recognize them by their actual names or treat them like individuals, instead worshipping them as concepts or universal nameless spirits. Language: Sylvanni speak Sylvan—a language similar to that of elves. Sylvanni don’t write as often as most races, but are known to be very concise and metaphorical in their text. Names: Sylvanni names are quite literally just variations of sylvan words that sound appealing. They think of names as just sounds put together to address someone—just a symbol. Why wouldn’t you want a symbol that represents you to be pleasant? Sylvanni names tend to have 2 syllables, and over time there have been discernable gender-distinct trends in name sounds. Male Names: Most male names start with a sound of r, g, d, b, n, or m; they usually end in a sound like e, r, o, h, j, or x. Examples include Nytix, Gromsij, Muerjah, and Druyir. Female Names: Most female names start with a sound of q, p, s, f, l, or v; they usually end in a sound like a, y, i, or s. Examples include Prishia, Sisnias, Fluayni, and Queyla. Adventures: Sylvanni oftentimes adventure out of curiosity and eagerness to explore nature and the world. They are very interested in far away places and peoples, and tend to be very agreeable adventuring comrades. SYLVANNI RACIAL TRAITS — +2 Charisma, -2 Strength. Sylvanni are pleasant creatures, but tend to be too gentle and don’t have the meat in their diet for muscle building. — Fey Type: Sylvanni are Fey, not humanoid. — Small: As a Small creature, a Sylvanni gains a +1 size bonus to Armor Class, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, and a +4 size bonus on Hide checks, but she uses smaller weapons than humans use, and her lifting and carrying limits are three-quarters those of a Medium character. — Sylvanni based land speed is 20 feet. — Mortal Blood (Ex): Due to their distance from their fey heritage, Sylvanni are susceptible to any effects that would affect elves and/or gnomes in addition to Fey (a ranger with a Feybane bow and Favored Enemy (Humanoid (Elves)) would get bonuses from both against a Sylvanni). — +2 racial bonus Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks: Sylvanni are connected to nature and live in the wild. — +1 racial bonus on saving throws against spells and spell-like effects: Sylvanni are racially attuned to magic, and are used to interacting with it. — +2 to hide checks and a +2 dodge bonus to Armor Class against monsters of the animal type: Sylvanni don’t usually kill animals, but have experience encountering them, and are used to avoiding dangerous ones. — Automatic Languages: Common and Sylvan. Bonus Languages: Aquan, Auran, Elven, Gnome, and Terran. Sylvanni learn the languages of the beings of the natural world. — Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day—Detect Animals or Plants (1 minute duration), Detect Magic (2 round duration). A Sylvanni with a Charisma score of at least 10 also has the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—Speak with Animals, Summon Nature’s Ally I. Caster level 1st. — Favored Class: Druid. A multiclass Sylvanni’s druid class does not count when determining whether she take an experience point penalty for multiclassing. Sylvanni are strongly in tune with nature and have a deep respect for it and those who understand it. Subrace: Arcanic Sylvanni There is a different breed of Sylvanni--one tied to the arcane, chaotic elements of Fey--an Arcanic Sylvanni. Births of Arcanic Sylvanni can randomly happen in normal Sylvanni families, but the occurance is rare; rather, it's more likely that either or both of the child's parents are Arcanic themselves. Depending on what Sylvanni village the child was born into, this could mean that he/she was valued as a unique individual, alienated for being different, or accepted as the norm (Arcanic Sylvanni societies--though rare--do exist). Your appearance changes slightly: your hair color changes to a light blue or cyan, and your eye color changes to a magenta or purple. Your connection to nature shifts, and you instead become more tied to free-flowing chaotic, arcane energies. Alignment: Always nonlawful. Skills: Your +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks is removed and replaced by a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (arcana) and Use Magic Device checks. Special Qualities: You lose your racial AC and hide bonuses against animals. Spell-Like Abilities: Your spell-like ability Detect Animals or Plants (1 minute duration) is removed. The duration on your racial spell-like ability Detect Magic is increased to 1 minute. Your 1/day spell-like abilities, Speak with Animals and Summon Nature's Ally I, are removed. You may use Detect Chaos (1 minute duration) 1/day as a spell-like ability, and use Prestidigitation (1 minute duration) as a spell-like ability at will. All spell-like abilities are caster level 1st. Favored Class: Your favored class changes to Enigmist (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=922890). Inspiration from numerous places. Picture from Guild Wars 2 concept art. Hope you guys like it, and if there are balance issues, spill 'em. I know that the normal Sylvanni's flavor is kind've typecast Druid, but the ability scores will probably have it showing up as a spontaneous caster just as much (especially Arcanic ones). I know it's taboo to have ECL0 races with mental ability score bonuses, but I find it annoying that the reverse happens all the time without coming into question (mental penalties at ECL0). For the Book of Fey Project (http://z11.invisionfree.com/Feybook/index.php), hopefully.
AnonymousInternets 09-15-07, 03:22 PM	[Reserved for upcoming Racial Feats.] Almost forgot.
Knitsuge 09-15-07, 03:52 PM	Overall, I really like the class. I don't like them being the ancestors of elves and gnomes, though. I think maybe sharing a common ancestry makes more sense. Why would elves and gnomes be descendants of fey? With the spell like abilities I might make the STR -3 for balance, or give some other weakness. Mortal blood helps, but it doesn't offset a race getting 6 spells per day without even having a class yet. An idea I had was that if they ever kill or eat an animal, even accidentally, they loose all their racial spells until they go off by themselves to perform a month long ritual (maybe from new moon to new moon or from full moon to full moon). Once again, I love your choice in artwork (even if it doesn't go with the description hair-wise). The really like the sub race, too. I think it gives more flavor to the whole race. I would make the favored class any arcane magic class, though. Just like with a human, where the first class they take is their favored class, the first class the Arcanic Sylvanni take that can cast arcane spells is their favored class. This wouldn't work well in my current campaign, but I've been thinking about starting a new one. If I do, I think I would probably allow the Sylvanni as a race!
skydin 09-15-07, 04:52 PM	Umm, elves, to me, absolutely scream "WE USED TO BE FEY!!!" the pointed ears and love of nature help quite a bit... I love the race personally, its awesome.
Knitsuge 09-15-07, 05:05 PM	Umm, elves, to me, absolutely scream "WE USED TO BE FEY!!!" the pointed ears and love of nature help quite a bit... I love the race personally, its awesome. True, but it still seems that they must have some humanoid ancestry, too. It just makes more sense to me to make this a race that are more fey than humanoid, but still share a common ancestry. I also love this race, though. Especially the Arcanic. Awesome ideas!
slayerdrag1 09-15-07, 05:47 PM	this is an interesting race.......i like it
AnonymousInternets 09-15-07, 06:26 PM	Glad you guys like it. =] Knitsuge, I put time into finding the right piece of art for my material; thanks for noticing. XP I was basing the bonuses and Sp's on the gnome's setup, but if you think it's too much for -2 Str, I could nerf them a bit.
ravennight 09-29-07, 12:06 PM	I love this race, both the primary and the subrace. I do have to say about the favored class, though, that the warlock is supposed to have fiendish heritage. I would change that to sorcerer since they commonly have fey heritage, and doesn't have the evil overtones of the warlock. Other than that, it could use a little something to imply their history as a race, or their nature as a creator race as the elves and gnomes evolved from them, something to imply their ancientness. I'm not sure how that would be reflected, maybe by feat selection or something...
AnonymousInternets 10-03-07, 04:56 PM	Warlocks can also have Fey heritage. :0 I always thought of sorcerers as dragon-descendant... In the end, Enigmist matches the Arcanic Sylvanni the most, really. Any objections to it becoming that? Yes, I was thinking of giving them feats or PrC's or paragon levels. You think I should give that a shot?
Viktor_Von_Doom 02-12-08, 03:29 PM	Really like this, know what I'm doing for my next Warlock.