Post/Author/DateTime	Post
EvilVegan 10-22-07, 04:42 PM	Greetings. If you don't like science-fantasy, please, stop reading now. I'm working on a race of humanoid-shaped living constructs in a similar vein to warforged. There are things about the warforged I dislike however, so I'm just filling their niche. While designing this race I noticed some similarities to Cylons from BSG, but I've never seen a single episode or read a single book of Battlestar Galactica, so none of it is intentional. Synthet Synthets are a race of beings created for specific roles. Some are craftsmen, some are laborers, some are house servants, and some rare few are created to appear as members of specific races for various purposes. Physiology: The body of a Synthet is composed of combinations of organic and inorganic parts. The central element of any synthet is a runesphere, a glowing, multi-colored crystal the size of a cantaloupe. The runesphere may reside in any space large enough to contain it, most are in the chest or head cavity. As it’s name implies the sphere is covered with ancient runic alphabet. The creation of a runesphere is a highly classified secret, though some broken remnants have been found in the ruins of the Ancients. The runesphere is the single most important part of the Synthet and it’s destruction/removal instantly ‘slays’ the synthet. There are rumors of processes involving magically placing this runesphere in another host and effectively resurrecting the synthet. Synthet sensory organs are analogous to humans, allowing them to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell in roughly the same manner, though the effects certain senses may relate are vastly different, such as nausea caused by strong odors. Certain individuals may have heightened senses. Synthets of the standard construction (that is the most commonly found) are very brutal in appearance. They are an amalgamation of a metallic sub-structure with crystalline nodes and joints. Attached to the nodes are a fibrous organic substance of slightly higher density than muscle which serves the same purpose. Primaries have no extra covering beyond this fibrous structure. Their natural color is a slate-grey with a bluish tint, however the fibrous substance can pick up dyes rather well and also accepts modifications readily, allowing a synthet body to be modified easily. Primary Construct synthets are roughly the size and shape of their gnomish creators. Secondary construct synthets are nearly identical in design, but are roughly double the size, being about the size and shape of a human. Tertiary construct synthets are so rare that few people know of their existence. Tertiary synthets are constructed with more subtle roles in mind and possess an outer covering of roughly the texture of humanoid flesh. Some of these tertiary constructs are so lifelike they can only be revealed via magic or surgery. Their eyes are nearly always a vibrant cyan. Even though synthets are created beings, their bodies still require fuel to maintain, as such they breath and eat, though they are capable of consuming more than what most humanoids would consider ‘food’. They do not require sleep. A synthet whose runesphere has been destroyed cannot be resurrected. There are no known instances of a synthet dying of old age within modern times. Racial Traits There are two major types of Synthet, Primary and Secondary. Primary Ability Modifiers: May gain +2 to one ability score and -2 to two others. This represents certain features being enhanced during creation at the cost of others. Speed: Base land speed is 4 squares (20 feet). Type: Synthet Size: Small Secondary Ability Modifiers: May gain +2 to one ability score and -2 to two others. Speed: Base land speed is 6 squares (30 feet). Type: Synthet Size: Medium Bonuses from Synthet type: Synthet do not sleep. Synthet must eat, drink, and breath but are immune to ingested or inhaled poisons that affect humanoids (there are specific poisons/diseases which can affect synthet). They can also eat putrid food and inorganic material with no negative effects. They require half as much food and one quarter the water of a humanoid of similar size. Synthet do not heal naturally and gain only half the benefit of cure spells. Synthet become inert at negative hit points, but do not automatically lose further hit points. They are killed at -10. Synthet may repair damage using craft checks. A successful DC 15 repair check allows them to gain benefit of natural healing for that day. Synthet have light fortification (as the armor enchantment of the same name). Synthet also choose one enhancement option from the following list: • Heightened Senses: Either Low-light vision and +2 to spot and listen or Darkvision. • Skilled: Skill focus as a bonus feat, or any of the double skill feats (Alertness, Acrobatic, etc) • Armored: Gain a +1 natural armor bonus and qualify for armor upgrades at half price. • Military: Gain weapon focus or exotic weapon proficiency as a bonus feat. • True Vitality: Heal naturally and gain full benefit from cure spells. Must eat and drink the same amount as a humanoid of similar size. Lose all fortification. • Sheltered vitals: Gain heavy fortification but no longer benefit from cure spells or consumables. Also, may function without a head, though they would be blinded/deafened at that point. • Self-Sustaining: You do not need to eat, drink, or breathe and gain a +1 bonus on fortitude saves. • Tertiary Construct: Choose a race of your size. You gain this race as your subtype, but your type does not change. You gain skin and hair the color and texture of this race. You gain a +2 bonus to all charisma checks made in relation to this race. You are treated as a member of this race for all effects dependant on race, but not type, such as for magic item use, feats, or prestige class requirements, and certain diseases. You may not benefit from Synthet armor upgrades. New Feat Synthet Enhancement [Synthet] Prerequisite: Synthet You gain one additional synthet enhancement. Each enhancement may only be taken once. Special: You may not pick tertiary construct as an enhancement with this feat. True Vitality and sheltered vitals may not be taken together. New Equipment Synthet Armor Upgrades Synthet can purchase armored plates that attach directly to their bodies. There are three types of plates. The basic structure of a synthet can be modified to be of masterwork quality in order to accept magical enchantment, allowing them to receive magical adjustments as if they were armored, even without having any form of armored plate. Unlike standard armor, making masterwork synthet plates costs 300 gold. Other than price it is the same as masterwork armor, lowering armor check penalty by one and allowing for the enchantment of their plates. Even synthets who do not get plates installed my upgrade their surface to accept enchantments, but this also costs 300 gold. Unarmored AC Max Armor Arcane Movement Cost Bonus Dex Check Spell Penalty Penalty Failure +0 * - - - - - 300 for MW Light Armor AC Max Armor Arcane Movement Cost Bonus Dex Check Spell Penalty Penalty Failure +1 +9 - 5% - 100 +2 +8 - 10% - 200 +3 +7 -1 15% - 300 Medium Armor AC Max Armor Arcane Movement Cost Bonus Dex Check Spell Penalty Penalty Failure +4 +6 -2 20% -1 square 800 +5 +5 -3 25% -1 square 1000 +6 +4 -4 30% -1 square 1200 Heavy Armor AC Max Armor Arcane Movement Cost Bonus Dex Check Spell Penalty Penalty Failure +7 +3 -5 35% -2 squares 2100 +8 +2 -6 40% -2 squares 2400 +9 +1 -7 45% -2 squares 2700 +10 +0 -8 50% -2 squares 3000 Runesphere A runesphere is effectively a crystaline structure that contains a soul, or something analogous to a soul. It is similar to the material focus of a magic jar spell, but swirling with runic alphabet. When staring into the sphere you can get a little dizzy from the layers of words overlapping. Imagine an onion with thousands of translucent layers, each with a different story written on it in a different, faintly glowing color in a complex runic structure and you're close. Attempting to focus in a runestone requires a DC 25 intelligence check, but if successful you can determine the truename of the soul of the being stored within. Certain spells can alter the nature of a runestone, and there are rumors of attempts by ambitious wizards to duplicate their own soul information into a runestone, in an effort to become immortalized in the body of a synthet. Also, there is a rumor that powerful spells can reduce a living humanoid into a 'blank' runestone about 2-4 inches in diameter, which can be drained to power spells (functioning as a pearl of power) and also to fuel a mindless synthetic creature.
Lord QZip 10-22-07, 05:06 PM	Nice flavor. I like it (and I like science fiction!). I'm not one to comment on balance; nothing glaringly off to me about that. I would suggest that you ensure to write that the feat can not be taken multiple times (and possibly that there is a cost/implementation time associated with the upgrade if not done at level 1). I thought it'd be cool if the words on the Rune Stone moved across the plane that they're on of the rune stone very quickly (kind of like how electrons orbit the nucleus) and possibly change the words they say from time to time. Like the reddish words glow on you as they spin about and small flashes go across in a line every 5 seconds or so changing the words on the layers closer to the outside, however one phrase doesn't change (the truename) allowing you to pick up on it, but it is terribly difficult.
Callix 10-22-07, 05:16 PM	The flexibility and durability are more than paid for, and the Primaries are actually underpowered. -2 Str is not a balancing factor of being small, it's just where most designers put a small race's penalties. The flavour is also really cool, but if you want real nerds to like your sci-fantasy, avoid any references to "electron orbits" unless you want something to not have a definite position or linear momentum. Little trick from the Uncertainty Principle; any electron orbit has an uncertainty in the radius of its "orbit" greater than said radius, so we can't really say it orbits if we're not even sure which side of the nucleus it's on. Still, rapidly spinning, glowing, mutating writing is cool.
EvilVegan 10-25-07, 08:54 AM	Nice flavor. I like it (and I like science fiction!). I'm not one to comment on balance; nothing glaringly off to me about that. I would suggest that you ensure to write that the feat can not be taken multiple times (and possibly that there is a cost/implementation time associated with the upgrade if not done at level 1).I had thought about an upgrade time, but its a feat, which means that they take it when they level. It could be that the Synthet has been slowly upgrading themselves and once they level they gain the benefits of finishing the upgrade. Though, it makes more sense if you have training rules where you normally take some time to learn new skills. Otherwise I'd say it takes around 8 hours, like crafting. The flexibility and durability are more than paid for, and the Primaries are actually underpowered. -2 Str is not a balancing factor of being small, it's just where most designers put a small race's penalties.I want small things to be weaker. :D The flavour is also really cool, but if you want real nerds to like your sci-fantasy, avoid any references to "electron orbits" unless you want something to not have a definite position or linear momentum. Little trick from the Uncertainty Principle; any electron orbit has an uncertainty in the radius of its "orbit" greater than said radius, so we can't really say it orbits if we're not even sure which side of the nucleus it's on. Still, rapidly spinning, glowing, mutating writing is cool. Yes, unlike electrons you can observe the writing in its orbit (making it less uncertain). There is still the chance that reading the runesphere could alter what it says. "You can't tell what a runesphere says until you read it, and after you stop reading the words have changed."
EvilVegan 01-18-08, 11:00 AM	Minor edits. :bump: