Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TimelordSimone 03-12-07, 03:06 PM	That's right. Tanuki and Selkies. I was wondering if anyone had stats for either of these races. (for those who don't know, Tanuki are shapshifting racoons, and Selkies are seels that shed their pelt and become human when they go onto land) I was trying to figure it out myself, but apparently I'm rubbish. It's the whole changing shape thing that confuses me. It's complicated. And seems to be excessively powerful. I don't intend these races to be PC races. I mean, a selkie could work... But I don't want to use it as such as of yet. Anyway... If anyone could help, I would be very grateful.
RAGNAROKISCOMING2007 03-12-07, 05:22 PM	cool!
Silverthumb128 03-12-07, 05:53 PM	I agree, it can be tough. I dunno about Selkies, but for Tanuki, check out the Hengeyokai(Raccoon Dog) from Oriental Adventures, and go for a class that allows you to change how you look, something with Change Shape, or something like that.
MasonMurdoc 03-12-07, 06:29 PM	He doesn't have access to Oriental Adventures. Is there anywhere you can download it?
Finfreeze 03-12-07, 07:31 PM	I would guess that a selkie would be a human who has taken alternate form (seal) instead of her/his normal bonus feat. Or is that they other way around? I had heard that the myth of the selkie is based on a group of people who wore seal skins. You could throw in a little flavor about needing the seal skin to transform back into a seal, since a lot of the stories talk about what would happen if someone stole a selkie's skin... Tanuki? That would be harder, since they have no real restrictions to what they can transform into. They'd be a mini doppelganger in that respect. Even so, I do want to see a tanuki bard. Heh heh...
Silversheen197 03-12-07, 09:38 PM	There's already a selkie printed in...I think it's Fiend Folio (I'm not sure, let me check...) My Fiend Folio is currently abducted by a friend, so I can't check if it's in there. If it hasn't been confirmed when I get it back, I'll take a look.
okaynowa 03-13-07, 08:36 AM	The important thing for selkies is being able to turn into a seal-- most other considerations are secondary flavor. Fortunately, the stats for seals are in Stormwrack, and the rules for Change Shape as a supernatural ability are in the SRD. With a little twiddling to avoid undue shapechanging advantages, a draft of the selkie might look like: Selkie Humanoid (shapechanger) Medium size Speed 30 ft Low-light vision Hold Breath (Ex): A selkie can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 6 times its Constitution score. A selkie retains this ability when it changes shape. Change Shape (Su): As a standard action, a selkie who is within 40 ft of a body of saltwater can assume the shape of a seal. The selkie retains all its own ability scores, hit points, and saving throws. Its speed changes to 20 ft, and it gains Swim 40 ft (and can take 10 on Swim checks, etc). The selkie also gains a bite attack that deals 1d4 + Str bonus damage. It gains +1 natural armor. A selkie's gear melds with its form and becomes non-functional. A selkie in seal form cannot speak, and cannot cast spells. A selkie is effectively disguised as a seal, and gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Disguise checks. A selkie can revert to its humanoid form as a standard action; it must assume humanoid form if it is more than 40 ft from a body of saltwater. Selkies gain a +2 racial bonus on Bluff and Diplomacy checks (the sneaky, happy little beasts). Languages: Common, Aquan. Bonus Languages: Darfellan, Draconic, Elven, Locathah, Sahuagin, Sylvan. For a more powerful form, the selkie could have a seal skin instead of the Change Shape ability. The skin would be sort of a cross between a magic item and a familiar. Creating or replacing a seal skin would take the same ritual as summoning a familiar (24 hours, 100 gp), and losing it has the same penalty (XP loss). In return, the seal shape granted by the skin adds a +2 Dexterity bonus and Swim 50 ft. But, that's just a thought.
TimelordSimone 03-13-07, 01:57 PM	Thanks a lot!! I would want them to need the seal skin. Cos (to my knowledge) that's how it works in the stories. If you stole the pelt, they wouldn't bea ble to return to the sea. That looks good though. Thankew!!
okaynowa 03-13-07, 02:25 PM	Hm... you might also consider the rules for symbionts (Fiend Folio, Magic of Eberron) as a way to phrase the mechanics for this seal skin special item. In any event, you'll want it to be something more than an item that just anybody can pick up and use. You'll also want to specify what item slot it takes up-- my guess is cape, belt, or shirt.
TimelordSimone 03-13-07, 04:37 PM	I would assume cape. Dunno why... Anyway... Did your stats basically work like a common race, or would there be level adjustment...? I don't see why there should... But... I dunno.
okaynowa 03-14-07, 07:19 AM	The draft I've got here shouldn't need a level adjustment because: It only works near saltwater Even if the campaign is aquatic, this isn't a water breathing form The form has decent speed but weak combat options It completely nerfs a character's gear and even a druid's spellcasting (the inability to speak and the inability to cast spells are noted seperately-- this isn't something a druid can Natural Spell out of) So, 90% of the time, you'll have a human with low-light vision who can hold his breath longer (plus maybe a little skill bonus here or there). If players wanted to play such characters, they probably wouldn't be doing it to be a powerhouse.
AndrewD2 03-14-07, 08:42 AM	I'll see what I can come up with for the tanuki. I've got a writeup of them from Hero Games, it shouldn't be too tough to translate it. For any interested in the history a little wikipedia has a decent artitcle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanuki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanuki)
TimelordSimone 03-14-07, 01:48 PM	Selkies are in fact in the fiend folio. I should buy it... But I'm poor... :weep: Anyway... Thank you for trying to work out tanuki for me!! It just looks unbelievably complicated. :confused: :confused: Thank you!!