The Malboro! (inspired by Final Fantasy) [Archive] - Wizards Community

The Malboro! (inspired by Final Fantasy) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
kwanzaabot
04-11-08, 06:03 AM http://www.ffcompendium.com/EspMon/marlboro10.jpg

So. I like Beholders. I don't know why exactly, I mean, they look kinda stupid to be honest, but I like 'em anyway. However, they're not cut out to be player characters. Luckily for you, I like console-based RPG's as well, and I happened to notice some similarities between my favourite floating eyeballs, and my one of my favourite Final Fantasy monsters.

So somehow I got working on a playable Beholder race, which somehow became a Malboro one. Makes for a convenient way to include them in a campaign, but.

And for the hell of it, I turned it into a what I hope is a LA +0, even though Malboros are usually pretty high-end monsters.

So, PEACH away, fellow forum-goers!

Centuries ago, a wizard attempted to create the perfect creature- an animal with the cleanliness of a dog, and the loyalty of a cat. Unfortunately, the unspeakable horrors that resulted were deemed not cost-effective, and the wizard, aiming to market his creations as the ideal household pets, opted to just throw something together with Beholder DNA, instead (Beholders in those days, being as common as the common pidgeon, or “gutter bird”, which were ironically quite rare at the time).

Malboros, as the creatures came to be known, embody something of an oddity compared to the typical Beholder: while they have lots and lots of eyes, they can't blast magic out of them (without the proper training, anyway). Additionally, Malboros are cursed with a lack of levitation, instead having a set of fully functioning limbs, in the form of eight tentacles- six of which are used for walking, like an insect, with the other two being just long enough to act as a pair of arms.
The final feature that sets Malboros apart from their bretheren is their putrid breath- Malboros are connoisseurs of all things stinky- especially cigarettes, garlic, and certain varieties of cheese, which builds up over time to produce a funk so vile, that few can stand to be around a Malboro for extended periods of time.

• +2 Int, -2 Cha
• Medium Aberration
• Base land speed is 20ft.
• Darkvision 60ft.
• All-Around Vision (Ex): A Malboro's eyestalks allow it to look in any direction, providing a +4 racial bonus to Spot and Search checks. A Malboro can't be Flanked.
• Natural Weapons (Ex): A Malboro has a Bite attack that deals 1d4 points of damage plus 1/2 their Strength bonus.
• Bad Breath (Sp): 3 times per day, a Malboro may expel a cloud of toxic gas from its mouth that acts as a Troglodyte's Stench (seen here- http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/troglodyte.htm ) that has a range of 5ft. As a Malboro grows and develops stronger lungs, this range increases- at 2nd level, it has a range of 10ft, at 3rd level it becomes 20ft, and at 4th level it reaches its maximum range of 30ft. Troglodytes and Malboros are immune to each other's smell.
• Automatic Languages: Common, Beholder
• Bonus Languages: Any
• Favoured Class: Wizard or Warlock

Eventually, I want to develop some racial feats to make 'em bigger and badder- like their Final Fantasy counterparts, and really make their Bad Breath a bit more than just stankyness.
However, for a young Malboro, I think it's not too shabby.

So... is it balanced for a LA +0 race? And more importantly, who'd play as one!? :D

Putrid Breath (racial feat)
Prerequisites: Must be Malboro, Constitution 13+.
Benefit: At 4th, 8th, and every 4 levels afterwards, you may inflict any opponent within range with an additional spell-like ability from the below list when using your Bad Breath. The level required is indictated in (parentheses). The effect is chosen at random by rolling a d20 for each additional effect- a 1 is charm person, a 2 is sleep, and a 7 would result in fear and so on. Any rumber rolled that has no corresponding spell or is too high a level simply fails, however, he/she may get a second chance if he/she can cast any extra spells with their Bad Breath.

For example, Oscar, a 6th-level Malboro can cast charm person, sleep, inflict moderate wounds, silence and slow in addition to sickening the enemy with his Bad Breath, but can only cast one of them at a time (as he isn't 8th level yet, which would grant him another spell-like ability, and 12th, which would grant yet another), and after rolling a 5, is able to cast slow.

Meanwhile Vivian, a 13th-level Malboro can choose from any of the listed spells, and can cast three of them- rolling a 20, 5 and 7- and as such casts slow and fear. As she rolled a number that is too high to have a corresponding spell (20), that attempt simply failed.

Spell list: charm person (1), sleep (1), inflict moderate wounds (4), silence (4), slow (6), charm monster (8), fear (8), telekinesis (10), disintegrate (12), flesh to stone (12).
narack
04-11-08, 07:32 AM if i remember Marlboro also had alot of resistance to spells and they were ago, maybe Spell Resistance 10 + HD and Rage 1/day
zeratulcraft
04-11-08, 07:45 AM I really don't think this should be a race at all.
M-bark
04-11-08, 08:14 AM if i remember Marlboro also had alot of resistance to spells and they were ago, maybe Spell Resistance 10 + HD and Rage 1/day

Yes, but that would warrant an LA of 1 or higher.

As is, I think it is balanced, and they would be incredibly fun to play as! Though I have to admit, I (would rather) see them more as monsters than PCs.
narack
04-11-08, 12:19 PM Yes, but that would warrant an LA of 1 or higher.

As is, I think it is balanced, and they would be incredibly fun to play as! Though I have to admit, I (would rather) see them more as monsters than PCs.

Yes obviously a monster. I forgot to mention. It would make a superb monster CR 8 - 12 depending on HD.
kwanzaabot
04-11-08, 05:20 PM I really don't think this should be a race at all.

Party pooper. :(

As for the monster suggestions, I was actually considering making Bad Breath eventually have the chance to inflict multiple statuses, just like the real thing, and i'll include Spell Resistance, levitation (which Malboros in some games do seem to get) and the like (just like the monster), but they'll probably be feats etc. Or maybe a prestige class.

However, my intention was to make a playable race (don't ask me why :P), but if you want it as a monster, just level it up and slap on the upcoming Class... however, as I stated in my first post, mechanically, Malboros are pretty much indistinguishable from Beholders. It's mostly a flavor difference.
kwanzaabot
04-12-08, 01:45 AM Added a quite possibly overpowered Racial Feat in the form of Putrid Breath. Opinions?

Hopefully it reflects what Malboros are famous for- inflicting a whole bunch of status problems on the party! I tried to scale it to the levels that a Wizard or Sorcerer is capable of learning the spells at, but I'm sure if could be easily abused. I do like it, though..
kwanzaabot
04-13-08, 12:23 AM So... nobody has anything to say about it? At all? :'(
soulphantum
04-17-08, 07:40 AM Final Fantasy is teh best, i love it, however you will find a majority of D&D afficianados do not like it. From what I gathered from my DM, "they" think that it is too limiting and predictable....I guess if you compare it to D&D it is, but personally I don't like comparing apples and oranges.

I like that you added the Putrid Breath part as the negative effects were the signature of Bad breath attacks.
Xiuhcoatl
04-17-08, 07:47 AM Can they wield weapons? Can they wear armor?

Any limitations on the above?
ToastedAmphibian
04-18-08, 09:42 PM Can they wield weapons? Can they wear armor?

Any limitations on the above?

They may wear/wield and armor/weapons they are proficent with, as determined by there class levels.The armor would cost twice as much as normal, as they are an abnormal shape (As per the armor rules). If they attempt to wear armor they arnt proficent in, they take the check penalties to most rolls they make, including attack rolls.
zeratulcraft
04-18-08, 09:58 PM The way that feat reads, it looks like its once every 4 levels or so you can use it.

If it just adds a rider effect on to Bad Breath, maybe something like "For every four HD you possess, you can add an additional effect to Bad Breath. The level you gain these and the roll to add them are as follows;(table)"

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kwanzaabot 04-11-08, 06:03 AM	http://www.ffcompendium.com/EspMon/marlboro10.jpg So. I like Beholders. I don't know why exactly, I mean, they look kinda stupid to be honest, but I like 'em anyway. However, they're not cut out to be player characters. Luckily for you, I like console-based RPG's as well, and I happened to notice some similarities between my favourite floating eyeballs, and my one of my favourite Final Fantasy monsters. So somehow I got working on a playable Beholder race, which somehow became a Malboro one. Makes for a convenient way to include them in a campaign, but. And for the hell of it, I turned it into a what I hope is a LA +0, even though Malboros are usually pretty high-end monsters. So, PEACH away, fellow forum-goers! Centuries ago, a wizard attempted to create the perfect creature- an animal with the cleanliness of a dog, and the loyalty of a cat. Unfortunately, the unspeakable horrors that resulted were deemed not cost-effective, and the wizard, aiming to market his creations as the ideal household pets, opted to just throw something together with Beholder DNA, instead (Beholders in those days, being as common as the common pidgeon, or “gutter bird”, which were ironically quite rare at the time). Malboros, as the creatures came to be known, embody something of an oddity compared to the typical Beholder: while they have lots and lots of eyes, they can't blast magic out of them (without the proper training, anyway). Additionally, Malboros are cursed with a lack of levitation, instead having a set of fully functioning limbs, in the form of eight tentacles- six of which are used for walking, like an insect, with the other two being just long enough to act as a pair of arms. The final feature that sets Malboros apart from their bretheren is their putrid breath- Malboros are connoisseurs of all things stinky- especially cigarettes, garlic, and certain varieties of cheese, which builds up over time to produce a funk so vile, that few can stand to be around a Malboro for extended periods of time. • +2 Int, -2 Cha • Medium Aberration • Base land speed is 20ft. • Darkvision 60ft. • All-Around Vision (Ex): A Malboro's eyestalks allow it to look in any direction, providing a +4 racial bonus to Spot and Search checks. A Malboro can't be Flanked. • Natural Weapons (Ex): A Malboro has a Bite attack that deals 1d4 points of damage plus 1/2 their Strength bonus. • Bad Breath (Sp): 3 times per day, a Malboro may expel a cloud of toxic gas from its mouth that acts as a Troglodyte's Stench (seen here- http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/troglodyte.htm ) that has a range of 5ft. As a Malboro grows and develops stronger lungs, this range increases- at 2nd level, it has a range of 10ft, at 3rd level it becomes 20ft, and at 4th level it reaches its maximum range of 30ft. Troglodytes and Malboros are immune to each other's smell. • Automatic Languages: Common, Beholder • Bonus Languages: Any • Favoured Class: Wizard or Warlock Eventually, I want to develop some racial feats to make 'em bigger and badder- like their Final Fantasy counterparts, and really make their Bad Breath a bit more than just stankyness. However, for a young Malboro, I think it's not too shabby. So... is it balanced for a LA +0 race? And more importantly, who'd play as one!? :D Putrid Breath (racial feat) Prerequisites: Must be Malboro, Constitution 13+. Benefit: At 4th, 8th, and every 4 levels afterwards, you may inflict any opponent within range with an additional spell-like ability from the below list when using your Bad Breath. The level required is indictated in (parentheses). The effect is chosen at random by rolling a d20 for each additional effect- a 1 is charm person, a 2 is sleep, and a 7 would result in fear and so on. Any rumber rolled that has no corresponding spell or is too high a level simply fails, however, he/she may get a second chance if he/she can cast any extra spells with their Bad Breath. For example, Oscar, a 6th-level Malboro can cast charm person, sleep, inflict moderate wounds, silence and slow in addition to sickening the enemy with his Bad Breath, but can only cast one of them at a time (as he isn't 8th level yet, which would grant him another spell-like ability, and 12th, which would grant yet another), and after rolling a 5, is able to cast slow. Meanwhile Vivian, a 13th-level Malboro can choose from any of the listed spells, and can cast three of them- rolling a 20, 5 and 7- and as such casts slow and fear. As she rolled a number that is too high to have a corresponding spell (20), that attempt simply failed. Spell list: charm person (1), sleep (1), inflict moderate wounds (4), silence (4), slow (6), charm monster (8), fear (8), telekinesis (10), disintegrate (12), flesh to stone (12).
narack 04-11-08, 07:32 AM	if i remember Marlboro also had alot of resistance to spells and they were ago, maybe Spell Resistance 10 + HD and Rage 1/day
zeratulcraft 04-11-08, 07:45 AM	I really don't think this should be a race at all.
M-bark 04-11-08, 08:14 AM	if i remember Marlboro also had alot of resistance to spells and they were ago, maybe Spell Resistance 10 + HD and Rage 1/day Yes, but that would warrant an LA of 1 or higher. As is, I think it is balanced, and they would be incredibly fun to play as! Though I have to admit, I (would rather) see them more as monsters than PCs.
narack 04-11-08, 12:19 PM	Yes, but that would warrant an LA of 1 or higher. As is, I think it is balanced, and they would be incredibly fun to play as! Though I have to admit, I (would rather) see them more as monsters than PCs. Yes obviously a monster. I forgot to mention. It would make a superb monster CR 8 - 12 depending on HD.
kwanzaabot 04-11-08, 05:20 PM	I really don't think this should be a race at all. Party pooper. :( As for the monster suggestions, I was actually considering making Bad Breath eventually have the chance to inflict multiple statuses, just like the real thing, and i'll include Spell Resistance, levitation (which Malboros in some games do seem to get) and the like (just like the monster), but they'll probably be feats etc. Or maybe a prestige class. However, my intention was to make a playable race (don't ask me why :P), but if you want it as a monster, just level it up and slap on the upcoming Class... however, as I stated in my first post, mechanically, Malboros are pretty much indistinguishable from Beholders. It's mostly a flavor difference.
kwanzaabot 04-12-08, 01:45 AM	Added a quite possibly overpowered Racial Feat in the form of Putrid Breath. Opinions? Hopefully it reflects what Malboros are famous for- inflicting a whole bunch of status problems on the party! I tried to scale it to the levels that a Wizard or Sorcerer is capable of learning the spells at, but I'm sure if could be easily abused. I do like it, though..
kwanzaabot 04-13-08, 12:23 AM	So... nobody has anything to say about it? At all? :'(
soulphantum 04-17-08, 07:40 AM	Final Fantasy is teh best, i love it, however you will find a majority of D&D afficianados do not like it. From what I gathered from my DM, "they" think that it is too limiting and predictable....I guess if you compare it to D&D it is, but personally I don't like comparing apples and oranges. I like that you added the Putrid Breath part as the negative effects were the signature of Bad breath attacks.
Xiuhcoatl 04-17-08, 07:47 AM	Can they wield weapons? Can they wear armor? Any limitations on the above?
ToastedAmphibian 04-18-08, 09:42 PM	Can they wield weapons? Can they wear armor? Any limitations on the above? They may wear/wield and armor/weapons they are proficent with, as determined by there class levels.The armor would cost twice as much as normal, as they are an abnormal shape (As per the armor rules). If they attempt to wear armor they arnt proficent in, they take the check penalties to most rolls they make, including attack rolls.
zeratulcraft 04-18-08, 09:58 PM	The way that feat reads, it looks like its once every 4 levels or so you can use it. If it just adds a rider effect on to Bad Breath, maybe something like "For every four HD you possess, you can add an additional effect to Bad Breath. The level you gain these and the roll to add them are as follows;(table)"