Using Shifters for Beastmen [Archive] - Wizards Community

Using Shifters for Beastmen [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Romulus LoneWolf
04-29-07, 10:44 PM Just something I've been thinking.. Using the mechanics for the Shifter race, but altering the Fluff details, like their appearance and default culture, to make them more of a race of human-animal hybrids. Appearance would vary from Shifter to Shifter, and would be connected to one's Shifter trait and vice-versa.

For exemple, a Tiger-based Shifter (like Katt or Rei from the Breath of Fire series) would qualify for the Cliffwalk and Razorclaw traits, while a Wolf-based Shifter would favor the Longtooth and Wildhunt traits.
Magrus
04-29-07, 10:49 PM You mean, like they don't "shift", you have them permanently shifted into specific types and that's the race?
Romulus LoneWolf
04-29-07, 11:45 PM You mean, like they don't "shift", you have them permanently shifted into specific types and that's the race?

No, mechanically they stay the same, only the traits are visibly apparant, but are only cosmetic unless a Shift is used. For exemple, a longtooth wolf-shifter would have a visible muzzle-like mouth, but it would be useless as a bite attack unless he uses the shifter trait, at which point it seems to get longer and with sharper teeth as he bites.

...I guess what I'm saying is that I want to give Shifters more of a Totem-like approach, with a "Tell" hinting at the Shifter's trait.
ragoftag
04-30-07, 01:55 AM Should work. You might even create new 'sets' for other 'beastmen'.
Warforged Goblin
04-30-07, 09:21 AM I agree whole-heartedly Lonewolf. In most campaigns I use shifters in, there's always some sort of tell that hints to the shifter's ancestry. Sometimes it's the obvious things like orange hair with black streaks for a razorclaw shifter or slightly longer ears and a pug nose (were-bat) for a swifwing shifter. Although, sometimes the trait manifests itself as a personality quirk such as the shifter always sniffing for the wildhunt trait or being very contemplative and introverted as in the case of the dreamsight trait.

And, since ragoftag brought it up, I came up with three new shifter traits; nightecho, suregrip, and venomfang. The nightecho trait is clearly based from a were-bat heritage. The suregrip trait could be from either a were-bear or were-serpent background, while the venomfang trait comes from a were-serpent or, if you use them, were-spider.

Nightecho While shifting, you gain a +2 bonus to your Wisdom. In addition, you gain the effects of the Blind-Fight feat, even if you do not meet the prerequisites. If you already have the Blind-Fight feat, you may reroll a melee attack missed due to concealment twice to see if you hit and your movement is only reduced by 5 feet due to darkness or poor lighting.

While not shifting, a nightecho shifter gains a +2 bonus on Listen checks as a lingering effect of this trait.

Nightecho shifters seem skittish and paranoid, often conspiratorially listening and eavesdropping on other peoples’ conversations.

Suregrip While shifting, you gain a +2 bonus to your Strength. In addition, you gain the effects of the Improved Grapple feat, even if you do not meet the prerequisites. If you already have the Improved Grapple feat, you gain an additional +4 bonus on all grapple checks while shifting.

Suregrip shifters are unusually surly and seem slow to act upon a given situation, but attack problems with unremitting tenacity.

Venomfang While shifting, you gain a +2 bonus to your constitution. In addition, you gain a bite attack that deals 1d3 + ½ your Strength modifier in piercing damage plus poison (1 Con/1d3 Con). The DC to resist your poison is 10 + ½ your HD + your Constitution modifier. You can use your bite attack as a secondary attack (taking a -5 penalty on your attack roll) while wielding a weapon. Venomfang shifters are immune to their own poison, but not the poison of other creatures, including other venomfang shifters.

Venomfang shifters usually have a sharp, biting wit and tend to use it to insult or belittle others.
Romulus LoneWolf
04-30-07, 06:41 PM There are also the Saurian Shifters, originally from Dragon #328. Basically, they're Shifters with dinosaurian ancestry. It has it's own set of Shifter Traits based off of dinosaurs, such as the Raptorleap trait, which grants +2 to Strength and +4 to Jump checks, and allows the Saurian Shifter to treat all Jump checks as though he had a running start.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Romulus LoneWolf 04-29-07, 10:44 PM	Just something I've been thinking.. Using the mechanics for the Shifter race, but altering the Fluff details, like their appearance and default culture, to make them more of a race of human-animal hybrids. Appearance would vary from Shifter to Shifter, and would be connected to one's Shifter trait and vice-versa. For exemple, a Tiger-based Shifter (like Katt or Rei from the Breath of Fire series) would qualify for the Cliffwalk and Razorclaw traits, while a Wolf-based Shifter would favor the Longtooth and Wildhunt traits.
Magrus 04-29-07, 10:49 PM	You mean, like they don't "shift", you have them permanently shifted into specific types and that's the race?
Romulus LoneWolf 04-29-07, 11:45 PM	You mean, like they don't "shift", you have them permanently shifted into specific types and that's the race? No, mechanically they stay the same, only the traits are visibly apparant, but are only cosmetic unless a Shift is used. For exemple, a longtooth wolf-shifter would have a visible muzzle-like mouth, but it would be useless as a bite attack unless he uses the shifter trait, at which point it seems to get longer and with sharper teeth as he bites. ...I guess what I'm saying is that I want to give Shifters more of a Totem-like approach, with a "Tell" hinting at the Shifter's trait.
ragoftag 04-30-07, 01:55 AM	Should work. You might even create new 'sets' for other 'beastmen'.
Warforged Goblin 04-30-07, 09:21 AM	I agree whole-heartedly Lonewolf. In most campaigns I use shifters in, there's always some sort of tell that hints to the shifter's ancestry. Sometimes it's the obvious things like orange hair with black streaks for a razorclaw shifter or slightly longer ears and a pug nose (were-bat) for a swifwing shifter. Although, sometimes the trait manifests itself as a personality quirk such as the shifter always sniffing for the wildhunt trait or being very contemplative and introverted as in the case of the dreamsight trait. And, since ragoftag brought it up, I came up with three new shifter traits; nightecho, suregrip, and venomfang. The nightecho trait is clearly based from a were-bat heritage. The suregrip trait could be from either a were-bear or were-serpent background, while the venomfang trait comes from a were-serpent or, if you use them, were-spider. Nightecho While shifting, you gain a +2 bonus to your Wisdom. In addition, you gain the effects of the Blind-Fight feat, even if you do not meet the prerequisites. If you already have the Blind-Fight feat, you may reroll a melee attack missed due to concealment twice to see if you hit and your movement is only reduced by 5 feet due to darkness or poor lighting. While not shifting, a nightecho shifter gains a +2 bonus on Listen checks as a lingering effect of this trait. Nightecho shifters seem skittish and paranoid, often conspiratorially listening and eavesdropping on other peoples’ conversations. Suregrip While shifting, you gain a +2 bonus to your Strength. In addition, you gain the effects of the Improved Grapple feat, even if you do not meet the prerequisites. If you already have the Improved Grapple feat, you gain an additional +4 bonus on all grapple checks while shifting. Suregrip shifters are unusually surly and seem slow to act upon a given situation, but attack problems with unremitting tenacity. Venomfang While shifting, you gain a +2 bonus to your constitution. In addition, you gain a bite attack that deals 1d3 + ½ your Strength modifier in piercing damage plus poison (1 Con/1d3 Con). The DC to resist your poison is 10 + ½ your HD + your Constitution modifier. You can use your bite attack as a secondary attack (taking a -5 penalty on your attack roll) while wielding a weapon. Venomfang shifters are immune to their own poison, but not the poison of other creatures, including other venomfang shifters. Venomfang shifters usually have a sharp, biting wit and tend to use it to insult or belittle others.
Romulus LoneWolf 04-30-07, 06:41 PM	There are also the Saurian Shifters, originally from Dragon #328. Basically, they're Shifters with dinosaurian ancestry. It has it's own set of Shifter Traits based off of dinosaurs, such as the Raptorleap trait, which grants +2 to Strength and +4 to Jump checks, and allows the Saurian Shifter to treat all Jump checks as though he had a running start.