Van - a new psionic race [Archive] - Wizards Community

Van - a new psionic race [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Melayl
05-21-07, 03:47 PM My first in-depth attempt a race creation. Feel free to offer any criticism (preferrably constructive) and any other comments.

Van

LA +1 (per Yaba the What's feature points -- if I caclulated it correctly)

-2 STR, -2 CON, +2 INT, +4 WIS

Monstrous Humanoid

Medium size (4 ½ - 6’ tall, slender build)

Base Speed 30’

Racial HD 1 (1d8 hp, BAB +0, Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +1) (exchange features of HD for those of PC or NPC class)

Racial Skills: (2+INT mod)*4 (exchange features of HD for those of PC or NPC class). Racial skills are: Search, Spot, Concentration, Psicraft, Diplomacy (these count as class skills for any Van, regardless of class).

Naturally Psionic: 2PP

Tentacles: (Ex) Each Van has 4 tentacles growing from the back of their skull. Each is 1 ½ - 2” thick at the base and 1 ½ - 2’ long (they may be extended up to twice this length). Each tentacle is fully prehensile, and can flatten slightly for better manipulation of objects. Each tentacle has a STR of 2. Tentacles grant a +2 racial bonus to Search and Spot checks (stacks with bonus from vision – see below). The Tentacles also grant Blindsight in a 5’ radius (thus a Van cannot be flanked by creatures within the radius). They also allow the use of Detect Psionics at will (as per the power).

Large Eyes: (Ex) Van have very large eyes (2”x4”), which grant a +2 racial bonus to Search/Spot checks (stacks with bonus from tentacles). Van, unlike most monstrous humanoids, do not have darkvision.

Self-Sufficient: (Su) Van may heal themselves, 1 hp/PP spent, 2 PP/level/use cap, standard action.

Telepathy: (Su) on touch, any creature with an Intelligence score (limited to simple concepts with creatures of INT 2 or less).

Language: Common, bonus: elven, draconic, undercommon

Lifespan: 300 years (shorter for males, Psychic Warriors)

Alignment: Typically Lawful, occasional Neutral, no Chaotic. Typically Neutral, few Good, few Evil.

Favored Class: Psychic Warrior (warrior caste) or Psion (noble caste)

Diet: as per humans, typically (omnivores)

Proficient: all simple weapons. No armor, no shields.

Appearance: All Van are blue in color, with shade varying by caste (see below). Eyes are large and solid colored (any color). They glow (“flame” effect) with all uses of psionic or magical Powers (innate or class-granted). Van are hairless. Their ears are pointed, and serrated along the exterior edge. Van have a sharp jaw line, and are slender of build with little body fat. Males and females are similar in stature.

Van may spend feat slots on racial feats to increase range of their telepathy and Blindsight.

Improved Telepathy [racial Van]

Your telepathic powers now work at range, 10’ per character level. You may take this feat multiple times, the effects stack.

Special: a Van Psychic Warrior may select Improved Telepathy as one of her bonus feats.

Improved Blindsight [racial Van]

Your Blindsight range increases by 10’. You may take this feat multiple times, the effects stack.

Special: a Van Psychic Warrior may select Improved Blindsight as one of her bonus feats.

Van Society

Van value learning and science, and their society has evolved to reflect this. Van often employ grafts to help offset their physical shortcomings (especially Warrior caste). The Noble class handles all grafting. Van nobles are also known for creating and/or altering creatures to better serve the Van as a whole (or just to see if they can). Van typically use hydroponic, tiered gardens to raise food crops.

Van despise Illithid and will fight them to the death whenever encountered, and even organize raiding parties to seek out Illithid. (Implying that Van and Illithid are somehow related is a bad idea) Slayer is a popular PrC for Van.

Van Social Castes
In all castes, females have a deeper shade of color than males.

Van society is broken into castes based upon skin color, deeper colors ranking higher. Turquoise blue shades denote the lowest caste, that of the Servant. Servants are the unskilled laborers of Van society. Servants are forbidden to take any non-npc classes, and typically take only Commoner levels. Servants make up approximately 33% of the population.

Sky blue shades signify the Artisan caste. Artisans are skilled laborers and professionals. Artisans are forbidden to take any non-npc classes, and typically take Expert levels. Artisans make up approximately 24% of the population

Steel blue shades denote the Warrior caste. Warriors are any of the melee-type roles, that of Psychic Warrior ranking highest. Warriors that do not take PC levels have levels in Warrior. Warriors may take full manifester/caster levels, but only with permission from their Matriarch, and only up to ½ of their melee class level. Warriors make up approximately 33% of the population.

Finally, Royal blue shades denote the Noble caste. Nobles are the rulers of Van society, and all are manifesters/casters of varying degree, with Psions having the highest status. Nobles that do not take PC levels have levels in Adept (arcane or psionic), or Aristocrat. Nobles make up somewhat less than 10% of the population.

As a general rule, there is no movement between castes. However, particularly outstanding specimens from a lower caste (in terms of ability or beauty), or those of particularly deep caste color may occasionally advance to a higher cast (typically through marriage). Similarly, a Van that fails in their duty may be demoted in caste (usually temporarily) as punishment.

Van Government

Each caste is governed by a Matriarch and a Council. The Grand Council rules over all castes. It is made up of the Matriarch of each caste, one elected male from the Noble caste, 1 additional Artisan, 2 additional Warriors, and 4 additional Nobles. Only female council members are allowed to vote in the council. The Matriarch of the Noble caste is the leader of the council. Typically council positions are lifetime posts.

Van Architecture and Design

Van typically favor an organic style of design, preferring curves and arches to corners and lines. This applies not only to their architecture, but also to their cities, their art, and their goods. Think Mon Cal starships as opposed to Imperial starships (sorry, but it was the best analogy I could think of).

Honor

Honor is very important in Van society. Honor of the Van as a people is held as most important, and then comes the honor of caste and family, and finally personal honor.

Religion

Van have no official religion and few places of worship. Many Van could even be considered agnostic. This leads to few clerics (or other divine classes) in Van society, all of Lawful deities. Divine classes make up less than ½ of 1% of all Van classes.
Melayl
05-21-07, 03:47 PM reserved for future updates (including a new monster, when I get it done)
Peregrine_Wolf
05-21-07, 04:20 PM Hmmm....seems intersting. I think it is a bit overpowered, with all the bonuses to checks and blindsight stuff. I like the idea though, but then again, I've never played a psion before, I've just looked at them.
zzo38
05-21-07, 05:25 PM This is interesting. But LA+1 doesn't seem enough to me, I would think you would need a least LA+2. I also think the restrictions based on social caste aren't very good, they can be very common but shouldn't be required.
Melayl
05-21-07, 07:41 PM According to YabaTheWhat's Feature Points, it's a slightly heavy LA +1 (again, if I calculated it correctly.

I also think the restrictions based on social caste aren't very good, they can be very common but shouldn't be required.

You can, of course, change any of the flavor text (which is most of the Society stuff) in any way you wish.

However, I envision the Van as a pretty strict society, with the Matriarchs having the final say for all those under them. I never said it was a fair society, or even a Good one, just a Lawful one. Besides, if the higher castes allowed the lower castes to do become whatever they wanted, it would weaken the control the higher castes have over the society. And that would lead to chaos...for the Van society, anyway.
Saberus
05-23-07, 01:45 AM It seems ok, the +1 LA plus the racial HD might be a little too low, I'd suggest maybe an extra HD, that should put it near perfect.

Just curious, what's your inspiration?
Melayl
05-23-07, 04:13 AM Since it's just 1 HD, you replace the HD with the class HD -- you don't add it. At least, it's that way if I read the SRD correctly. If I didn't, I'll have to drop the HD. I had originally put it at 2 HD, but I thought the ECL would be a little burdensome (although it made more of a low LA+1 with 2 HD).

As for my inspiration, I really don't know. I had the image of the physical attributes in my head -- not sure where it came from, possibly the residue of a dream, or possibly some warped memory of a Star Wars movie character. I added in the rest to round out the image. I hardly ever really know where my ideas come from, they just kinda happen.
Peregrine_Wolf
05-23-07, 04:50 PM Yay for randomness :w00t:

But...yeah...I'd say make the tentacles give a little bonus to grapple and remove the anti-flanking bonus. That seems a bit over the top to me.

Or maybe you could give it an option that, at +2 LA they get the grapple and blind-sight things, or at +1 LA it's just the grapple.
sontefir
05-23-07, 05:05 PM Nice, but they're stupid for not knowing they're distantly related to illithids. I mean, it's totally obvious to all us other races. Somebody's mama was a cheatin' tramp in the distant illithid past!
neilthrun
05-23-07, 05:10 PM Why the name Van? Saying I'm playing a Van Fighter suddenly makes me think that I'm playing some kind of weird cross between a van and tie fighter. Van Cleric would just be another name for mechanic. And a Van Ninja seems a bit silly.
Melayl
05-24-07, 12:26 AM Nice, but they're stupid for not knowing they're distantly related to illithids. I mean, it's totally obvious to all us other races. Somebody's mama was a cheatin' tramp in the distant illithid past!

;)

Why the name Van? Saying I'm playing a Van Fighter suddenly makes me think that I'm playing some kind of weird cross between a van and tie fighter. Van Cleric would just be another name for mechanic. And a Van Ninja seems a bit silly.

Van is the name that came to me when I thought about them, and it stuck. And really, where did they come up with some of the other race names -- they're a little strange too. Illithid, Kobald, Drow, Druegar, etc.

But...yeah...I'd say make the tentacles give a little bonus to grapple and remove the anti-flanking bonus. That seems a bit over the top to me.

Or maybe you could give it an option that, at +2 LA they get the grapple and blind-sight things, or at +1 LA it's just the grapple.

What kind of grapple bonus are you thinking? Also, I just assumed the no-flanking thing since their blindsight is a radius. I'm not averse to removing that, if an all-around vision-type thing wouldn't have it. Or maybe adding another racial feat for it.
zzo38
05-24-07, 02:49 PM According to YabaTheWhat's Feature Points, it's a slightly heavy LA +1 (again, if I calculated it correctly.

You can, of course, change any of the flavor text (which is most of the Society stuff) in any way you wish.

However, I envision the Van as a pretty strict society, with the Matriarchs having the final say for all those under them. I never said it was a fair society, or even a Good one, just a Lawful one. Besides, if the higher castes allowed the lower castes to do become whatever they wanted, it would weaken the control the higher castes have over the society. And that would lead to chaos...for the Van society, anyway.

Well, if the Vans were chaotic or didn't follow the rules of shades of blue, other people could put them in jail or something if they still lived in the same city. If moving away from Van cities, then you can ignore those rules (but you still might wish to follow those rules, but some people don't like it so they can ignore it if not living in the Van city).
Melayl
05-24-07, 11:51 PM Well, if the Vans were chaotic or didn't follow the rules of shades of blue, other people could put them in jail or something if they still lived in the same city. If moving away from Van cities, then you can ignore those rules (but you still might wish to follow those rules, but some people don't like it so they can ignore it if not living in the Van city).

As I said, you may change it for your campaign however you choose.

As I have it for my little world, I suppose that a lone Van (or two) in a party of other races may relax some of their restrictions while they are away from Van territory, depending upon their circumstances. They may even be given permission by their Matriarch to do so. However, when they return, they would still have to follow the proper forms of behavior.

Van are somewhat hardwired towards Lawful behavior (like the Formians, but slightly more relaxed). It's not a militantly strict dictatorship, it's just a very strong cultural bend towards a certain style of behavior (like feudal Japan).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Melayl 05-21-07, 03:47 PM	My first in-depth attempt a race creation. Feel free to offer any criticism (preferrably constructive) and any other comments. Van LA +1 (per Yaba the What's feature points -- if I caclulated it correctly) -2 STR, -2 CON, +2 INT, +4 WIS Monstrous Humanoid Medium size (4 ½ - 6’ tall, slender build) Base Speed 30’ Racial HD 1 (1d8 hp, BAB +0, Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +1) (exchange features of HD for those of PC or NPC class) Racial Skills: (2+INT mod)*4 (exchange features of HD for those of PC or NPC class). Racial skills are: Search, Spot, Concentration, Psicraft, Diplomacy (these count as class skills for any Van, regardless of class). Naturally Psionic: 2PP Tentacles: (Ex) Each Van has 4 tentacles growing from the back of their skull. Each is 1 ½ - 2” thick at the base and 1 ½ - 2’ long (they may be extended up to twice this length). Each tentacle is fully prehensile, and can flatten slightly for better manipulation of objects. Each tentacle has a STR of 2. Tentacles grant a +2 racial bonus to Search and Spot checks (stacks with bonus from vision – see below). The Tentacles also grant Blindsight in a 5’ radius (thus a Van cannot be flanked by creatures within the radius). They also allow the use of Detect Psionics at will (as per the power). Large Eyes: (Ex) Van have very large eyes (2”x4”), which grant a +2 racial bonus to Search/Spot checks (stacks with bonus from tentacles). Van, unlike most monstrous humanoids, do not have darkvision. Self-Sufficient: (Su) Van may heal themselves, 1 hp/PP spent, 2 PP/level/use cap, standard action. Telepathy: (Su) on touch, any creature with an Intelligence score (limited to simple concepts with creatures of INT 2 or less). Language: Common, bonus: elven, draconic, undercommon Lifespan: 300 years (shorter for males, Psychic Warriors) Alignment: Typically Lawful, occasional Neutral, no Chaotic. Typically Neutral, few Good, few Evil. Favored Class: Psychic Warrior (warrior caste) or Psion (noble caste) Diet: as per humans, typically (omnivores) Proficient: all simple weapons. No armor, no shields. Appearance: All Van are blue in color, with shade varying by caste (see below). Eyes are large and solid colored (any color). They glow (“flame” effect) with all uses of psionic or magical Powers (innate or class-granted). Van are hairless. Their ears are pointed, and serrated along the exterior edge. Van have a sharp jaw line, and are slender of build with little body fat. Males and females are similar in stature. Van may spend feat slots on racial feats to increase range of their telepathy and Blindsight. Improved Telepathy [racial Van] Your telepathic powers now work at range, 10’ per character level. You may take this feat multiple times, the effects stack. Special: a Van Psychic Warrior may select Improved Telepathy as one of her bonus feats. Improved Blindsight [racial Van] Your Blindsight range increases by 10’. You may take this feat multiple times, the effects stack. Special: a Van Psychic Warrior may select Improved Blindsight as one of her bonus feats. Van Society Van value learning and science, and their society has evolved to reflect this. Van often employ grafts to help offset their physical shortcomings (especially Warrior caste). The Noble class handles all grafting. Van nobles are also known for creating and/or altering creatures to better serve the Van as a whole (or just to see if they can). Van typically use hydroponic, tiered gardens to raise food crops. Van despise Illithid and will fight them to the death whenever encountered, and even organize raiding parties to seek out Illithid. (Implying that Van and Illithid are somehow related is a bad idea) Slayer is a popular PrC for Van. Van Social Castes In all castes, females have a deeper shade of color than males. Van society is broken into castes based upon skin color, deeper colors ranking higher. Turquoise blue shades denote the lowest caste, that of the Servant. Servants are the unskilled laborers of Van society. Servants are forbidden to take any non-npc classes, and typically take only Commoner levels. Servants make up approximately 33% of the population. Sky blue shades signify the Artisan caste. Artisans are skilled laborers and professionals. Artisans are forbidden to take any non-npc classes, and typically take Expert levels. Artisans make up approximately 24% of the population Steel blue shades denote the Warrior caste. Warriors are any of the melee-type roles, that of Psychic Warrior ranking highest. Warriors that do not take PC levels have levels in Warrior. Warriors may take full manifester/caster levels, but only with permission from their Matriarch, and only up to ½ of their melee class level. Warriors make up approximately 33% of the population. Finally, Royal blue shades denote the Noble caste. Nobles are the rulers of Van society, and all are manifesters/casters of varying degree, with Psions having the highest status. Nobles that do not take PC levels have levels in Adept (arcane or psionic), or Aristocrat. Nobles make up somewhat less than 10% of the population. As a general rule, there is no movement between castes. However, particularly outstanding specimens from a lower caste (in terms of ability or beauty), or those of particularly deep caste color may occasionally advance to a higher cast (typically through marriage). Similarly, a Van that fails in their duty may be demoted in caste (usually temporarily) as punishment. Van Government Each caste is governed by a Matriarch and a Council. The Grand Council rules over all castes. It is made up of the Matriarch of each caste, one elected male from the Noble caste, 1 additional Artisan, 2 additional Warriors, and 4 additional Nobles. Only female council members are allowed to vote in the council. The Matriarch of the Noble caste is the leader of the council. Typically council positions are lifetime posts. Van Architecture and Design Van typically favor an organic style of design, preferring curves and arches to corners and lines. This applies not only to their architecture, but also to their cities, their art, and their goods. Think Mon Cal starships as opposed to Imperial starships (sorry, but it was the best analogy I could think of). Honor Honor is very important in Van society. Honor of the Van as a people is held as most important, and then comes the honor of caste and family, and finally personal honor. Religion Van have no official religion and few places of worship. Many Van could even be considered agnostic. This leads to few clerics (or other divine classes) in Van society, all of Lawful deities. Divine classes make up less than ½ of 1% of all Van classes.
Melayl 05-21-07, 03:47 PM	reserved for future updates (including a new monster, when I get it done)
Peregrine_Wolf 05-21-07, 04:20 PM	Hmmm....seems intersting. I think it is a bit overpowered, with all the bonuses to checks and blindsight stuff. I like the idea though, but then again, I've never played a psion before, I've just looked at them.
zzo38 05-21-07, 05:25 PM	This is interesting. But LA+1 doesn't seem enough to me, I would think you would need a least LA+2. I also think the restrictions based on social caste aren't very good, they can be very common but shouldn't be required.
Melayl 05-21-07, 07:41 PM	According to YabaTheWhat's Feature Points, it's a slightly heavy LA +1 (again, if I calculated it correctly. I also think the restrictions based on social caste aren't very good, they can be very common but shouldn't be required. You can, of course, change any of the flavor text (which is most of the Society stuff) in any way you wish. However, I envision the Van as a pretty strict society, with the Matriarchs having the final say for all those under them. I never said it was a fair society, or even a Good one, just a Lawful one. Besides, if the higher castes allowed the lower castes to do become whatever they wanted, it would weaken the control the higher castes have over the society. And that would lead to chaos...for the Van society, anyway.
Saberus 05-23-07, 01:45 AM	It seems ok, the +1 LA plus the racial HD might be a little too low, I'd suggest maybe an extra HD, that should put it near perfect. Just curious, what's your inspiration?
Melayl 05-23-07, 04:13 AM	Since it's just 1 HD, you replace the HD with the class HD -- you don't add it. At least, it's that way if I read the SRD correctly. If I didn't, I'll have to drop the HD. I had originally put it at 2 HD, but I thought the ECL would be a little burdensome (although it made more of a low LA+1 with 2 HD). As for my inspiration, I really don't know. I had the image of the physical attributes in my head -- not sure where it came from, possibly the residue of a dream, or possibly some warped memory of a Star Wars movie character. I added in the rest to round out the image. I hardly ever really know where my ideas come from, they just kinda happen.
Peregrine_Wolf 05-23-07, 04:50 PM	Yay for randomness :w00t: But...yeah...I'd say make the tentacles give a little bonus to grapple and remove the anti-flanking bonus. That seems a bit over the top to me. Or maybe you could give it an option that, at +2 LA they get the grapple and blind-sight things, or at +1 LA it's just the grapple.
sontefir 05-23-07, 05:05 PM	Nice, but they're stupid for not knowing they're distantly related to illithids. I mean, it's totally obvious to all us other races. Somebody's mama was a cheatin' tramp in the distant illithid past!
neilthrun 05-23-07, 05:10 PM	Why the name Van? Saying I'm playing a Van Fighter suddenly makes me think that I'm playing some kind of weird cross between a van and tie fighter. Van Cleric would just be another name for mechanic. And a Van Ninja seems a bit silly.
Melayl 05-24-07, 12:26 AM	Nice, but they're stupid for not knowing they're distantly related to illithids. I mean, it's totally obvious to all us other races. Somebody's mama was a cheatin' tramp in the distant illithid past! ;) Why the name Van? Saying I'm playing a Van Fighter suddenly makes me think that I'm playing some kind of weird cross between a van and tie fighter. Van Cleric would just be another name for mechanic. And a Van Ninja seems a bit silly. Van is the name that came to me when I thought about them, and it stuck. And really, where did they come up with some of the other race names -- they're a little strange too. Illithid, Kobald, Drow, Druegar, etc. But...yeah...I'd say make the tentacles give a little bonus to grapple and remove the anti-flanking bonus. That seems a bit over the top to me. Or maybe you could give it an option that, at +2 LA they get the grapple and blind-sight things, or at +1 LA it's just the grapple. What kind of grapple bonus are you thinking? Also, I just assumed the no-flanking thing since their blindsight is a radius. I'm not averse to removing that, if an all-around vision-type thing wouldn't have it. Or maybe adding another racial feat for it.
zzo38 05-24-07, 02:49 PM	According to YabaTheWhat's Feature Points, it's a slightly heavy LA +1 (again, if I calculated it correctly. You can, of course, change any of the flavor text (which is most of the Society stuff) in any way you wish. However, I envision the Van as a pretty strict society, with the Matriarchs having the final say for all those under them. I never said it was a fair society, or even a Good one, just a Lawful one. Besides, if the higher castes allowed the lower castes to do become whatever they wanted, it would weaken the control the higher castes have over the society. And that would lead to chaos...for the Van society, anyway. Well, if the Vans were chaotic or didn't follow the rules of shades of blue, other people could put them in jail or something if they still lived in the same city. If moving away from Van cities, then you can ignore those rules (but you still might wish to follow those rules, but some people don't like it so they can ignore it if not living in the Van city).
Melayl 05-24-07, 11:51 PM	Well, if the Vans were chaotic or didn't follow the rules of shades of blue, other people could put them in jail or something if they still lived in the same city. If moving away from Van cities, then you can ignore those rules (but you still might wish to follow those rules, but some people don't like it so they can ignore it if not living in the Van city). As I said, you may change it for your campaign however you choose. As I have it for my little world, I suppose that a lone Van (or two) in a party of other races may relax some of their restrictions while they are away from Van territory, depending upon their circumstances. They may even be given permission by their Matriarch to do so. However, when they return, they would still have to follow the proper forms of behavior. Van are somewhat hardwired towards Lawful behavior (like the Formians, but slightly more relaxed). It's not a militantly strict dictatorship, it's just a very strong cultural bend towards a certain style of behavior (like feudal Japan).