Racial Emulation? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Racial Emulation? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rahvan_Terashi
10-08-07, 06:29 PM Okay, I don't know if this has been asked before, but after a quick look with the search function I got tired of sifting through numerous pages of nothing.... sorry if I kick in an open door.

Okay, in the book 'Races of eberron' there is a feat, called Racial emulation (See below), it states that the changeling is to be treated as the race that he wants to look like. My question on that is this: Does that allow the changeling to take racial feats that belong to those races?

For example: Would a changeling be allowed to take the feat vermin trainer (Drow of the underdark, page 53) if he qualifies for the handle animal and knowledge (religion) prereqs? The feat states as a prereq that the one that learns it should be drow, but according to racial emulation:

When you use your minor change shape ability to assume the form of a humanoid creature, you can also emulate any of that humanoid's subtypes. Though you do not gain any of the humanoid's traits, you are considered to be a member of that race for all other purposes (Allowing you to use magic items and spells keyed to race, for example). You can also ignore the normal penalty on disguise checks when disguising yourself as a different race (See the disguise skill description, page 72 of the player's handbook).
You can only emulate one race at a time, and you always retain the shapechanger subtype.

From the bolded part I assume that a shapechanger would be able to take feats linked to specific races, but that those feats are only available when the shapechanger is emulating that race. So it's not that I think that I can shift, take a feat, and use it in any form, mind you that....

If I am unclear about anything, forgive me please. Currently passed midnight here and I am tired, Plus as an added bonus, English is not my first language.

I hope anyone here can help me with this, and I would appreciate a clear response.

Thank you in advance.

~Rahvan Morvayn Meridian Terashi
StevenO
10-08-07, 06:48 PM Looking at the Bolded text I'd say you should be able to qualify for racial specific things. The problem is that when you stop emulating that race you lose access to all of those racial specific things.

Short form: You may take racial specific feats and even classes. When you stop emulating that race you lose all of those benefits. My opinion, unless you plan to spend almost all of your time locked into one form you should stay away from the racial specific things although it would be legal for you to take them.
Rahvan_Terashi
10-08-07, 06:53 PM *Shrugs*
Please take note of that little thing that was underlined..., It already states that I assumed as much from what I had read myself.

And yes, I would lose all the benefits when I stop shifting, and I accept that. But on another note, as is usual with classes and the like, I keep the HP, saves, and BAB as they are, though I lose all other class features.

Still, Thank you for your quick reply.
StevenO
10-08-07, 07:45 PM Then you already knew the answer to the question and was just looking for confirmation.
Rahvan_Terashi
10-09-07, 09:34 AM Correction there StevenO, I didn't know anything yet, I assumed, something enrtirely different from knowing.
Naderion
10-09-07, 09:44 AM I think the purpose of racial emulation is, that you can use a bow that grants special properties when in the hands of an elf, when you emulate an elf, or you may pass through a magical ward, that blocks any creatures but dwarves, when you are in the shape of a dwarf.

Race only feats and prestige-classes are a different thing. If the feat can only be taken because of a physiologocal feature of the race, then racial emulation might not work at all, or the feat is only effective when in the required form, as the dm sees fit.

Prestige-classes usually only have social restrictions and not physical ones. Elves would only train other elves or half elves as arcane archers or bladesingers, but elven physiology is not required to learn the skills and tricks of the class. In thin case, you might trick them into training you even without a racial emulation ability.
Rahvan_Terashi
10-09-07, 06:44 PM Naderion, that is an answer that I like/can work with ^_^ Thanks for sacrificing some of your time to share that with me.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rahvan_Terashi 10-08-07, 06:29 PM	Okay, I don't know if this has been asked before, but after a quick look with the search function I got tired of sifting through numerous pages of nothing.... sorry if I kick in an open door. Okay, in the book 'Races of eberron' there is a feat, called Racial emulation (See below), it states that the changeling is to be treated as the race that he wants to look like. My question on that is this: Does that allow the changeling to take racial feats that belong to those races? For example: Would a changeling be allowed to take the feat vermin trainer (Drow of the underdark, page 53) if he qualifies for the handle animal and knowledge (religion) prereqs? The feat states as a prereq that the one that learns it should be drow, but according to racial emulation: When you use your minor change shape ability to assume the form of a humanoid creature, you can also emulate any of that humanoid's subtypes. Though you do not gain any of the humanoid's traits, you are considered to be a member of that race for all other purposes (Allowing you to use magic items and spells keyed to race, for example). You can also ignore the normal penalty on disguise checks when disguising yourself as a different race (See the disguise skill description, page 72 of the player's handbook). You can only emulate one race at a time, and you always retain the shapechanger subtype. From the bolded part I assume that a shapechanger would be able to take feats linked to specific races, but that those feats are only available when the shapechanger is emulating that race. So it's not that I think that I can shift, take a feat, and use it in any form, mind you that.... If I am unclear about anything, forgive me please. Currently passed midnight here and I am tired, Plus as an added bonus, English is not my first language. I hope anyone here can help me with this, and I would appreciate a clear response. Thank you in advance. ~Rahvan Morvayn Meridian Terashi
StevenO 10-08-07, 06:48 PM	Looking at the Bolded text I'd say you should be able to qualify for racial specific things. The problem is that when you stop emulating that race you lose access to all of those racial specific things. Short form: You may take racial specific feats and even classes. When you stop emulating that race you lose all of those benefits. My opinion, unless you plan to spend almost all of your time locked into one form you should stay away from the racial specific things although it would be legal for you to take them.
Rahvan_Terashi 10-08-07, 06:53 PM	Shrugs Please take note of that little thing that was underlined..., It already states that I assumed as much from what I had read myself. And yes, I would lose all the benefits when I stop shifting, and I accept that. But on another note, as is usual with classes and the like, I keep the HP, saves, and BAB as they are, though I lose all other class features. Still, Thank you for your quick reply.
StevenO 10-08-07, 07:45 PM	Then you already knew the answer to the question and was just looking for confirmation.
Rahvan_Terashi 10-09-07, 09:34 AM	Correction there StevenO, I didn't know anything yet, I assumed, something enrtirely different from knowing.
Naderion 10-09-07, 09:44 AM	I think the purpose of racial emulation is, that you can use a bow that grants special properties when in the hands of an elf, when you emulate an elf, or you may pass through a magical ward, that blocks any creatures but dwarves, when you are in the shape of a dwarf. Race only feats and prestige-classes are a different thing. If the feat can only be taken because of a physiologocal feature of the race, then racial emulation might not work at all, or the feat is only effective when in the required form, as the dm sees fit. Prestige-classes usually only have social restrictions and not physical ones. Elves would only train other elves or half elves as arcane archers or bladesingers, but elven physiology is not required to learn the skills and tricks of the class. In thin case, you might trick them into training you even without a racial emulation ability.
Rahvan_Terashi 10-09-07, 06:44 PM	Naderion, that is an answer that I like/can work with ^_^ Thanks for sacrificing some of your time to share that with me.