Help creating my first 3rd ed Character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help creating my first 3rd ed Character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tokus
08-22-05, 03:55 AM I haven't played DnD since 2nd edition when I was a teenage. The new world of Eberron has renewed my interest a bit. I recently came up with an idea for very unique character based on my eastern and western Zodiac. I am a cusp of Sagittarius and Capricorn (Sagittarius side barely on Dec 21) born in the year of the Earth Goat/Sheep/Ram. I was pretty avidly interest in Planescape back in its heyday and the Artwork of Tony D is among my favorites.

This gave me the idea of playing a Bariaur archer of some type as this is a Centaur like creature with the characteristics of a goat or ram. I know this is not a standard race in most campaign currently being used but it would really represent me and I think it would be a very fun character to play. It is very symbolic of my zodiac but I am not sure which class I would choose. Since I am an Earth sign in the eastern zodiac, as well as being a fire and earth sign in the western zodiac, I think a class respectful of nature would be fitting. A ranger or druid perhaps but still with the emphasis of archery as a chosen weapon. The emphasis of elements can also be four sided, as Capricorn is an Earth sign but has roots in the sea in that he was orignally represented as a half goat/half fish, then Sagittarius being a fire sign but also being an explorer and an archer, he has relation to air as well.

My question is basically which core books and supplements would I need to research/purchase in order to create such a character under modern DnD rules. Any help and/or critique is appreciated.
Santrilla
08-22-05, 04:01 AM I'd suggest Ranger, as that encompasses archery and nature beautifully. It sounds like you've got a really vivid image of how you want your character to be, and that's really good.

As for books... well, PHB and Eberron would be good starting points. Flip through the Monster Manuals I, II and III to find something close to the Bariuar; the centaur is the obvious choice, and it's in MMI, but something more apt might be available in the other two volumes (which I'm unfamiliar with). If all else fails, you could create the race yourself by modifying the Centaur monster and running it past your DM.

Also, don't forget that playing as a centaur will undoubtedly have some sort of LA.
Tokus
08-22-05, 04:23 AM What exactly is an LA?
penguin_16
08-22-05, 04:27 AM LA = lawful alignment I think :confused:
ILL34GL3
08-22-05, 05:02 AM Level Adjustment. Some races cost levels to play.

Cut and paste this address and check it out:
www.systemreferencedocuments.org
Tokus
08-22-05, 01:32 PM What about modifying it based on 2nd ed. stats from Planescape rule books for 3rd ed. Would this be difficult and does anyone know where I can find some stats online? I am having trouble finding the old books, rummaging through boxes.
SodaGuy
08-22-05, 01:41 PM I don't like ranger unless you want the character to have those class abilites and favored enemies. I usually stick with the fighter so I can choose the right feats for him. And the centaur gives good abilities for only a +2 LA. And if you go for fighter, the racial levels won't matter much.
Tokus
08-22-05, 01:48 PM I found this text doing a search:

source:
http://www.ralf.org/~krlipka/ps/sense/3erules/planarraces3e.pdf#search='Planar%20Races %20Bariaur'

Bariaur
A bariaur looks a bit like a centaur, but it mixes the forms of human and ram rather than human and horse. From the waist down, a bariaur is indistinguishable from a powerful ram. From the waist up, it looks human, save for a pair of curling horns emerging from the top of its forehead. Bariaur are native to the rolling hills and woods of the plane of Ysgard. Creatures of wanderlust, they rarely stay in one place for long. Their flocks follow a single leader who remains in charge as long as he or she can defeat opponents in a "clash of horns" (a sequence of charge attacks similar to a jousting competition). Bariaur love contests of all kinds, early matching wits in a tale-telling competition, racing across the great grasslands of Ysgard, or leaping from river rock to river rock until only one bariaur remains dry. They're eager to try the mettle of newcomers and visitors in these events, which tend to be sources of good-natured amusement rather than rigorous tests of fitness. Rare is the bariaur who takes a contest too seriously; he or she is sure to be admonished to lighten up by the flock's elders. These people also view combat as something of a contest; for the bariaur, battle is a glorious endeavor. The bariaur diet is herbivorous, with berries, nuts, and leaves being staple foods. They're well aware of every berry patch and fruit tree for miles. Exceptions are bariaur rangers, who may eat meat – particularly from woodland creatures they've hunted themselves.

Bariaur have the following characteristics:
· Males: +2 STR, +2 CON, -2 DEX, -2 WIS
· Females: +2 INT, +2 WIS, -2 DEX
· Medium Size Planar, Base Speed of 40
· Lowlight Vision
· +2 Racial bonus to WILL saves against spells and spell-like abilities
· +2 Racial bonus to Listen, Spot
· Horns: When making a charge attack, a bariaur can use its horns to make a single gore attack that deals 2d6+1 bludgeoning damage.
· Quadruped: Having four legs, it is much harder to make a Bull Rush or Trip attack against a bariaur. (Character has an automatic +4 stability bonus to resist such attacks.) Unfortunately, this also causes some problems for bariaur. Armor must be bought as barding, and they cannot use boots (magic or otherwise).
· Spell Resistance: All bariaur have a SR equal to 11 + 1/character level.
· Psionic Resistance: All bariaur have a PR equal to one-half their SR (round down).
· Male Favored Class: Barbarian
· Female Favored Class: Druid
· Starting Languages: Bariaur, Common
· Possible Bonus Languages: Celestial, Dwarf, Fensir, Giant, Troll
· +1 Equivalent Character Level: In order to play a bariaur character, a player must spend one character level
Serin Ghar
08-22-05, 01:50 PM There's also an official Bariaur in the Planar Handbook. Doesn't use different stats for the genders but I believe its still LA +1.
Tokus
08-22-05, 01:55 PM So I assume Planar Handbook would be essential. The more I read about them on various websight, the more fitting they seem to what I am looking for. I suppose my next question should be where should I look for an archer supplement rule set.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tokus 08-22-05, 03:55 AM	I haven't played DnD since 2nd edition when I was a teenage. The new world of Eberron has renewed my interest a bit. I recently came up with an idea for very unique character based on my eastern and western Zodiac. I am a cusp of Sagittarius and Capricorn (Sagittarius side barely on Dec 21) born in the year of the Earth Goat/Sheep/Ram. I was pretty avidly interest in Planescape back in its heyday and the Artwork of Tony D is among my favorites. This gave me the idea of playing a Bariaur archer of some type as this is a Centaur like creature with the characteristics of a goat or ram. I know this is not a standard race in most campaign currently being used but it would really represent me and I think it would be a very fun character to play. It is very symbolic of my zodiac but I am not sure which class I would choose. Since I am an Earth sign in the eastern zodiac, as well as being a fire and earth sign in the western zodiac, I think a class respectful of nature would be fitting. A ranger or druid perhaps but still with the emphasis of archery as a chosen weapon. The emphasis of elements can also be four sided, as Capricorn is an Earth sign but has roots in the sea in that he was orignally represented as a half goat/half fish, then Sagittarius being a fire sign but also being an explorer and an archer, he has relation to air as well. My question is basically which core books and supplements would I need to research/purchase in order to create such a character under modern DnD rules. Any help and/or critique is appreciated.
Santrilla 08-22-05, 04:01 AM	I'd suggest Ranger, as that encompasses archery and nature beautifully. It sounds like you've got a really vivid image of how you want your character to be, and that's really good. As for books... well, PHB and Eberron would be good starting points. Flip through the Monster Manuals I, II and III to find something close to the Bariuar; the centaur is the obvious choice, and it's in MMI, but something more apt might be available in the other two volumes (which I'm unfamiliar with). If all else fails, you could create the race yourself by modifying the Centaur monster and running it past your DM. Also, don't forget that playing as a centaur will undoubtedly have some sort of LA.
Tokus 08-22-05, 04:23 AM	What exactly is an LA?
penguin_16 08-22-05, 04:27 AM	LA = lawful alignment I think :confused:
ILL34GL3 08-22-05, 05:02 AM	Level Adjustment. Some races cost levels to play. Cut and paste this address and check it out: www.systemreferencedocuments.org
Tokus 08-22-05, 01:32 PM	What about modifying it based on 2nd ed. stats from Planescape rule books for 3rd ed. Would this be difficult and does anyone know where I can find some stats online? I am having trouble finding the old books, rummaging through boxes.
SodaGuy 08-22-05, 01:41 PM	I don't like ranger unless you want the character to have those class abilites and favored enemies. I usually stick with the fighter so I can choose the right feats for him. And the centaur gives good abilities for only a +2 LA. And if you go for fighter, the racial levels won't matter much.
Tokus 08-22-05, 01:48 PM	I found this text doing a search: source: http://www.ralf.org/~krlipka/ps/sense/3erules/planarraces3e.pdf#search='Planar%20Races %20Bariaur' Bariaur A bariaur looks a bit like a centaur, but it mixes the forms of human and ram rather than human and horse. From the waist down, a bariaur is indistinguishable from a powerful ram. From the waist up, it looks human, save for a pair of curling horns emerging from the top of its forehead. Bariaur are native to the rolling hills and woods of the plane of Ysgard. Creatures of wanderlust, they rarely stay in one place for long. Their flocks follow a single leader who remains in charge as long as he or she can defeat opponents in a "clash of horns" (a sequence of charge attacks similar to a jousting competition). Bariaur love contests of all kinds, early matching wits in a tale-telling competition, racing across the great grasslands of Ysgard, or leaping from river rock to river rock until only one bariaur remains dry. They're eager to try the mettle of newcomers and visitors in these events, which tend to be sources of good-natured amusement rather than rigorous tests of fitness. Rare is the bariaur who takes a contest too seriously; he or she is sure to be admonished to lighten up by the flock's elders. These people also view combat as something of a contest; for the bariaur, battle is a glorious endeavor. The bariaur diet is herbivorous, with berries, nuts, and leaves being staple foods. They're well aware of every berry patch and fruit tree for miles. Exceptions are bariaur rangers, who may eat meat – particularly from woodland creatures they've hunted themselves. Bariaur have the following characteristics: · Males: +2 STR, +2 CON, -2 DEX, -2 WIS · Females: +2 INT, +2 WIS, -2 DEX · Medium Size Planar, Base Speed of 40 · Lowlight Vision · +2 Racial bonus to WILL saves against spells and spell-like abilities · +2 Racial bonus to Listen, Spot · Horns: When making a charge attack, a bariaur can use its horns to make a single gore attack that deals 2d6+1 bludgeoning damage. · Quadruped: Having four legs, it is much harder to make a Bull Rush or Trip attack against a bariaur. (Character has an automatic +4 stability bonus to resist such attacks.) Unfortunately, this also causes some problems for bariaur. Armor must be bought as barding, and they cannot use boots (magic or otherwise). · Spell Resistance: All bariaur have a SR equal to 11 + 1/character level. · Psionic Resistance: All bariaur have a PR equal to one-half their SR (round down). · Male Favored Class: Barbarian · Female Favored Class: Druid · Starting Languages: Bariaur, Common · Possible Bonus Languages: Celestial, Dwarf, Fensir, Giant, Troll · +1 Equivalent Character Level: In order to play a bariaur character, a player must spend one character level
Serin Ghar 08-22-05, 01:50 PM	There's also an official Bariaur in the Planar Handbook. Doesn't use different stats for the genders but I believe its still LA +1.
Tokus 08-22-05, 01:55 PM	So I assume Planar Handbook would be essential. The more I read about them on various websight, the more fitting they seem to what I am looking for. I suppose my next question should be where should I look for an archer supplement rule set.