Interesting races for PC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Interesting races for PC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
weasel05
07-11-07, 05:03 AM I’m trying to find a race that is interesting to play and looks cool, but can still be effective in an 8th level good campaign. So far I am leaning towards a half dragon / half-orc or maybe a half dragon/ orc (Although I have no ideas how dragons bread and orcs aren’t pretty). I have considered half celestial as well but they look kind of fruity with feathered wings (but being able to fly would be cool).

Any suggestions or even any memorable, non-players handbook raced PC for ideas would be great.
kelvinaw273
07-11-07, 08:09 AM There's this race called 'Humans' that are pretty tough at level 8 ...
Pyro_Azer
07-11-07, 10:50 AM yeah i also here that they could find means to fly by that level.
Caelic
07-11-07, 10:59 AM The problem is that "interesting" is so subjective.

To me, wildly exotic isn't interesting. When someone shows up with a Half-Dragon Troll, that just doesn't do much for me. I can't take it seriously. I acknowledge that it's very effective, but the character isn't compelling to me.

On the other hand, a well-played Goblin can be extremely interesting, from my viewpoint. I like characters who start with two strikes against them and manage to hit a homer.
OatsMalone
07-11-07, 02:16 PM Thri-Kreen!
Puca
07-11-07, 02:52 PM I have considered half celestial as well but they look kind of fruity with feathered wings (but being able to fly would be cool).You can solve this by getting a cohort that is half fey.
Pyro_Azer
07-11-07, 03:22 PM On second thought Azers are pretty awesome.
Crimson_Concerto
07-11-07, 03:32 PM I've always been a fan of Centurs and Thri-Kreen, but what's also fun is to use templates on normal races, the Winged Template in particular I always find cool to add to things for varying effects, since you get to pick how the wings look. Heck, My next character is probably going to be a Winged Thri-Kreen, though I can't decide between Butterfly or Dragonfly wings... :D
snakeman830
07-11-07, 04:16 PM Want interesting? Get a Half-fiend Hound archon (I know, not available at your level). If that doesn't get people asking questions, I don't know what will.

For sheer bizzareness, an insectile thri-keen could be interesting. The best part is, you should always have a free hand to use your Delect Arrows feat!
MCage
07-11-07, 04:32 PM I have considered half celestial as well but they look kind of fruity with feathered wings

The problem there is your assuming the wings have to be all white, why not see if you can get some black wings. A guy in my group have wings that are black along the outside and red in the middle (visualise a upside-down cup of wine in a black cup cut in half the long way), its not exactly bat wings but its still neat. Or hell see if your celestial heritage can come from a word archon their wings look like shreaded peices of paper, i mean its just flavor. just tell your Dm that alittle give here will make you have alot more fun in the long run.

and orcs aren’t pretty

maybe to you....
Comus
07-11-07, 04:54 PM Kobold. They make awesome Sorcerers and are a blast to play. Of course, my favorite class for Kobold is Crusader - party support, healing, good melee ability, and awesome defense.

Also, I've never played a Thri-Kreen, but they look like loads of fun.
danielinthewolvesden
07-12-07, 01:10 AM Well, you do not want more than a LA+1. Some cool races/templates there are:

Catfolk
Necropolitian
Draconic
Frost Dwarf.
Alexeduardo
07-12-07, 12:48 PM -Blood ape
-Hobgoblin
-Any Fine creature would make an interesing rouge or assasin (Beware bitey, the Ninja Mouse!)
-almost any animal has a something ending in -folk waiting to be created
-Chaotic evil Angels (moral dilemma and questioning the freedoms of aligning with good=great roleplay! yay!)
-Neandertals
-Drow
-Winged minotaur
-Winged orc
-Winged elf
-Winged dwarf
-Winged you
Bhaelfur
07-12-07, 01:01 PM I've always been a fan of Aasimars and the various genasi.
danielinthewolvesden
07-12-07, 05:09 PM I've always been a fan of Aasimars and the various genasi.

OMG,:eek: the Genasi are SO underpowered as a LA+1 race, I offered them to my players as a LA+0 race, and still no one took them. They need some serious buffing to be LA+1. Nice flavour, sure, but......
Callista
07-12-07, 11:51 PM I like halfling and gnome subraces. They serve to take the well-known halfling or gnome, and give him a different environment and culture and some different abilities based on it. It's a way of playing a nontypical member of a race. I had great fun with a Ghostwise halfling sorcerer--that race is a barbarian culture, and has a natural ability to use telepathy with willing creatures who've got a common language, up to 20 feet away. She had the usual halfling curiosity and love of the good life; but she also had a huge amount of supersition about respect for the dead, as well as total unfamiliarity with anything city-related. During the campaign she met her first undead... hilarity ensued.

Anyway, I think to make your character memorable, what you need isn't some hugely complicated race, but a race that'll give you a jumping off point for background, personality, and character building. Choosing a race that's just a little off the beaten path can give you a good start--but you have to have more than just the gimmick, "My character is from X race", in his personality and background.
Salla
07-12-07, 11:57 PM As mentioned above, 'interesting' is subjective.

One thing I've done that's generated some memorable characters is a> a seemingly antithetical race/class combination and b> a nonstereotypical racial attitude.

The last elf I played, for instance, was a Barbarian/Fighter combo (Fighter 2 for feats, yay), quite taciturn, and would spit whenever anybody said Corellon's name because it was CL's fault that the drow were such a problem. He could have just obliterated them, but NOOOOOO, he had to just drive them underground where they could fester and get more powerful than regular elves! 'Tard. :)
Lawlicron
07-13-07, 12:40 AM If you want to be truly interesting, Sea Elf. Get your DM to remove their LA, because they aren't much better on land than other elves. Get a ring of air breathing. You'll need it.
ultimateconjurer
07-13-07, 05:17 PM Well, I think Savage Species could help you with this. I don't have it myself but I've heard it has some nice "exotic" racial stuff in it.:D
OatsMalone
07-13-07, 05:59 PM Lizardfolk!
Braekor Dragonfang
07-13-07, 08:40 PM Thri-Kreen (Shining South, XPH, MM2). you can't go wrong with four armed mantis people. +30 to jump checks, psi-like abilities (if you have XPH) and ECL 3 (4 if psionic)

Loxo (Shining South). Elephant people, also awesome, but 5 racial hd and +2 LA, so you'd only get 1 class level. But still, they get two trunks (slams) and trample, plus they go berserk if one of their buddies bites the big one.

Shifter (ECS, MM3). Lycanthropic version of an Aasimar pretty much. Cool racial abilities (shifting) and they make good ranger/barbarian type characters. Weretouched Master PrC (ECS) is a great idea.

Changeling (ECS, MM3). Same as shifter, but descended from dopplegangers. Can change shape at will to a limited extent, bonuses to Cha based skills, and they make great investigative/espionage type characters

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
weasel05 07-11-07, 05:03 AM	I’m trying to find a race that is interesting to play and looks cool, but can still be effective in an 8th level good campaign. So far I am leaning towards a half dragon / half-orc or maybe a half dragon/ orc (Although I have no ideas how dragons bread and orcs aren’t pretty). I have considered half celestial as well but they look kind of fruity with feathered wings (but being able to fly would be cool). Any suggestions or even any memorable, non-players handbook raced PC for ideas would be great.
kelvinaw273 07-11-07, 08:09 AM	There's this race called 'Humans' that are pretty tough at level 8 ...
Pyro_Azer 07-11-07, 10:50 AM	yeah i also here that they could find means to fly by that level.
Caelic 07-11-07, 10:59 AM	The problem is that "interesting" is so subjective. To me, wildly exotic isn't interesting. When someone shows up with a Half-Dragon Troll, that just doesn't do much for me. I can't take it seriously. I acknowledge that it's very effective, but the character isn't compelling to me. On the other hand, a well-played Goblin can be extremely interesting, from my viewpoint. I like characters who start with two strikes against them and manage to hit a homer.
OatsMalone 07-11-07, 02:16 PM	Thri-Kreen!
Puca 07-11-07, 02:52 PM	I have considered half celestial as well but they look kind of fruity with feathered wings (but being able to fly would be cool).You can solve this by getting a cohort that is half fey.
Pyro_Azer 07-11-07, 03:22 PM	On second thought Azers are pretty awesome.
Crimson_Concerto 07-11-07, 03:32 PM	I've always been a fan of Centurs and Thri-Kreen, but what's also fun is to use templates on normal races, the Winged Template in particular I always find cool to add to things for varying effects, since you get to pick how the wings look. Heck, My next character is probably going to be a Winged Thri-Kreen, though I can't decide between Butterfly or Dragonfly wings... :D
snakeman830 07-11-07, 04:16 PM	Want interesting? Get a Half-fiend Hound archon (I know, not available at your level). If that doesn't get people asking questions, I don't know what will. For sheer bizzareness, an insectile thri-keen could be interesting. The best part is, you should always have a free hand to use your Delect Arrows feat!
MCage 07-11-07, 04:32 PM	I have considered half celestial as well but they look kind of fruity with feathered wings The problem there is your assuming the wings have to be all white, why not see if you can get some black wings. A guy in my group have wings that are black along the outside and red in the middle (visualise a upside-down cup of wine in a black cup cut in half the long way), its not exactly bat wings but its still neat. Or hell see if your celestial heritage can come from a word archon their wings look like shreaded peices of paper, i mean its just flavor. just tell your Dm that alittle give here will make you have alot more fun in the long run. and orcs aren’t pretty maybe to you....
Comus 07-11-07, 04:54 PM	Kobold. They make awesome Sorcerers and are a blast to play. Of course, my favorite class for Kobold is Crusader - party support, healing, good melee ability, and awesome defense. Also, I've never played a Thri-Kreen, but they look like loads of fun.
danielinthewolvesden 07-12-07, 01:10 AM	Well, you do not want more than a LA+1. Some cool races/templates there are: Catfolk Necropolitian Draconic Frost Dwarf.
Alexeduardo 07-12-07, 12:48 PM	-Blood ape -Hobgoblin -Any Fine creature would make an interesing rouge or assasin (Beware bitey, the Ninja Mouse!) -almost any animal has a something ending in -folk waiting to be created -Chaotic evil Angels (moral dilemma and questioning the freedoms of aligning with good=great roleplay! yay!) -Neandertals -Drow -Winged minotaur -Winged orc -Winged elf -Winged dwarf -Winged you
Bhaelfur 07-12-07, 01:01 PM	I've always been a fan of Aasimars and the various genasi.
danielinthewolvesden 07-12-07, 05:09 PM	I've always been a fan of Aasimars and the various genasi. OMG,:eek: the Genasi are SO underpowered as a LA+1 race, I offered them to my players as a LA+0 race, and still no one took them. They need some serious buffing to be LA+1. Nice flavour, sure, but......
Callista 07-12-07, 11:51 PM	I like halfling and gnome subraces. They serve to take the well-known halfling or gnome, and give him a different environment and culture and some different abilities based on it. It's a way of playing a nontypical member of a race. I had great fun with a Ghostwise halfling sorcerer--that race is a barbarian culture, and has a natural ability to use telepathy with willing creatures who've got a common language, up to 20 feet away. She had the usual halfling curiosity and love of the good life; but she also had a huge amount of supersition about respect for the dead, as well as total unfamiliarity with anything city-related. During the campaign she met her first undead... hilarity ensued. Anyway, I think to make your character memorable, what you need isn't some hugely complicated race, but a race that'll give you a jumping off point for background, personality, and character building. Choosing a race that's just a little off the beaten path can give you a good start--but you have to have more than just the gimmick, "My character is from X race", in his personality and background.
Salla 07-12-07, 11:57 PM	As mentioned above, 'interesting' is subjective. One thing I've done that's generated some memorable characters is a> a seemingly antithetical race/class combination and b> a nonstereotypical racial attitude. The last elf I played, for instance, was a Barbarian/Fighter combo (Fighter 2 for feats, yay), quite taciturn, and would spit whenever anybody said Corellon's name because it was CL's fault that the drow were such a problem. He could have just obliterated them, but NOOOOOO, he had to just drive them underground where they could fester and get more powerful than regular elves! 'Tard. :)
Lawlicron 07-13-07, 12:40 AM	If you want to be truly interesting, Sea Elf. Get your DM to remove their LA, because they aren't much better on land than other elves. Get a ring of air breathing. You'll need it.
ultimateconjurer 07-13-07, 05:17 PM	Well, I think Savage Species could help you with this. I don't have it myself but I've heard it has some nice "exotic" racial stuff in it.:D
OatsMalone 07-13-07, 05:59 PM	Lizardfolk!
Braekor Dragonfang 07-13-07, 08:40 PM	Thri-Kreen (Shining South, XPH, MM2). you can't go wrong with four armed mantis people. +30 to jump checks, psi-like abilities (if you have XPH) and ECL 3 (4 if psionic) Loxo (Shining South). Elephant people, also awesome, but 5 racial hd and +2 LA, so you'd only get 1 class level. But still, they get two trunks (slams) and trample, plus they go berserk if one of their buddies bites the big one. Shifter (ECS, MM3). Lycanthropic version of an Aasimar pretty much. Cool racial abilities (shifting) and they make good ranger/barbarian type characters. Weretouched Master PrC (ECS) is a great idea. Changeling (ECS, MM3). Same as shifter, but descended from dopplegangers. Can change shape at will to a limited extent, bonuses to Cha based skills, and they make great investigative/espionage type characters