At a Loss... Need Help... - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

At a Loss... Need Help...

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
great-cthulhu
Apr 03, 2009 0:20:47 I'm going to be starting a new 4th Edition Campaign, (Eberron Setting) and one of my players has a character idea that I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out a good way to stat. I've got a couple of ideas, but I'll admit that I'm not very knowledgeable of all of the ins and outs of DnD and I would greatly appreciate any help I can get.

The Concept:
The idea is for a character with very batlike traits, even including arms that can extend membrainous wings (perhaps eventually granting the ability to glide, if possible.) The character fights unarmed in a very deceptive and flowing style. (For the martial arts-savvy, I would describe it as a combination of Pi Qua Zhang and Mi Tsung Cheung) Picture big, windmilling, open, billowy movements that utilize the wings to misdirect and confuse opponents, making her very difficult to hit, while simultaneously counter-attacking with clawed hands and feet.

She was raised in the wild, by some kind of secluded temple-somethingorother. Initially I had envisioned the character as a Shifter Monk... but, the 4th Ed. Shifter is far more limited and narrow a creature than its 3rd Ed. counterpart, as far as bestial traits are concerned. And, of course, we have no monk class as of yet.

I have thus far come up with a few ideas involving the Avenger class or the Ranger class. Using the class for stats only, perhaps using stats for dual-wielded short-swords oog and describing/picturing it as unarmed claws ig.

Anybody have any better ideas they could toss me?

Thank you very much, in advance!
#2
alitain
Apr 03, 2009 23:24:54 Neat, batfolk...well the wings are simple. He has long arms that as a minor action can release membranous wings. I'd say either at later level or as a feat allow the person to glide but not fly. The wings are simple. Otherwise you have the problem of vision. Batlike traits would make it so the character possibly has a different way of looking at things that may make it worse than normal vision. You could have echolocation and basically say the person has darkvision but can't see any colors period.

As for combat, you'd have to craft an entirely new class since yeah monk would be the most likely but it doesn't exist yet. So I say unless you two want to craft an entire class tell the person to either go ranger or avenger. They can always say their attacks are done in a more flowing manner that just hard edge brutality. Good luck though, post something when you have it figured out.
#3
disciple_of_juiblex
Apr 04, 2009 0:05:39 well wizards put out an artical that converts the ranger to a monk http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4dnd/20080613a . it may not be balanced as powerful depending your opinion of it. however it is a possibility.

as for race i would just use the shifter and allow it to get a racial feat at 11th level that can allow it to glide. so you dont have to make a new race for a single player.

my 2 cents, hope it helps :P
#4
kryx
Apr 04, 2009 1:32:31 I would make your own shifter race. It should be really easy. Longtooth shifter is descendant from werewolves. Razorclaw is descendant from weretigers. So just modify a shifter to be descendant from werebats.

Should be fairly simple. +2 wis +2 dex/int? Give them +2 perception and another skill, modify their ability to fit a bat.

Lycanthropes are in the 3.5 book called "Monsters of Faerun." If you want to see how they previously build werebats.
#5
Mcnancy
Apr 05, 2009 18:57:47 oooh, I'm good at these 'stat it out' threads; here's how would do the manbat:

Razorclaw Shifter + wildshape focused Druid + multiclassed with Warden for Form of the Storm Eagle (quickest natural way to get flight that I know of)

You can fly, you make claw and bite attacks, your fast and agile with good mobility

But I'm not sure if wildshaping turns off your Warden form or not, anybody know?

And take Damphyr if your a vampire bat.
#6
superdeadsmurf
Apr 06, 2009 9:36:50 There was a were-bat-like shifter in one of the 3.5 books - can't for the life of me remember which one though, or what it was called, I'd use that as a basis for making a new breed of shifter.
+2 Wis and another stat, power that can be used on bloodied (might be a neat time to allow flight/gliding)
Use the Dragonborn racial paragon path as a model for gaining full flight.

And the Monk playtest is next month, if you have DDI. Wisdom is likely going to be a primary or secondary stat, so that helps.

If you're starting your game sooner than that, start them up with a 2 weapon ranger using longswords or something as stats, but say they are 'fists'(claws etc) And when the article comes out, let them switch the character to it completely.
#7
nephallim
Apr 06, 2009 15:30:39 Reflavor druid and go primal predator.

As for race, Razorclaw Shifter sounds like it would work.
#8
Alex_
Apr 06, 2009 17:41:23 I second the suggestion to go Druid. The exact form of your wild shape is entirely up to you and you get to make unarmed attacks. You can also get wildshape powers that allow you to fly.

Ultimately, you may really want to look at the Sky Hunter paragon path, which allows you to leap/fly/glide around the battlefield skirmish-style.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 great-cthulhu Apr 03, 2009 0:20:47	I'm going to be starting a new 4th Edition Campaign, (Eberron Setting) and one of my players has a character idea that I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out a good way to stat. I've got a couple of ideas, but I'll admit that I'm not very knowledgeable of all of the ins and outs of DnD and I would greatly appreciate any help I can get. The Concept: The idea is for a character with very batlike traits, even including arms that can extend membrainous wings (perhaps eventually granting the ability to glide, if possible.) The character fights unarmed in a very deceptive and flowing style. (For the martial arts-savvy, I would describe it as a combination of Pi Qua Zhang and Mi Tsung Cheung) Picture big, windmilling, open, billowy movements that utilize the wings to misdirect and confuse opponents, making her very difficult to hit, while simultaneously counter-attacking with clawed hands and feet. She was raised in the wild, by some kind of secluded temple-somethingorother. Initially I had envisioned the character as a Shifter Monk... but, the 4th Ed. Shifter is far more limited and narrow a creature than its 3rd Ed. counterpart, as far as bestial traits are concerned. And, of course, we have no monk class as of yet. I have thus far come up with a few ideas involving the Avenger class or the Ranger class. Using the class for stats only, perhaps using stats for dual-wielded short-swords oog and describing/picturing it as unarmed claws ig. Anybody have any better ideas they could toss me? Thank you very much, in advance!
#2 alitain Apr 03, 2009 23:24:54	Neat, batfolk...well the wings are simple. He has long arms that as a minor action can release membranous wings. I'd say either at later level or as a feat allow the person to glide but not fly. The wings are simple. Otherwise you have the problem of vision. Batlike traits would make it so the character possibly has a different way of looking at things that may make it worse than normal vision. You could have echolocation and basically say the person has darkvision but can't see any colors period. As for combat, you'd have to craft an entirely new class since yeah monk would be the most likely but it doesn't exist yet. So I say unless you two want to craft an entire class tell the person to either go ranger or avenger. They can always say their attacks are done in a more flowing manner that just hard edge brutality. Good luck though, post something when you have it figured out.
#3 disciple_of_juiblex Apr 04, 2009 0:05:39	well wizards put out an artical that converts the ranger to a monk http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4dnd/20080613a . it may not be balanced as powerful depending your opinion of it. however it is a possibility. as for race i would just use the shifter and allow it to get a racial feat at 11th level that can allow it to glide. so you dont have to make a new race for a single player. my 2 cents, hope it helps :P
#4 kryx Apr 04, 2009 1:32:31	I would make your own shifter race. It should be really easy. Longtooth shifter is descendant from werewolves. Razorclaw is descendant from weretigers. So just modify a shifter to be descendant from werebats. Should be fairly simple. +2 wis +2 dex/int? Give them +2 perception and another skill, modify their ability to fit a bat. Lycanthropes are in the 3.5 book called "Monsters of Faerun." If you want to see how they previously build werebats.
#5 Mcnancy Apr 05, 2009 18:57:47	oooh, I'm good at these 'stat it out' threads; here's how would do the manbat: Razorclaw Shifter + wildshape focused Druid + multiclassed with Warden for Form of the Storm Eagle (quickest natural way to get flight that I know of) You can fly, you make claw and bite attacks, your fast and agile with good mobility But I'm not sure if wildshaping turns off your Warden form or not, anybody know? And take Damphyr if your a vampire bat.
#6 superdeadsmurf Apr 06, 2009 9:36:50	There was a were-bat-like shifter in one of the 3.5 books - can't for the life of me remember which one though, or what it was called, I'd use that as a basis for making a new breed of shifter. +2 Wis and another stat, power that can be used on bloodied (might be a neat time to allow flight/gliding) Use the Dragonborn racial paragon path as a model for gaining full flight. And the Monk playtest is next month, if you have DDI. Wisdom is likely going to be a primary or secondary stat, so that helps. If you're starting your game sooner than that, start them up with a 2 weapon ranger using longswords or something as stats, but say they are 'fists'(claws etc) And when the article comes out, let them switch the character to it completely.
#7 nephallim Apr 06, 2009 15:30:39	Reflavor druid and go primal predator. As for race, Razorclaw Shifter sounds like it would work.
#8 Alex_ Apr 06, 2009 17:41:23	I second the suggestion to go Druid. The exact form of your wild shape is entirely up to you and you get to make unarmed attacks. You can also get wildshape powers that allow you to fly. Ultimately, you may really want to look at the Sky Hunter paragon path, which allows you to leap/fly/glide around the battlefield skirmish-style.