Bagh'szerral race [peach] - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Bagh'szerral race [peach]

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
lady_ishtar
Apr 27, 2011 23:13:07 Here is a race I've cooked up for my homebrewed world. Comments, criticism would be welcome.

I realize there are some who do not beleive in using natural weapons as a racial feature, but this is kind of necessary with this race. I have reied to make natural weapons as "modular" (for the lack of a better word) as possible, without taking away from non-weapon using classes.

On another note, this race does not lend itself to using ranged weapons, which I am perfectly ok with.
#2
rampant
Apr 28, 2011 1:34:48 I don't understand, you've gone through a lot of trouble to describe how a quadrapedal race works, then either made no changes or failed to explain key points.

For instance you have listed a separate bipedal speed, but never explain how you go from 2-to-4 leg movement.

The option to take racial utilities needs to be in the main block, like the shade's master of shadows.

As for the fetishes, many items seem like they would be fine as is, amulets, goggles, armor can be made as barding, holy symbols and such can be strapped on.

Seems like an awful lot of detail just to say: despite not having visible thumbs they can use and manipulate objects normally.
#3
lady_ishtar
Apr 28, 2011 8:27:22
I don't understand, you've gone through a lot of trouble to describe how a quadrapedal race works, then either made no changes or failed to explain key points.

For instance you have listed a separate bipedal speed, but never explain how you go from 2-to-4 leg movement.

I guess I didnt think that bipedal part would really come into play in a situation where action matter. Chances are you are not getting up on two legs in combat, while dropping down on all fours is about the same as dropping prone. The bipedal part is really just for rp reasons.

The option to take racial utilities needs to be in the main block, like the shade's master of shadows.

I'll have to fix that.

As for the fetishes, many items seem like they would be fine as is, amulets, goggles, armor can be made as barding, holy symbols and such can be strapped on.

I could have, but I guess I wanted to give the race a different feel. I dont see them wearing plate and wielding swords, but I still want them to get all the standard benefit (and take standard penalties).

Seems like an awful lot of detail just to say: despite not having visible thumbs they can use and manipulate objects normally.

I do mention that they have thumbs in their physical description.

#4
rampant
Apr 28, 2011 15:02:57 "Visible" as in they're usually standing on them so most people don't see them.

Anyway if you have a bipedal movement speed different from their normal speed, you do need to put in a mechanic for switching between the two, even if it's just: you may switch to bipedal locomotion or back to quadrapedal as a free action.
#5
lady_ishtar
Apr 28, 2011 17:01:37
... Anyway if you have a bipedal movement speed different from their normal speed, you do need to put in a mechanic for switching between the two, even if it's just: you may switch to bipedal locomotion or back to quadrapedal as a free action.

I see what you mean. I guess free action would work, I don't foress this being a problem and will make things easier. I'll change that when I update this thing. Thanks.

Anything about racial utilities, feats, racial powers? Any Ideas on simlifying the fetish and tooth and claw bits while keeping the flavor?
#6
ceiling90
Apr 28, 2011 18:16:54 Notes:

You might think about changing thier speed to 2, and allowing the ability to shift... it's already half speed at this point.

Then put in

Quadrapedal Form: As a free action, you can go on all fours, and your speed changes to 7, and you may only use your weapon, armor, and implement fetishes. As another free action, you revert back to your bipedal form.

As a thought occurs that maybe for some odd reason, a player might want to play one that always stands and tries to use real weapons, and armor like a bipedal race might...

The level 22 daily looks suitably epic. I have no idea on the power scale rating it would be, since epic tier is something I've rarely encountered.

Your level 16 utility, are you looking for the insubstantial quality? I don't remember incorporeal being a quality anymore. But insubstantial pretty much gives you DR of halving the damage being dealt to you... I think.

Also the Step Between Worlds is nice, but as a paragon tier feat... I dunno. It does allow them to escape grabs rather easily or other zone based terrain hinderances?

I like the idea of a quadraped race, and this is done pretty elegantly; not many wierd rules or strange exceptions.
#7
lady_ishtar
Apr 28, 2011 22:14:44 Quadrupedal Form: Interesting idea, but I think i'll let situation like that be handled by the DM, rather than making rules for it. Keep in mind you don't have to use fetishes, you can use standard items as well. But I think I will from the shifting limitation.

Level 16 utility: I was thinking it might be too much. What about making you insubstansial and ignoring difficult terrain only when you move?

Step Between Worlds: Should it be moved to epic?
#8
rampant
Apr 29, 2011 0:28:24 I thought difficult terrain only mattered when you move anyway?
#9
Crimson_Concerto
Apr 29, 2011 0:29:48 I'm not understanding the purpose of the bipedal movement speed. It seems totally worthless, and I have no idea why anybody would ever decide to use it. If you really feel like you need to do something like this for whatever RP reasons, then I'd suggest something less complicated like maybe simply treating the character as slowed, because right now it just raises too many questions like those already mentioned. But really, if it's just there for RP reasons, then it probably doesn't need to be in the stat block at all.

Just to be clear, "Fetishes" and "Teeth and Claws" do absolutely nothing mechanically, right? To me, they basically just look like side bars that say "you should reflavor stuff" and that's it. I just want to make sure that I'm not missing anything here.

"Cornered" is a damage bonus and should thus scale up at higher levels. I suggest +2 at heroic tier, +3 at paragon tier and +4 at epic tier.

The "Swift Withdrawal" racial power is overpowered, and I have no idea why nobody has mentioned it yet. If it were an Immediate Reaction, then it would probably be fine, but I just think that it's way too good as an immediate interrupt because of what that means for totally cancelling out charges and such. I might actually even suggest changing the trigger entirely to when an enemy ends its turn adjacent to you.

Also, this isn't really a mechanical problem, but it does still bug me a lot. The trigger for "Swift Withdrawal" says "his" where it should say "its". Not all enemies will be male, and using masculine pronouns as a default is highly problematic. It should either be "its" or "their".
#10
lady_ishtar
Apr 29, 2011 9:14:42 @rampant

Yes, difficult terrain mention is for movement only. As the power stands you are insubstancial until end of your next turn (all the time) and ignore difficult terrain when you move. I am thinking about changing it so both abilities happen only when you move.

@ crimson

Slowed... I don't know why I didnt think of that. But yes, I wanted to put something in case RP required the whole bipedal part.

Fetishes: Yes, its just a sidebar on reflavoring your gear. At best the bonus you get is people dont see the plate armor on you. But you are still big fricken cat.

Cornered: I was worried it would be too much damage.

Swift Withdrawal:I see what you mean with negating charges. I'll change it to a reaction. And fix the pronouns.

Do any of the utility powers or feats rise any red flags?
#11
Krusk
Apr 29, 2011 10:30:55 I am mostly interested in the name. Where did it come from, what does it mean, and why did you go with it? Also how would you say it?
#12
lady_ishtar
Apr 29, 2011 10:43:40 Heh, the first part is from Jungle Book's Bagheera, second part is from Ashera cat breed.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 lady_ishtar Apr 27, 2011 23:13:07	Here is a race I've cooked up for my homebrewed world. Comments, criticism would be welcome. I realize there are some who do not beleive in using natural weapons as a racial feature, but this is kind of necessary with this race. I have reied to make natural weapons as "modular" (for the lack of a better word) as possible, without taking away from non-weapon using classes. On another note, this race does not lend itself to using ranged weapons, which I am perfectly ok with.
#2 rampant Apr 28, 2011 1:34:48	I don't understand, you've gone through a lot of trouble to describe how a quadrapedal race works, then either made no changes or failed to explain key points. For instance you have listed a separate bipedal speed, but never explain how you go from 2-to-4 leg movement. The option to take racial utilities needs to be in the main block, like the shade's master of shadows. As for the fetishes, many items seem like they would be fine as is, amulets, goggles, armor can be made as barding, holy symbols and such can be strapped on. Seems like an awful lot of detail just to say: despite not having visible thumbs they can use and manipulate objects normally.
#3 lady_ishtar Apr 28, 2011 8:27:22	I don't understand, you've gone through a lot of trouble to describe how a quadrapedal race works, then either made no changes or failed to explain key points. For instance you have listed a separate bipedal speed, but never explain how you go from 2-to-4 leg movement. I guess I didnt think that bipedal part would really come into play in a situation where action matter. Chances are you are not getting up on two legs in combat, while dropping down on all fours is about the same as dropping prone. The bipedal part is really just for rp reasons. The option to take racial utilities needs to be in the main block, like the shade's master of shadows. I'll have to fix that. As for the fetishes, many items seem like they would be fine as is, amulets, goggles, armor can be made as barding, holy symbols and such can be strapped on. I could have, but I guess I wanted to give the race a different feel. I dont see them wearing plate and wielding swords, but I still want them to get all the standard benefit (and take standard penalties). Seems like an awful lot of detail just to say: despite not having visible thumbs they can use and manipulate objects normally. I do mention that they have thumbs in their physical description.
#4 rampant Apr 28, 2011 15:02:57	"Visible" as in they're usually standing on them so most people don't see them. Anyway if you have a bipedal movement speed different from their normal speed, you do need to put in a mechanic for switching between the two, even if it's just: you may switch to bipedal locomotion or back to quadrapedal as a free action.
#5 lady_ishtar Apr 28, 2011 17:01:37	... Anyway if you have a bipedal movement speed different from their normal speed, you do need to put in a mechanic for switching between the two, even if it's just: you may switch to bipedal locomotion or back to quadrapedal as a free action. I see what you mean. I guess free action would work, I don't foress this being a problem and will make things easier. I'll change that when I update this thing. Thanks. Anything about racial utilities, feats, racial powers? Any Ideas on simlifying the fetish and tooth and claw bits while keeping the flavor?
#6 ceiling90 Apr 28, 2011 18:16:54	Notes: You might think about changing thier speed to 2, and allowing the ability to shift... it's already half speed at this point. Then put in Quadrapedal Form: As a free action, you can go on all fours, and your speed changes to 7, and you may only use your weapon, armor, and implement fetishes. As another free action, you revert back to your bipedal form. As a thought occurs that maybe for some odd reason, a player might want to play one that always stands and tries to use real weapons, and armor like a bipedal race might... The level 22 daily looks suitably epic. I have no idea on the power scale rating it would be, since epic tier is something I've rarely encountered. Your level 16 utility, are you looking for the insubstantial quality? I don't remember incorporeal being a quality anymore. But insubstantial pretty much gives you DR of halving the damage being dealt to you... I think. Also the Step Between Worlds is nice, but as a paragon tier feat... I dunno. It does allow them to escape grabs rather easily or other zone based terrain hinderances? I like the idea of a quadraped race, and this is done pretty elegantly; not many wierd rules or strange exceptions.
#7 lady_ishtar Apr 28, 2011 22:14:44	Quadrupedal Form: Interesting idea, but I think i'll let situation like that be handled by the DM, rather than making rules for it. Keep in mind you don't have to use fetishes, you can use standard items as well. But I think I will from the shifting limitation. Level 16 utility: I was thinking it might be too much. What about making you insubstansial and ignoring difficult terrain only when you move? Step Between Worlds: Should it be moved to epic?
#8 rampant Apr 29, 2011 0:28:24	I thought difficult terrain only mattered when you move anyway?
#9 Crimson_Concerto Apr 29, 2011 0:29:48	I'm not understanding the purpose of the bipedal movement speed. It seems totally worthless, and I have no idea why anybody would ever decide to use it. If you really feel like you need to do something like this for whatever RP reasons, then I'd suggest something less complicated like maybe simply treating the character as slowed, because right now it just raises too many questions like those already mentioned. But really, if it's just there for RP reasons, then it probably doesn't need to be in the stat block at all. Just to be clear, "Fetishes" and "Teeth and Claws" do absolutely nothing mechanically, right? To me, they basically just look like side bars that say "you should reflavor stuff" and that's it. I just want to make sure that I'm not missing anything here. "Cornered" is a damage bonus and should thus scale up at higher levels. I suggest +2 at heroic tier, +3 at paragon tier and +4 at epic tier. The "Swift Withdrawal" racial power is overpowered, and I have no idea why nobody has mentioned it yet. If it were an Immediate Reaction, then it would probably be fine, but I just think that it's way too good as an immediate interrupt because of what that means for totally cancelling out charges and such. I might actually even suggest changing the trigger entirely to when an enemy ends its turn adjacent to you. Also, this isn't really a mechanical problem, but it does still bug me a lot. The trigger for "Swift Withdrawal" says "his" where it should say "its". Not all enemies will be male, and using masculine pronouns as a default is highly problematic. It should either be "its" or "their".
#10 lady_ishtar Apr 29, 2011 9:14:42	@rampant Yes, difficult terrain mention is for movement only. As the power stands you are insubstancial until end of your next turn (all the time) and ignore difficult terrain when you move. I am thinking about changing it so both abilities happen only when you move. @ crimson Slowed... I don't know why I didnt think of that. But yes, I wanted to put something in case RP required the whole bipedal part. Fetishes: Yes, its just a sidebar on reflavoring your gear. At best the bonus you get is people dont see the plate armor on you. But you are still big fricken cat. Cornered: I was worried it would be too much damage. Swift Withdrawal:I see what you mean with negating charges. I'll change it to a reaction. And fix the pronouns. Do any of the utility powers or feats rise any red flags?
#11 Krusk Apr 29, 2011 10:30:55	I am mostly interested in the name. Where did it come from, what does it mean, and why did you go with it? Also how would you say it?
#12 lady_ishtar Apr 29, 2011 10:43:40	Heh, the first part is from Jungle Book's Bagheera, second part is from Ashera cat breed.