Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 erk_ Jul 23, 2009 14:59:14	Not surprisingly, the MM2 bullywug is not the greatest PC race. These are the tweaks and homebrew feats I've made for them; in the end, though inspired by the MM2 race they are not particularly similar, but I think they capture the same feel. Thoughts? Bullywug Size: Medium +2 Constitution, +2 Dexterity +2 Athletics, +2 Endurance Speed 6 (swamp walk) Vision normal Frogleg Leap: Add +5 to athletics checks when jumping. Poison Gland: You gain the Poison Secretion encounter power. Toxic Adaptation: Resist poison 5+1/2 level Poison Secretion – Bullywug Encounter Power You smear a little oil from a gland near your mouth on your weapon before striking. Free action, Personal Trigger: You make an attack Effect: If your attack hits, it slows the target until the end of your next turn. If the attack would already slow the target ENT, it instead slows the target (save ends). Bullywug racial feats Bullywug Spearchucker Prerequisites: Bullywug Effect: You gain +2 damage and proficiency with all spears. When you use a spear as a thrown weapon, increase the range by 3/6. Treetoes Prerequisites: Bullywug, trained in Athletics Effect: You gain a climb speed of 3 on trees and wooden surfaces. On other surfaces you gain a +2 racial bonus on climb checks. Versatile Toxin Prerequisites: Bullywug Effect: When you activate it, you can choose to have your Poison Secretion power add either the Slow effect or the Weakened effect. Aside from the status effect incurred, the ability remains unchanged. Wetland Guide Prerequisites: Bullywug, trained in Nature Effect: Allies within 5 squares of you gain Swamp Walk. Additionally, you gain +1 overland speed and +2 to initiative while in swamps.
#2 esperifiel Jul 23, 2009 17:32:58	Mmm, the MM2 version is more consistent with monster bullywugs. None of the bullywugs poison. In fact if you crit one, you get healed, so it's the exact opposite intent. The Rancid Air aura itself doesn't cause damage, just slow. If you want to give a second skill bonus, go for Perception - it goes with their heightened paranoia flavor text. And frogs don't have poison glands in their mouths. The toxic ones secrete it from their brightly colored skin. For their big ability, I would go with something like a Hop (encounter, interrupt, when hit with a melee attack), any marks end and shift 4 squares. It's similar to Spasmodic Hop from the Twitcher.
#3 erk_ Jul 23, 2009 19:36:34	Hmm, you're interpreting a more literal "I'm playing the race from the MM" feel than I was going for. I want something that feels like a weird, aberrant, self-hating mutant frog-creature like the bullywug. I don't care if it's the same creature as in the MM2. Like I said, "though inspired by the race from MM2 they are not particularly similar". You're right about perception possibly being a better bonus than endurance though. I'm a bit puzzled by your comment about the rancid air aura not damaging: my ability is essentially rewritten from rancid aura to make it useful to a PC. Like the aura, it does no damage - only slows. I had considered making it melee only, but that isn't useful to all classes, so it had to become a poison gland [yes, I am aware frogs normally secrete from their entire skin surface, but that wouldn't suit an encounter mechanic. Fortunately, these are not normal frogs. I think a gland - on the outer skin, behind the mouth - biologically suits the need for moisture conservation over extended times: constant secretion suggests a more moist skin surface than an adventuring bullywug is likely to support]. Your hop is kinda neat though, as an alternate. I could run it by the PC playing the character and see which she prefers.
#4 LlamasNotsheep Jul 23, 2009 19:58:01	I'd say end marks and shift 4 as an interrupt encounter power is a bit overpowered for a racial feature. That's on par with some of the best escape utilities of heroic tier. The only change I'd make to the original stuff is that 20 squares for wetland guide might be a bit much. It's a perfect out of combat feat, but that 100% nullifies any sort of swampy terrain as an impediment to all allies. I'd say 5 squares would be more appropriate, since it'd still be very helpful to allies in combat, without completely nullifying swampy terrain. And it'd still keep all of its out of combat functions.
#5 erk_ Jul 23, 2009 20:50:31	That's a good call, llamas, thanks!