I'm struggling with the execution of a concept - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

I'm struggling with the execution of a concept

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Ravinsild
Nov 03, 2008 23:49:36 I have this idea sort of stuck in my head for a new race with powers and I'm unsure of how to execute it. If anyone has seen trinity blood the appearance and concept is loosely based off those creatures that drink the blood of vampires, like father Able, I forget what they are called.

Now bear with me, this isn't supposed to be some all powerful game breaking anime race, and while it does have wings, they're purely cosmetic and non functional (I don't recall the creature in trinity blood flying ever anyway, they just looked cool). It is however NOT the same creature, only I'm trying to convey a mental picture for physical basis on which you cna think of my new creature.

I want it to have unique racial powers, for instance I have a few concepts such as drain life and drain soul from World of Warcraft, and like I have this image of black flames sort of rising up around the creature and being sent forth and doing terribly painful burning damage against them and so on.

So should I make it sort of a shifter like "When you get bloodied your state of being kicks in and get wings and badass stuff and get x, y, and z powers" and it over rides class powers sort of, or adds on...like:

You're a this thing rogue: You are level 5 rogue with 2 at wills, a utility, 2 encounters and 2 dailies, more or less...then when bloodied you get x, y, and z powers INSTEAD and can use them INSTEAD, or in PLACE OF, as in x, y, and Z REPLACE said rogue powers, or do You think I should go ahead and make it a racial/class fusion where you are this thing and as you level up you develope your powers more and more, like the old monster progressions?

So you could either have choice a) A transformation triggered by some event, and then you gain these powers REPLACING your class powers until said transformation is canceled by choice or by you getting to 0 HP, or choice b) make it a class/race combo where you are this thing and you just sort of treat it like class where you get racial at-wills (2, like any other class), a choice of like 3 or 4 encounters of the race, and a choice of 2 or 3 dailies of the race like...rain of fire...bloodspike and....chaos wheel (I just made that up)..?

Which do you think is best?
#2
Crimson_Concerto
Nov 04, 2008 0:08:26 . . . I'm having a very difficult time trying to figure out what you're talking about, but right now, I don't think it sounds like a good idea. This transformation thing doesn't have to be as complicated as you're making it out to be. It could instead be as simple as Dragonborn Fury or the Gnoll's Blood Fury, where you gain certain bonuses while bloodied.

As for the drain thing, that would be simple to make into a racial power. I'd go with a minor action that could be used for light psychic or necrotic damage against a foe as well as granting you temporary HP.

This would really be a lot easier if you told us exactly what it is you want to do, though. I know nothing about these creatures nor what specific things you want to give them.
#3
tacktix
Nov 04, 2008 1:10:23 They're called Cruzniks.

As for the concept, it seems like you're trying to meld multiple multi-class only classes (like Spellscarred) for each major class with a new race, while having racial powers over-writing normal class powers. Very complex, and I think it'd be in your better interest to pick one and make it work, then pick the others and make them work, then consider adding them all together.
#4
Ravinsild
Nov 04, 2008 22:21:13 lmao, ok.

Here the basic version: I'm going to make a new class, like my Ninja and/or my Chaos Reaver Only this class is ALSO your RACE.

OOOOR: You choose this race and pick a PHB class, BUT, when you get bloodied, your racial powers override your PHB class powers.

I'll use the drow as a terrible example: Let's say you are a Drow, but whenever you get bloodied your like dark cloud and the other thing REPLACE your current encounters, or whatever they are: Sorry, I don't remember the exact power names or what exactly their execution is. Do you get it?
#5
tacktix
Nov 05, 2008 0:58:31 That sounds more intelligible. Lemme lay out what I think you're saying:

Cruznik is a race that has your typical racial features, but attached to it is a full set of multi-class encounter powers, replacing every encounter power when the PC is bloodied.

That's a little extreme, and is liable to unbalancing. How about instead of that you gain an additional encounter power or two you can ONLY use when you are bloodied. Stagger them across the tiers (one for 1st level, one for 6th, etc.). Then allow only 1 from each tier to be available (similar to the Drow racial features, you can only use one of those two an encounter). And if you like, make it so that while the Cruznik is bloodied, normal encounter powers lose a damage die or size (the bloodlust is so strong, normal capabilities are not as appealing and less concentration is being put on them).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Ravinsild Nov 03, 2008 23:49:36	I have this idea sort of stuck in my head for a new race with powers and I'm unsure of how to execute it. If anyone has seen trinity blood the appearance and concept is loosely based off those creatures that drink the blood of vampires, like father Able, I forget what they are called. Now bear with me, this isn't supposed to be some all powerful game breaking anime race, and while it does have wings, they're purely cosmetic and non functional (I don't recall the creature in trinity blood flying ever anyway, they just looked cool). It is however NOT the same creature, only I'm trying to convey a mental picture for physical basis on which you cna think of my new creature. I want it to have unique racial powers, for instance I have a few concepts such as drain life and drain soul from World of Warcraft, and like I have this image of black flames sort of rising up around the creature and being sent forth and doing terribly painful burning damage against them and so on. So should I make it sort of a shifter like "When you get bloodied your state of being kicks in and get wings and badass stuff and get x, y, and z powers" and it over rides class powers sort of, or adds on...like: You're a this thing rogue: You are level 5 rogue with 2 at wills, a utility, 2 encounters and 2 dailies, more or less...then when bloodied you get x, y, and z powers INSTEAD and can use them INSTEAD, or in PLACE OF, as in x, y, and Z REPLACE said rogue powers, or do You think I should go ahead and make it a racial/class fusion where you are this thing and as you level up you develope your powers more and more, like the old monster progressions? So you could either have choice a) A transformation triggered by some event, and then you gain these powers REPLACING your class powers until said transformation is canceled by choice or by you getting to 0 HP, or choice b) make it a class/race combo where you are this thing and you just sort of treat it like class where you get racial at-wills (2, like any other class), a choice of like 3 or 4 encounters of the race, and a choice of 2 or 3 dailies of the race like...rain of fire...bloodspike and....chaos wheel (I just made that up)..? Which do you think is best?
#2 Crimson_Concerto Nov 04, 2008 0:08:26	. . . I'm having a very difficult time trying to figure out what you're talking about, but right now, I don't think it sounds like a good idea. This transformation thing doesn't have to be as complicated as you're making it out to be. It could instead be as simple as Dragonborn Fury or the Gnoll's Blood Fury, where you gain certain bonuses while bloodied. As for the drain thing, that would be simple to make into a racial power. I'd go with a minor action that could be used for light psychic or necrotic damage against a foe as well as granting you temporary HP. This would really be a lot easier if you told us exactly what it is you want to do, though. I know nothing about these creatures nor what specific things you want to give them.
#3 tacktix Nov 04, 2008 1:10:23	They're called Cruzniks. As for the concept, it seems like you're trying to meld multiple multi-class only classes (like Spellscarred) for each major class with a new race, while having racial powers over-writing normal class powers. Very complex, and I think it'd be in your better interest to pick one and make it work, then pick the others and make them work, then consider adding them all together.
#4 Ravinsild Nov 04, 2008 22:21:13	lmao, ok. Here the basic version: I'm going to make a new class, like my Ninja and/or my Chaos Reaver Only this class is ALSO your RACE. OOOOR: You choose this race and pick a PHB class, BUT, when you get bloodied, your racial powers override your PHB class powers. I'll use the drow as a terrible example: Let's say you are a Drow, but whenever you get bloodied your like dark cloud and the other thing REPLACE your current encounters, or whatever they are: Sorry, I don't remember the exact power names or what exactly their execution is. Do you get it?
#5 tacktix Nov 05, 2008 0:58:31	That sounds more intelligible. Lemme lay out what I think you're saying: Cruznik is a race that has your typical racial features, but attached to it is a full set of multi-class encounter powers, replacing every encounter power when the PC is bloodied. That's a little extreme, and is liable to unbalancing. How about instead of that you gain an additional encounter power or two you can ONLY use when you are bloodied. Stagger them across the tiers (one for 1st level, one for 6th, etc.). Then allow only 1 from each tier to be available (similar to the Drow racial features, you can only use one of those two an encounter). And if you like, make it so that while the Cruznik is bloodied, normal encounter powers lose a damage die or size (the bloodlust is so strong, normal capabilities are not as appealing and less concentration is being put on them).