Is there a template for a Leonin (lion-person) race? If not, here's my template/idea. Please take a look and give some feedback!
A friend of mine plays Magic, and loves the flavor and fighting style of the Leonin in that game. I figured a nifty way of getting him into DnD would be to let him play as one.
Examples of MTG leonin*:
Jareth, Leonine Titan
Raksha Golden Cub
Skyhunter Cub
Taj-Nar Swordsmith
Leonin Scimitar
* the metal on most of these guys is a result of living on a planet made of metal. They are not wearing armor, they have evolved organic metal parts. While it looks cool, that wasn't the point of them, it was a side effect. The feel of the race and culture was sort of like a more savage version of Samurai honor.
Leonin are much like Dragonborn in behavior and social structure, but are more nurturing of their young (more dependent on parents) and focused more on honor than even the dragonborn. Their desire for gold and riches are minimal, preferring to live off the land in small communities. Although highly agile, leonin are also surprisingly strong, and prefer wearing minimal armor to take advantage of their sharp reflexes.
RACIAL TRAITS
Average Height: 6' 0"-6'6"
Average Weight: 200-300 lb.
Ability Scores: +2 Strength, +2 Intelligence
Size: Medium
Speed: 7 squares
Vision: Low-light
Languages: Common, ???
Skill Bonuses: +2 Acrobatics, +2 Stealth
Feline Grace: You gain a +1 racial bonus to Reflex defense. As long as you are wearing light armor, you get a +2 Racial Bonus to your Armor Class against Opportunity Attacks provoked by movement.
Pack Awareness: You get a +1 racial bonus to attack rolls against enemies who are flanked, whether you are involved in flanking them or not.
Leonin Weapon Oroficency: You gain proficiency with the Scimitar.
Roar of the Kha: You may use Roar of the Kha as an Encounter power.
Feline Grace: You gain a +1 racial bonus to Reflex defense. As long as you are wearing light armor, you may have Opportunity Attacks provoked by movement target your Reflex instead of Armor Class.
The bonus to Reflex defense may be redundant as they get a bonus to INT. Reflex will usually (but not always) be lower than AC, so taking a shot to Reflex will be worse in most cases. Really the only exception I see is a character in mundane cloth armor or with an item that grants a bonus to Reflex defense. Otherwise the armor bonus will make AC higher.
Pack Awareness: You get a +1 racial bonus to attack rolls against enemies who are flanked.
Does this mean if my fighter and rogue are flanking an enemy and I shoot an arrow at the same enemy, I get the bonus? Or do I have to actually be flanking?
Roar of the Kha: You may use Roar of the Kha as an Encounter power.
[indent]Roar of the Kha
Minor Action
Encounter
Close Blast 3 (in a circle around you, if I mixed up my terms)
Trigger: you hit an enemy with an attack, and it becomes bloodied
Str vs Will
Hit: The target is immobilized until the end of your next turn.[/indent]
That's a Close Burst 1, not a Close Blast 3. Why is this Strength vs Will, exactly? Just curious as to the reasoning behind it.
EDIT: Just realized the roar doesn't necessarily target the creature you Bloodied, at least not as written. You need to specify a target for it. If it's immobilizing enemies, I'm not sure it should hit everything in the burst, but I'd like to see other people's opinions on that as it only lasts for one turn and it has a very short reach.
The bonus to Reflex defense may be redundant as they get a bonus to INT. Reflex will usually (but not always) be lower than AC, so taking a shot to Reflex will be worse in most cases. Really the only exception I see is a character in mundane cloth armor or with an item that grants a bonus to Reflex defense. Otherwise the armor bonus will make AC higher
The stacked bonuses was intended to give it a significant improvement. In my quick math the Reflex value jumped to 19 while wearing light armor and a dex/int of 20, on par with my Fighter's AC at level one while wearing Chainmail and a Heavy Shield. Of course, if you are only wearing light armor and no shield, your AC will be 16 or 17, making Reflex a better stat.
Does this mean if my fighter and rogue are flanking an enemy and I shoot an arrow at the same enemy, I get the bonus? Or do I have to actually be flanking?
That's a Close Burst 1, not a Close Blast 3. Why is this Strength vs Will, exactly? Just curious as to the reasoning behind it.
That was the intent. Is it overpowered?
It's Str vs Will simply because someone recommended spreading out the abilities so you have options besides "light armor dude."
EDIT: Just realized the roar doesn't necessarily target the creature you Bloodied, at least not as written. You need to specify a target for it. If it's immobilizing enemies, I'm not sure it should hit everything in the burst, but I'd like to see other people's opinions on that as it only lasts for one turn and it has a very short reach.
It's intended to hit in a burst 3 (all the enemies around you get scared)
Fixed the wording.
Roar of the Kha
Minor Action
Encounter
Close Blast 3 (in a circle around you, if I mixed up my terms)
Trigger: you hit an enemy with an attack, and it becomes bloodied
Str vs Will
Target: Each enemy in the Blast
Hit: The target is immobilized until the end of your next turn.
The stacked bonuses was intended to give it a significant improvement.
Ah, okay, just wanted to make sure that was intentional.
In my quick math the Reflex value jumped to 19 while wearing light armor and a dex/int of 20, on par with my Fighter's AC at level one while wearing Chainmail and a Heavy Shield. Of course, if you are only wearing light armor and no shield, your AC will be 16 or 17, making Reflex a better stat.
I'm not saying it can't happen that way, but you have to have really light to no armor (read: leather or cloth) and a class with a bonus to Reflex to be able to pull it off consistently. The rogue in my group currently has a Reflex one point below her AC, and that's even with an item bonus.
I guess what I'm saying is, it's a slight bonus to only a few characters. Why not just give them a +2 AC vs opportunity attacks provoked by movement, so that everyone can take advantage?
That was the intent. Is it overpowered?
If it's overpowered at all, it would be because flanking gives CA and this would stack with it, and I don't think that's too bad, so no, I don't think it's a balance issue that they can jump in on a good ol' dog pile. You might want to rephrase it as "...against enemies who are flanked, whether you are involved in flanking them or not."
It's Str vs Will simply because someone recommended spreading out the abilities so you have options besides "light armor dude."
Good idea.
I'm not saying it can't happen that way, but you have to have really light to no armor (read: leather or cloth) and a class with a bonus to Reflex to be able to pull it off consistently. The rogue in my group currently has a Reflex one point below her AC, and that's even with an item bonus.
I guess what I'm saying is, it's a slight bonus to only a few characters. Why not just give them a +2 AC vs opportunity attacks provoked by movement, so that everyone can take advantage?
Actually, I just tossed together a Goblin Wizard with 18 INT, and he has an AC of 14 and a Ref of 16. Add +2 to INT for a total of 17, and Wizards could take good advantage of this.
Hope you don't mind, I cleaned up the statblock and added the Fear keyword, since that seems appropriate. Doesn't Immobilized also mean you can't attack? If that's the case, this should be toned down a touch.
Sounds good.
I'm pretty sure Imibolized just means they can't move, which would be nice for a Fighter, allowing squishies to escape. If you charge into a group of enemies with various "enemies take damage for being near you" effects, it's pretty nifty.
Actually, I just tossed together a Goblin Wizard with 18 INT, and he has an AC of 14 and a Ref of 16. Add +2 to INT for a total of 17, and Wizards could take good advantage of this.
Yeah, a wizard could have as much as a 3-point advantage, which admittedly is good. But what about a rogue in leather armor? They'd only have a 1-point advantage, and that's only due to the racial bonus; easily overcome with two-weapon defense, hide armor, or a parrying dagger. Any class that can use hide armor can ensure that their AC is never worse than their Reflex even with the racial bonus (baring magical items of course), and that accounts for all but a few classes.
I'm pretty sure Imibolized just means they can't move, which would be nice for a Fighter, allowing squishies to escape. If you charge into a group of enemies with various "enemies take damage for being near you" effects, it's pretty nifty.
Yeah, I was confusing it with Stunned, because apparently I'm an idiot. Immobilized is fine.
Just from a perspective of logic, wouldn't it make more sense for the roar to be Charisma vs. Will rather than Strength vs. Will, given that charisma is the ability that powers intimidate, which is essentially when you're doing here.
I thought that as well at first, but I've since changed my mind, because:
A) You're trying to convince your opponent that you'll rip them to shreds with your bare hands if they so much as twitch, not trying to fast-talk them into going to the Sunday ice cream social with your geeky halfling friend. Being huge and muscular would play into it better than being well-spoken I would think. Really, I could see a convincing argument for the Intimidate skill being houseruled to Strength along the same lines, but that's neither here nor there.
B) Mechanically, making it Strength-based makes it work better for fighters, paladins, and swordmages - defenders, basically. Charisma is good for paladins, not so much the other two.
Oh, also might consider changing it from a minor action to an immediate reaction. Doesn't change it much either way, really, but that's probably how I'd write it. For whatever that's worth.
A) You're trying to convince your opponent that you'll rip them to shreds with your bare hands if they so much as twitch...
Oh, also might consider changing it from a minor action to an immediate reaction. Doesn't change it much either way, really, but that's probably how I'd write it. For whatever that's worth.
That was my logic as well, but I could see the argument for either. Basically, I stuck it as STR, because I felt the race was lacking a hook for Fighter types, and since they get +2 Strength anyway, I may as well take advantage of it.
Duly noted, and valid point. It would make it a bit more interesting, especially if you used it on an OA yourself. Changerizing now!
And for the record, I was intending the Feline Grace thing to be fairly conditional. Perhaps it's a bit too conditional, but I wanted a solid incentive to play light armor characters, and that's what I came up with.
Perhaps racial feats and stuff could add to this, to counteract the effect of magical armor and stuff. More on this to come...
And actually, taking another look at my Fighter's Char Sheet, I just realized I totally forgot about the REF bonus from shields. Toss in a shield, and the effect may be even better...
I think the enhancement may be lower than AC in many cases (especially compared to Tank Fighters), but I was hoping to make it solid enough that people who play for fun (me) may find it worthwhile to wear light armor, even if it means not maxing everything out.
Racial Feats:
My FIRST idea for Feline Grace was to add INT and DEX to AC for wearing light armor. The argument was raised that such a trait would be broken at level 1 (and I totally agree), but I can also see various feats or paragon paths add to this aspect more. I would imagine that by Paragon or Epic Destiny the bonus from this trait will fall to a reasonable level.
PARAGON FEATS
Super Feline Grace (OK, I'm bad with names :P)
Requirements: Dex 15 (higher?), Trained in Acrobatics, Skill Focus in Acrobatics, Leonin Race
Benefit: As long as you are wearing light armor, you gain a Feat Bonus to your Reflex score equal to your INT or DEX modifier, whichever is lower. In the case of a tie, pick one.
Super Feline Agility
Requirements: Dex 15 (higher?), Trained in Acrobatics, Skill Focus in Acrobatics, Leonin Race
Benefit: As long as you are wearing light armor, you gain a Feat Bonus to your AC equal to your INT or DEX modifier, whichever is lower. In the case of a tie, pick one.
OK, now come tear me a new one! ;)
Leonin are much like Dragonborn in behavior and social structure, but are more nurturing of their young (more dependent on parents) and focused more on honor than even the dragonborn. Their desire for gold and riches are minimal, preferring to live off the land in small communities. Although highly agile, leonin are also surprisingly strong, and prefer wearing minimal armor to take advantage of their sharp reflexes.
RACIAL TRAITS
Average Height: 6' 0"-6'6"
Average Weight: 200-300 lb.
Ability Scores: +2 Strength, +2 Intelligence
Size: Medium
Speed: 6 squares
Vision: Low-light
Well I am unsure about Leonine specifically, but most cats are fairly flexible, and would be better suited to +2 dex. Large cats are fast in general, and the cheetah is fast Especially, so 7 squares of movement would be appropiate.
Languages: Common, ???
Skill Bonuses: +2 Acrobatics, +2 Stealth
Skills should tie into attribute bonuses (Which if you change to +2 Str +2 Dex would be fine as is)
Feline Grace: You gain a +1 racial bonus to Reflex defense. As long as you are wearing light armor, you may have Opportunity Attacks provoked by movement target your Reflex instead of Armor Class.
Just some quick number crunching for the last bit.
Level 1:
20 Int (Spellcaster or something) = +5 from Int +10 from level +1 racial = 16 Ref
AC = 5+10+2 (leather) = 17.
Even from first level, its inferior to LEather. Give them a flat +2 to AC against OA's.
Pack Awareness: You get a +1 racial bonus to attack rolls against enemies who are flanked, whether you are involved in flanking them or not.
Roar of the Kha: You may use Roar of the Kha as an Encounter power.
7 squares of movement would be appropiate.
>_<
I thought I changed that. See kids, this is what happens when you copy off your neighbor!
Give them a flat +2 to AC against OA's.
OK, I give. A racial bonus to AC it is.
I would rather see a mental attribute v Will, but its ok as is. Oh, except change Immediate Reaction to Free Action. Immediate actions (which Reaction is one of) can only occur when its not your turn.
Noted and changed.
Thanks! :D
Dextarity or Wisdom may be a better choice than Intelligence.
Perhaps. Dexterity was also be a solid potential candidate, but I have several reasons. Perhaps they aren't worth it, but here's my logic.
1) While DnD's system works wonderfully, and is great at balancing characters in a jiffy, I have several problems with it. Actually they are closer to personal sources of irritation.
The big one is that not everyone's scores in all stats are relevant. You can generally pick one dump stat and totally ignore it for the entire game. While it all works out in the end, I find it more interesting to encourage using several stats, especially as a bonus point system.
That's the big reason behind my persistence for encouraging points in DEX, but giving the bonus to INT. I would argue that both stats are important to this race.
If both being able to predict enemy behavior and having sharp reflexes both make you more likely to dodge, wouldn't sharp reflexes AND high intelligence make you twice as hard to hit?
If you want an example of this, think of the Dragonborn. Their racial Ability Scores are in Str and Cha, but many of their other racial traits (DB, Draconic Herritage) also encourage extra points in Con. You don't have to play Dragonborn Smashy Fighters, but there are certainly advantages to doing so.
big long messy example, and a bit of ranting
Several things about DnD keep giving me a headache, and AC is another biggie.
Granted, DnD manages to pull it all together in style, but I'm not used to thinking in DnD math.
Here's my explanation, based on practically every other RPG I've played as well as the one I'm making. It's all in my head and on some excel sheets now, but I hope to make it eventually.
Stats in my game:
HP/EP
Att/Def (Attack, Defense)
Mgi/Res (Magic power/strength, Magic resistance)
Acc/Dex (Accuracy, Dextarity)
Move/Luck (Move and, er, Luck)
In my game, a person's accuracy is the primary score in determining if they hit or not. It takes the attacker's acc, subtracts the defenders dex, and adds 50. That's their hit chance. The game then chooses a random number from 1 to 100, and the attack hits if it matches the hit chance or lower. 100 is an auto-hit.
On a hit, damage is calculated based on Att/Mgi and Def/Res. One of the former is the basis for damage, weapon/spell damage is added, and then one of the latter is subtracted. In the case of a positive number, damage is dealt.
Because of this, EVERY STAT is important. You can't just choose to ignore one stat, you have to decide what you find to be most important.
The classic Tank Fighter is going to have an absurd Def score, and a low Dex score. This means they will get hit all the time, but that they rarely take damage. They just sit there and take it.
They are not invulnerable though. An attacker using a Piercing weapon will negate a percentage of their Def. Bludgeon weapons also get a bonus against opponents with heavy armor, making them more likely to smash their way through. Warhammers and stuff will also have the potential to damage armor, requiring it to be mended (pounded back into shape) before it can be worn again.
On the other end of the spectrum are the Untouchable Swordsmen, who focus all their skills to dodge enemy attacks. As a result they are highly difficult to hit, but are going to get their face punched in when that blow finally does hit. They also have less HP than tank fighters.
They can be hurt using AoE spells and abilities that are guaranteed to hit. Because they lack even moderate armor (Hide or Chainmail), they will take a reasonable amount of damage from the attack. Tank Fighters would just look at you and shake their head.
So, with that explanation, I find it disappointing that DnD does not take advantage of everyone's scores for combat. That's why I was trying to find a way to incorporate a DEX score as well.
And there we go. A big messy wall of text explaining why I like to use multiple stats.
Several things about DnD keep giving me a headache, and AC is another biggie.
Granted, DnD manages to pull it all together in style, but I'm not used to thinking in DnD math.
Here's my explanation, based on practically every other RPG I've played as well as the one I'm making. It's all in my head and on some excel sheets now, but I hope to make it eventually.
Stats in my game:
HP/EP
Att/Def (Attack, Defense)
Mgi/Res (Magic power/strength, Magic resistance)
Acc/Dex (Accuracy, Dextarity)
Move/Luck (Move and, er, Luck)
In my game, a person's accuracy is the primary score in determining if they hit or not. It takes the attacker's acc, subtracts the defenders dex, and adds 50. That's their hit chance. The game then chooses a random number from 1 to 100, and the attack hits if it matches the hit chance or lower. 100 is an auto-hit.
On a hit, damage is calculated based on Att/Mgi and Def/Res. One of the former is the basis for damage, weapon/spell damage is added, and then one of the latter is subtracted. In the case of a positive number, damage is dealt.
Because of this, EVERY STAT is important. You can't just choose to ignore one stat, you have to decide what you find to be most important.
The classic Tank Fighter is going to have an absurd Def score, and a low Dex score. This means they will get hit all the time, but that they rarely take damage. They just sit there and take it.
They are not invulnerable though. An attacker using a Piercing weapon will negate a percentage of their Def. Bludgeon weapons also get a bonus against opponents with heavy armor, making them more likely to smash their way through. Warhammers and stuff will also have the potential to damage armor, requiring it to be mended (pounded back into shape) before it can be worn again.
On the other end of the spectrum are the Untouchable Swordsmen, who focus all their skills to dodge enemy attacks. As a result they are highly difficult to hit, but are going to get their face punched in when that blow finally does hit. They also have less HP than tank fighters.
They can be hurt using AoE spells and abilities that are guaranteed to hit. Because they lack even moderate armor (Hide or Chainmail), they will take a reasonable amount of damage from the attack. Tank Fighters would just look at you and shake their head.
So, with that explanation, I find it disappointing that DnD does not take advantage of everyone's scores for combat. That's why I was trying to find a way to incorporate a DEX score as well.
And there we go. A big messy wall of text explaining why I like to use multiple stats.
1. It affects iniative, Int doesn't
2. It affects Acrobatics, int doesn't.
As a side note, elves are universally portrayed as smarter than humans, but elves in DnD don't get an Int bonus.
Is it just me or does it seem like wisdom would be more in line with the race then int?
Eh, I don't really see any compelling reason to favor any attribute over another in this case. Sometimes attribute bonuses are obvious, and sometimes they're not; I'd argue that this time they're not. That being the case I can roll with whatever.
Actually, to be frank about it. Dexterity is agility for two reasons.
1. It affects iniative, Int doesn't
2. It affects Acrobatics, int doesn't.
As a side note, elves are universally portrayed as smarter than humans, but elves in DnD don't get an Int bonus.
Dexterity is indeed agility. I'm pretty sure it explicitly says so in the PHB. The question is, should this cat-race get a bonus to Dex instead of Int? If the creator of the race says that they see this as a combination lean fighter/wizard, a society in which spellcasting is as important as martial skill, I can accept a bonus to Int.
Racial Feats:
My FIRST idea for Feline Grace was to add INT and DEX to AC for wearing light armor. The argument was raised that such a trait would be broken at level 1 (and I totally agree), but I can also see various feats or paragon paths add to this aspect more. I would imagine that by Paragon or Epic Destiny the bonus from this trait will fall to a reasonable level.
PARAGON FEATS
Super Feline Grace (OK, I'm bad with names :P)
Requirements: Dex 15 (higher?), Trained in Acrobatics, Skill Focus in Acrobatics, Leonin Race
Benefit: As long as you are wearing light armor, you gain a Feat Bonus to your Reflex score equal to your INT or DEX modifier, whichever is lower. In the case of a tie, pick one.
Super Feline Agility
Requirements: Dex 15 (higher?), Trained in Acrobatics, Skill Focus in Acrobatics, Leonin Race
Benefit: As long as you are wearing light armor, you gain a Feat Bonus to your AC equal to your INT or DEX modifier, whichever is lower. In the case of a tie, pick one.
I'd be very careful about this. Dex and Int overlap, so most of the time, one will be high and one will be pretty low, but this kind of thing is exploitable. Imagine a wand wizard pumping Dex and Int, then taking these feats. It's not unreasonable to assume that they could get as much as a +7 or more bonus to AC and Reflex defense this way by 30th level. That's huge, even by epic standards. Maybe that's not an optimal build, but it's certainly enough of a problem to cause trouble.
Eh, I don't really see any compelling reason to favor any attribute over another in this case. Sometimes attribute bonuses are obvious, and sometimes they're not; I'd argue that this time they're not. That being the case I can roll with whatever.
well I mean look at the related skills;
Wisdom: Perception, Heal, Insight, Nature, Dungeoneering
Intelligence: Arcana, Religion, History
Leonin are much like Dragonborn in behavior and social structure, but are more nurturing of their young (more dependent on parents) and focused more on honor than even the dragonborn. Their desire for gold and riches are minimal, preferring to live off the land in small communities. Although highly agile, leonin are also surprisingly strong, and prefer wearing minimal armor to take advantage of their sharp reflexes.
I dunno, going off of that I feel the leonin are more a wise people than an intelligent one.
I dunno, going off of that I feel the leonin are more a wise people than an intelligent one.
True, but the fluff is only a (presumably) first draft. I'm willing to run with the creator on it, it doesn't really bother me much. If he'd said they were huge hulking brutes who lived in caves and looked like trolls and gave them bonuses to Int + Cha, that would bother me. This, not so much.
The roar needs to be Charisma based. Charisma isn't just about sweet-talking people, it's called upon in any sort of social display, including "I'll tear your head off!" ones - without Cha, you might flex and pose, but you don't have enough of a presence to make it seem credible. ("Oh, gee - look at the wallflower pretend to be scary.")
If they're supposed to be perceptive then give them +2 Perception. Slapping +Wis on every vaguely animal looking race isn't necessary.
The roar needs to be Charisma based. Charisma isn't just about sweet-talking people, it's called upon in any sort of social display, including "I'll tear your head off!" ones - without Cha, you might flex and pose, but you don't have enough of a presence to make it seem credible. ("Oh, gee - look at the wallflower pretend to be scary.")
Well if these are indeed based upon the MTG race, then I cannot see why they have +int over +wis. I agree on the charisma for roar, doesn't make any sense for any other stat.
Examples of MTG leonin*:
Jareth, Leonine Titan
Raksha Golden Cub
Skyhunter Cub
Taj-Nar Swordsmith
You forgot, Leonin Shikari. :D
I like what you have here. I think the DEX makes more sense than STR as far as the bonuses for many of the same other reasons listed here. The move of 7 is also appropriate, and Neutronium_Dragon is dead on about the CHA for Roar of the Kha.
The Roar is all about intimidation and fear of the shear power of the beasts and not only their abilities but their will to absolutely just rip their opponents to shreds and leave them a bloody pile of parts for the ground to soak up, the sun to dry out, and the wind to blow away.
I don't necessarily see them as smarter or wiser than the neutral start point. They may have some improved abilities when it comes to perception, and intimidation and such, but does that mean that they are better at ALL those associated areas? I don't think so.
If anyone else gets bored, please do the same.
Maybe I'll change Roar to hit on CHA + 2/4/6 at Heroic/Paragon/Epic or something, to counteract the part of triggering on a different stat. Hey, the Dragonborn DB got to do it, and STR is a primary stat!
PS: What is generally the highest Defense? My assumption is this (at least in general)
AC > Fort > Ref >= Will
You forgot, Leonin Shikari. :D
Free-to-move-at-instant-speed Fireshrieker trauma resurfacing!
If anyone else gets bored, please do the same.
I will run it by my DM, see what he thinks.
Free-to-move-at-instant-speed Fireshrieker trauma resurfacing!
and whipsersilk cloak, don't forget whipsersilk cloak. :D
If they're supposed to be perceptive then give them +2 Perception. Slapping +Wis on every vaguely animal looking race isn't necessary.
The roar needs to be Charisma based. Charisma isn't just about sweet-talking people, it's called upon in any sort of social display, including "I'll tear your head off!" ones - without Cha, you might flex and pose, but you don't have enough of a presence to make it seem credible. ("Oh, gee - look at the wallflower pretend to be scary.")
I agree that using RAW this should be a Charisma attack, and in fact questioned the logic of it myself at first. However, that it should work under Charisma really makes sense only if we assume that intimidate being exclusively Charisma-based makes sense. I'm increasingly coming to realize that it doesn't. A barbarian with a Strength of 20 and a Charisma of 8 ought to be a lot more menacing than a bard with a Strength of 8 and a Charisma of 20. Using RAW, though, the bard is far, far more intimidating.
Now, I'm not saying intimidate should be stripped off of Charisma entirely. A few well-chosen words delivered in just the right tone of voice can bring a lot of menace. But so can being eight feet tall and able to bench press a buick. Strength actually works if you're assuming that the intimidation is coming from just a plain old show of force, which this attack is.
That said, let's look at this power. It was explicitely made to allow for builds for this race that didn't involve light armor and high agility. It runs off Strength, which is key for pretty much all melee-heavy classes. In particular, it's the key attribute for most fighters, who happen to also be the best suited to using this power. Making it Charisma-based puts it back in the realm of the warlock, and this race already has plenty to offer lightly armored classes.
Mechanically, I think it works better for Strength and makes the race more flexible. These are good qualities that shouldn't be overlooked simply because the intimidate skill is technically Charisma-based.
How's this for a fix for all this discussion on what attribute to run the roar off of: we pull a page from the Dragonborn and allow a player to pick from three different stats? Strength, Charisma, or (Con/Wis)? The only drawback I see to this is that such powers are usually split on physical/mental lines. However, it would allow still more flexability and make this attack useable by pretty much any class to a decent degree.
Or is there an obvious flaw in this idea that I'm missing?
pull a page from the Dragonborn and allow a player to pick from three different stats?
*facepalm*
By the way, does anyone have a problem with the range? I started out with Burst 3, but somewhere along the way I changed it. I think 3 would be acceptable, but perhaps I could toss in a feat or two to extend the range (Enlarged DB style)
Also, I've looked over the PHB again, and I'm going to switch those super-dex stats back to a static value.
Frankly, the dynamic part will hardly ever change unless you are using a DEX/INT build, and in that case it's probably pushing broken. I'll also shift it to Epic, since there are several
I'm switching it to a flat +4 Feat bonus, which is higher than the paragon feats, but since it has so many restrictions I figure it's OK that way.
and whipsersilk cloak, don't forget whipsersilk cloak. :D
You know, my friend never used that. Either he never thought of it, or decided to take a different tactic. Not that I would have suggested it to him if I had thought of it...
Here's what I've got right now.
I also added an additional race feature, though I don't know if it's overpowered, too much for a single race, or utterly stupid. :/
Leonin Weapon Proficiency: You gain proficiency with the Scimitar.
Feats, both old and new!
HEROIC TIER
Alertness, Fast Runner,
Echoing Roar
The range of your Roar of the Kha power increases to 3 (maybe 5?) squares.
Encouraging Roar
When you use your Roar of the Kha power, you and allies in the blast gain a +2 power bonus to all defenses until the end of your next turn.
PARAGON TIER
Agile Athlete, Danger Sense, Scimitar Dance, Uncanny Dodge
Acrobat
Requirements: Dex 15, Leonin
Whenever you roll an acrobatics check, you may choose to re-roll and take a -2 penalty to the new roll. Keep the second roll.
EPIC TIER
Super Feline Grace (OK, I'm bad with names :P)
Requirements: Dex 17 (maybe 19?), Skill Focus in Acrobatics, Leonin Race
Benefit: As long as you are wearing light armor, you gain a +4 Feat Bonus to your Reflex score.
Super Feline Agility
Requirements: Dex 17 (maybe 19?), Skill Focus in Acrobatics, Leonin Race
Benefit: As long as you are wearing light armor, you gain a +4 Feat Bonus to your AC.
HEROIC TIER
Alertness, Fast Runner,
Echoing Roar
The range of your Roar of the Kha power increases to 3 (maybe 5?) squares.
Encouraging Roar
When you use your Roar of the Kha power, you and allies in the blast gain a +2 power bonus to all defenses until the end of your next turn.
PARAGON TIER
Agile Athlete, Danger Sense, Scimitar Dance, Uncanny Dodge
Acrobat
Requirements: Dex 15, Leonin
Whenever you roll an acrobatics check, you may choose to re-roll and take a -2 penalty to the new roll. Keep the second roll.
EPIC TIER
Super Feline Grace (OK, I'm bad with names :P)
Requirements: Dex 17 (maybe 19?), Skill Focus in Acrobatics, Leonin Race
Benefit: As long as you are wearing light armor, you gain a +4 Feat Bonus to your Reflex score.
Super Feline Agility
Requirements: Dex 17 (maybe 19?), Skill Focus in Acrobatics, Leonin Race
Benefit: As long as you are wearing light armor, you gain a +4 Feat Bonus to your AC.