I posted this race in this forum and the race and monsters to hopefully get more feedback on it.
Marrulurks and Marrusaults
Marrulurks
Marrulurks
Creatures with the faces of jackals, these Obsidian black assassins were fashioned from a fallen race.
Racial Traits
Average Height: 3'11"-4'5"
Average Weight: 85-100 lbs.
Ability Scores: +2 Dex +2 Wis
Size: Small
Speed: 6 squares
Vision: Darkvision
Languages: Common and One other
Skill Bonuses: +2 Stealth +2 Perception
Child of the Spawncraft: You have resist fire 5 + one-half your level. In addition you gain a +5 to Perception checks to find tracks.
Desert Stalker: You gain +4 to attack rolls instead of the normal +2 when you gain combat advantage against the target you attack.
Nauseating Howl
Race Racial Power
A piercing screech nauseates one enemy, making it lose vitality.
Encounter
Minor Action Close Blast 2
Target: One creature in Blast
Attack: Constitution + 2 vs. Fortitude, Dexterity +2 vs. Fortitude, Wisdom +2 vs. Fortitude (increase to +4 at 11th level, +6 at 21st level)
Hit: The target is dazed until the end of your next turn
Special: When you create you character, choose Constitution, Dexterity, or Wisdom as the ability score you use when making the attack rolls with this power. The choice remains throughout you characters life and do not change the powers other effects.
Play Marrulurk race if you want...
• To be a sneaky assassin type.
• To play a desert oriented race.
• To member of a race that favors the Fighter, Ranger, and Rogue.
Physical Qualities: Marrulurks look like a standard humanoid, but with the head of a Jackal where its head should be. Of the three prominent Marruspawn races, the Marrulurks are the shortest. Slender in build, the Marrulurks were designed to be the most agile. They were crafted to be excel at tracking foes and finding their weak points. They have a light amount of fur that covers their skin that is usually jet black. For the most part Marrulurks look very similar to each other, preferring to use accessories to make them stand out from each other. Marrulurk attire is often light, to allow for maximum maneuverability, and usually with a weapon always at hand. Marrulurks, like other Marruspawns, can live for a very long time. Marrulurks were crafted not only to stand the intense heat of the desert but to survive flaming bombardment. Since they were made for battle, they mature early, around 15, so that they can be on the battlefield as soon as they can. Since these creatures were made to constantly battle, they would often die young, but if given the chance a Marrulurk could easily out live an elf or dwarf.
Marrulurk Characteristics: Cold Hearted, Crafty, Cunning, Hardy, Loyal, Organized, Sly, Rooted in ancient history.
Creatures with the faces of jackals, these Obsidian black assassins were fashioned from a fallen race.
Racial Traits
Average Height: 3'11"-4'5"
Average Weight: 85-100 lbs.
Ability Scores: +2 Dex +2 Wis
Size: Small
Speed: 6 squares
Vision: Darkvision
Languages: Common and One other
Skill Bonuses: +2 Stealth +2 Perception
Child of the Spawncraft: You have resist fire 5 + one-half your level. In addition you gain a +5 to Perception checks to find tracks.
Desert Stalker: You gain +4 to attack rolls instead of the normal +2 when you gain combat advantage against the target you attack.
Nauseating Howl
Race Racial Power
A piercing screech nauseates one enemy, making it lose vitality.
Encounter
Minor Action Close Blast 2
Target: One creature in Blast
Attack: Constitution + 2 vs. Fortitude, Dexterity +2 vs. Fortitude, Wisdom +2 vs. Fortitude (increase to +4 at 11th level, +6 at 21st level)
Hit: The target is dazed until the end of your next turn
Special: When you create you character, choose Constitution, Dexterity, or Wisdom as the ability score you use when making the attack rolls with this power. The choice remains throughout you characters life and do not change the powers other effects.
Play Marrulurk race if you want...
• To be a sneaky assassin type.
• To play a desert oriented race.
• To member of a race that favors the Fighter, Ranger, and Rogue.
Physical Qualities: Marrulurks look like a standard humanoid, but with the head of a Jackal where its head should be. Of the three prominent Marruspawn races, the Marrulurks are the shortest. Slender in build, the Marrulurks were designed to be the most agile. They were crafted to be excel at tracking foes and finding their weak points. They have a light amount of fur that covers their skin that is usually jet black. For the most part Marrulurks look very similar to each other, preferring to use accessories to make them stand out from each other. Marrulurk attire is often light, to allow for maximum maneuverability, and usually with a weapon always at hand. Marrulurks, like other Marruspawns, can live for a very long time. Marrulurks were crafted not only to stand the intense heat of the desert but to survive flaming bombardment. Since they were made for battle, they mature early, around 15, so that they can be on the battlefield as soon as they can. Since these creatures were made to constantly battle, they would often die young, but if given the chance a Marrulurk could easily out live an elf or dwarf.
Marrulurk Characteristics: Cold Hearted, Crafty, Cunning, Hardy, Loyal, Organized, Sly, Rooted in ancient history.
Why is the Marrulurk (small size) slower (in speed) than the Marrusault and Marrutact (medium size)? Wouldnt something lighter be faster and nimbler?
Thanks for the reply. Well looking at the small races like the Gnome I thought it was the standard thing for small races, but now that I look at it the majority of small races have 6 squares so I will bring them up accordingly.
Endless Ferocity: When you are reduced to 0 hit points or fewer you do not fall unconscious or get knocked prone, and in addition when you make a death saving throw you can take the better of your die roll or 10. You still die at the normal negative hit point total.
Does this basically give you double hp? If so, you need to be at least weakened or something (when "unconscious").
Does this basically give you double hp? If so, you need to be at least weakened or something (when "unconscious").
Well it just allows the Marrusault to continue fighting until it drops dead. At most it’s an extra bloodied value of hit points. The reason for this power is that its 3.5 version of it did have the power but if it’s too powerful I am defiantly open for suggestions on how to tone it down. The second part of the power is the same thing that a Warforged gets, just without the other living construct benefits. If it others have the same feeling that it’s too powerful than the weakened could be a step to tone it down. Thanks for all the input and taking the time to read the races.
Why is the Marrulurk (small size) slower (in speed) than the Marrusault and Marrutact (medium size)? Wouldnt something lighter be faster and nimbler?
Shorter legs. I know that games usually have the whole "Small things are fast, large things are slow!" convention, that's not really the case. It's like how in 3E the Tarraque had a movement of 30ft. While being a 30ft monster. Basiclly, that would require that it takes around 2 seconds for it to take a single step.
Any chance you could put up a picture(s) of these races?
Well I found their pictures on the gallery, hopefully I will get some racial feats in soon.
Well it just allows the Marrusault to continue fighting until it drops dead. At most it’s an extra bloodied value of hit points. The reason for this power is that its 3.5 version of it did have the power but if it’s too powerful I am defiantly open for suggestions on how to tone it down. The second part of the power is the same thing that a Warforged gets, just without the other living construct benefits. If it others have the same feeling that it’s too powerful than the weakened could be a step to tone it down. Thanks for all the input and taking the time to read the races.
I would say it is definitely too powerful. I think theres a daily power somewhere that allows something similar, but its high level and you're allowing it at will. At best, it should be 1/encounter and allow the character to fight an additional round before falling unconscious. Or maybe allow the character to fight as normal, but each round that he does so he auto-fails his death saving throw, so hes only got 3 rounds of it unless he gets healed. If auto-fail is too much, maybe give him a -5 penalty, but just do something to tone it down a bit.
I would say it is definitely too powerful. I think theres a daily power somewhere that allows something similar, but its high level and you're allowing it at will. At best, it should be 1/encounter and allow the character to fight an additional round before falling unconscious. Or maybe allow the character to fight as normal, but each round that he does so he auto-fails his death saving throw, so hes only got 3 rounds of it unless he gets healed. If auto-fail is too much, maybe give him a -5 penalty, but just do something to tone it down a bit.
So I will take out the second part of the power to allow him not to auto pass his death saving throw, and then maybe do the -5 to death saving throws. Then I will allow as an epic feat option to gain the second part of the power back. Does that sound good or do I need to still tone it down more?
From the Avenger:
Oath of the Final Strike Avenger Utility 22
Nothing can prevent you from completing the task set before you
by the gods, not even death.
Daily Divine
Immediate Interrupt Personal
Trigger: An attack reduces you to 0 hit points or fewer and
doesn’t kill you
Effect: You are dying but don’t fall unconscious. Until the
end of your next turn, you don’t take any damage after
the triggering attack, and you gain a +4 bonus to attack
rolls. At the end of your next turn, you fall unconscious if
you are still dying.
From the Barbarian:
Deny Death Barbarian Utility 10
The darkness will not swallow you until you have finished what
you set out to do.
Daily Primal
Immediate Interrupt Personal
Trigger: You drop to 0 hit points or fewer and don’t die
Effect: You are dying but don’t fall unconscious because
of that condition. At the end of your next turn, you fall
unconscious if you are still dying.
Last Stand Barbarian Utility 22
As death looms before you, you push yourself to battle on.
Daily Primal
Immediate Interrupt Personal
Trigger: You drop to 0 hit points or fewer and don’t die
Effect: You are dying but don’t fall unconscious because
of that condition. At the end of your next turn, you fall
unconscious if you are still dying.
Sustain Minor: You take 5 damage and don’t fall
unconscious.
From the Frenzied Berserker (Barbarian PP)
Deathless Frenzy Frenzied Berserker Utility 12
For a time, your anger can stave off even death.
Daily Primal
Immediate Interrupt Personal
Trigger: You drop to 0 hit points or fewer and don’t die
Effect: Until you regain hit points, you are dying but don’t
fall unconscious because of that condition. If you fail
a death saving throw, you fall unconscious, and this
effect ends.
So a few things you notice is that these are all dailies, all at least paragon tier, and only 2 of those 4 allow you to remain conscious past 1 round. I'm not saying it's impossible to balance at heroic tier, but when a level 10 power only keeps you up for 1 round, then a level 1 equivalent of that power should also not exceed 1 round, and in addition to that it should bring some very steep penalties. I like the suggestion to make the character weakened. Its a big hit, but at the same time it doesn't completely invalidate the power.
Also, even if you balance out the individual power, the entire group of powers for that race is way too much. You are granting a level 1 equivalent to a paragon tier power, plus fire resistance, plus a Reflex bonus, plus the actual racial power. It just seems like a bit much with all of that. Maybe make the fire resistance or endurance ability into a racial feat or something, and nix the Reflex bonus.
Of course, I'm saying this with the current version still in mind, depending on how you tweak the endurance ability, maybe it will all work out fine, although I think I would still nix the Reflex bonus, as the only race I can think of that grants a direct bonus to NADs is Human. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think it would be ok if you balance out that one ability a little more and ditch the +1 Reflex.
So a few things you notice is that these are all dailies, all at least paragon tier, and only 2 of those 4 allow you to remain conscious past 1 round. I'm not saying it's impossible to balance at heroic tier, but when a level 10 power only keeps you up for 1 round, then a level 1 equivalent of that power should also not exceed 1 round, and in addition to that it should bring some very steep penalties. I like the suggestion to make the character weakened. Its a big hit, but at the same time it doesn't completely invalidate the power
So if I add the weakend, should the -5 penalty stay or go?
Also, even if you balance out the individual power, the entire group of powers for that race is way too much. You are granting a level 1 equivalent to a paragon tier power, plus fire resistance, plus a Reflex bonus, plus the actual racial power. It just seems like a bit much with all of that. Maybe make the fire resistance or endurance ability into a racial feat or something, and nix the Reflex bonus.
Actually the Reflex bonus is standard for races that have their two stat bonuses to one defense. Eladrin have a bonus to will defense and Goliaths, who have the same stats as the Marrusault, also have a bonus to the will defense. So I think the Reflex bonus is justified.
Bone Naga, I really happy to have you helping out in making the Marrusaults more viable as a race and anymore input you can add is gladly appreciated.
On another note, I should take a moment to mention that I haven't seen any glaring balance issues with the other races. In fact I really like some of those abilities.
Well 2 out of 3 isn't so bad
So if I add the weakend, should the -5 penalty stay or go?
Hmmmm, you know I'm not entirely sure. I'm leaning towards keeping it, but I tend to be an evil bastard as a DM, and I'm always wary of giving the players something too powerful. I think that if you add weakened, and reduce the duration to 1 round, it should be ok, but I'd like some other people to chime in on this as I'm not entirely sure.
Actually the Reflex bonus is standard for races that have their two stat bonuses to one defense. Eladrin have a bonus to will defense and Goliaths, who have the same stats as the Marrusault, also have a bonus to the will defense. So I think the Reflex bonus is justified.
So it is. I don't know how the hell I missed that, but I stand corrected. Disregard my earlier comment then.
Bone Naga, I really happy to have you helping out in making the Marrusaults more viable as a race and anymore input you can add is gladly appreciated.
Absolutely, I love checking out people's house rules. I've gotten a lot of good ideas off of this board. In fact, even though I won't be using this race, I like some of the mechanics you've introduced, and I might steal them for other applications. Besides, I know from experience how something might seem great in your mind but be horribly under or overpowered on paper. Sometimes it just takes another set of eyes to spot some of those things.
Well 2 out of 3 isn't so bad
I feel about the same (see my earlier comment on Reflex).
Hmmmm, you know I'm not entirely sure. I'm leaning towards keeping it, but I tend to be an evil bastard as a DM, and I'm always wary of giving the players something too powerful. I think that if you add weakened, and reduce the duration to 1 round, it should be ok, but I'd like some other people to chime in on this as I'm not entirely sure.
Hmm I see your point, I too would love to see some others weigh in on the feature.
So it is. I don't know how the hell I missed that, but I stand corrected. Disregard my earlier comment then.
Its all good man.
Absolutely, I love checking out people's house rules. I've gotten a lot of good ideas off of this board. In fact, even though I won't be using this race, I like some of the mechanics you've introduced, and I might steal them for other applications. Besides, I know from experience how something might seem great in your mind but be horribly under or overpowered on paper. Sometimes it just takes another set of eyes to spot some of those things.
Ya it’s always nice to get feedback and see your work in someone else’s perspective
Well I got the Heroic tier feats done, and added some flavor in them as well.
Heroic Tier Feats
Enhanced Howl [Racial]
Experience in battle helps carry your howl to more foes or friends.
Perquisite: Marruspawn
Benefit: You may add one additional target to your Nauseating Howl, Howl of Defiance, or Howl of Vigor racial power.
Sand fighter [Racial]
Life in the harsh wastes have trained you to fighter harder when the land gets tougher.
Perquisite: Marruspawn
Benefit: +2 to damage rolls when you are attacking in difficult terrain.
Blessing of the Desert [Racial]
The Desert is a powerful ally for those born in the wastes and it is wise to learn to live with it then against it.
Perquisite: Marruspawn
Benefit: +5 to Endurance checks to ignore hunger, thirst and to endure extreme weather.
Experience in battle helps carry your howl to more foes or friends.
Perquisite: Marruspawn
Benefit: You may add one additional target to your Nauseating Howl, Howl of Defiance, or Howl of Vigor racial power.
Sand fighter [Racial]
Life in the harsh wastes have trained you to fighter harder when the land gets tougher.
Perquisite: Marruspawn
Benefit: +2 to damage rolls when you are attacking in difficult terrain.
Blessing of the Desert [Racial]
The Desert is a powerful ally for those born in the wastes and it is wise to learn to live with it then against it.
Perquisite: Marruspawn
Benefit: +5 to Endurance checks to ignore hunger, thirst and to endure extreme weather.
I edited the Marrusaults Endless Ferocity power; hopefully the power is not as unbalanced as it was before. So please take a look at it and see if it’s okay.
I have some more feats, but I am worried about the power level of them, and I still need learn to do feats that grant racial powers too finish one up so I will post it later.
Paragon tier feats
Adaptive Genetics [Racial]
After training you gain access to the untapped potential in your spawned-crafted body.
Perquisite: Marruspawn
Benefit: After any extended rest you may change the Resistance gained by Child of the Spawncraft to another damage type.
Discriminating Hearing [Racial]
Perquisite: Marruspawn
Benefit:The Discriminating Hearing racial utility power replaces one of your utility powers. The power it replaces must be 12th level or higher. If you do not yet have a 12th level or higher power, you can replace the appropriate power when you gain it.
Discriminating Hearing Feat Power
You focus your hearing to listen to beat of your foes heart or the subtleties of change in the air.
Encounter
Minor action Personal
Effect: You gain blindsight 6 until the end of you next turn.
After training you gain access to the untapped potential in your spawned-crafted body.
Perquisite: Marruspawn
Benefit: After any extended rest you may change the Resistance gained by Child of the Spawncraft to another damage type.
Discriminating Hearing [Racial]
Perquisite: Marruspawn
Benefit:The Discriminating Hearing racial utility power replaces one of your utility powers. The power it replaces must be 12th level or higher. If you do not yet have a 12th level or higher power, you can replace the appropriate power when you gain it.
Discriminating Hearing Feat Power
You focus your hearing to listen to beat of your foes heart or the subtleties of change in the air.
Encounter
Minor action Personal
Effect: You gain blindsight 6 until the end of you next turn.
I think Endless Ferocity is much better now (balance-wise), and still keeps to the original flavor. I'm not as good at checking paragon and epic stuff, but I'll take a closer look at the feats later on.
Whew, I am glad that I found a way to make it more reasonable for a base race to have.
Well after racial feats are looked over I have a lot of Paragon path ideas for the Marruspawn races.
Marruspawn inspired.
Jackal’s Shadow (Ranger): Merciless stalkers who perfect a fighting style reminiscent of a jackal’s underhanded tactics.
Pinnacle of the Ancients (Wizard): Your studies bring you powers that can make even the greatest of civilizations fall to their knees.
Avatar of the Waste (Warden): You channel desert into your form transforming you into a tempest of the sands.
Marruspawn required.
Howling Harbinger: Your Howls echo across the waste land, you are a beacon for the triumph of the Marruspawn race and the harbinger for the fall of others.
Well for now their just ideas but hopefully I should churn them out soon enough. To be honest I am happy I got any feedback at all, but I would love to hear anything from anyone about the races and the feats. Any ideas for fluff or critiques on anything I have posted so far would be more than welcome, so any lurkers or people browsing races drop a post and I would be honored to reply.