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| #1JamesDaltonBellFeb 20, 2015 21:19:48 | The Vanara from the Oriental Adventures supplement has always captured my imagination, so I though I'd write up a preliminary set of stats for a 5e version.
Feedback is greatly appreciated since I'm not sure how balanced some of the features might be. I tried to aim for as close in balance to the dwarf as possible, but I'm not quite sure I hit that spot.
Vanara Player Race:
Vanaras are a race of monkey-like humanoids that live in remote villages in the treetops and underbrush of dense, mountainous rainforests. They are friendly and playful, and are extremely curious and eager to experience new things. Most other races find Vanaras to be flighty and hyperactive. Vanaras are extremely social, and their gregarious nature and love of exitement make them natural-born adventurers.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2.
Age. Vanaras mature quickly, and are considered adults by the age of 16. On average, Vanaras live 60 to 70 years.
Alignment. Vanaras have a very Laissez-faire attitude towards others, and as such are almost always Chaotic or Neutral in alignment. Most Vanaras tend towards Good as well, due to their general optimism, and can generally find the silver lining in any situation.
Size. Vanaras average between 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 in height, and typically wiegh around 120 to 150 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. As creatures that spend most of their lives under the thick treetop vegetation of the rainforest, Vanaras have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Brachiation. All Vanaras have a 20 ft climb speed. Additionally, you gain proficiency in the Acrobatics skill, and can add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus. ***I see this, combined with the +2 to Wisdom, as the main reason mechanically to play this race. I know that none of the PHB races get any alternate movement speeds, but it seems very central to the idea of a race of monkey people to have a climb speed. Additionally, I think the double proficiency bonus to acrobatics might be a little OP, but i based it on the Dwarves Stonecunning ability. I was originally only going to have it apply to balance related acrobatics checks, but balance related checks are pretty much the only things that are explicity ennumerated as requiring an acrobatics check in Ch. 7 of the PHB, so i figured for simplicity's sake to just apply it across the board.***
Inquisitive. Vanaras are naturally curious, and as such gain advantage on any ***This was put is as a flavor ability to have a mechanical way of benefitting from the inquisitive stereotype of monkeys. I am open to changing this feature drastically if necessary for balance, as long as there is some representation of curiosity.***
Language. You can speak, read, and write Common and Vanaran. Vanaran is a rapid, complex language, which most other races would describe as screeching and chittering.
Subrace. Two main subraces of Vanara exist in the world of D&D: Canopy Vanara and Lowland Vanara. Choose one of these subraces. ***My goal with the two subraces was to have one that felt more monkey-inspired, and one that felt more gorilla-inspired.***
Canopy VanaraAs a Canopy Vanara, you are lithe and sinewy, and possess a powerful tail that is used to aid your climbing and balance. You tend to be taller and thinner than other subraces, and your fur is usually white, light brown or orange.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Prehensile Tail. Canopy Vanara possess a prehensile tail which allows them to pick up or carry objects. A weapon held in a Vanara's tail does not grant an additional off-hand attack, and a shield held in your tail does not grant an AC bonus, but your tail otherwise acts as a third hand. ***This is the ability I am most concerned is poorly balanced. I think it might be too powerful. Any help with wording it to more clearly reflect the idea that it is useable as a hand, and getting some mechanical benefit from that, but not making it super exploitable would be great.*** Lowland VanaraAs a Lowland Vanara, you are stronger and stouter than your tree dwelling cousins, and you do not have a tail. You tend to be shorter and stockier, and your fur is nearly always black or gray.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Iron Grip. Lowland Vanara are sturdy and use their hand-like feet and powerful bodies to gain an advantage when fighting. Lowland Vanara can initiate a Grapple as a bonus action, and gain advantage on any check to escape a grapple or resist a shove. ***This ability replaces the deleted Camouflaged ability, which didn't fit nearly as well thematically.***
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| #2FaustianHeroFeb 20, 2015 23:32:42 | I like Vanara too, and while you're not tackling them as I would, I will give feedback on the parts you requested it for.
You mention how social and gregarious they are, but neither the core race nor the subraces have anything social about them. Maybe replace Inquisitive with something social-oriented. If you think capturing their inquisitive nature is important, consider making it apply to Investigation checks instead, as that seems more relevant.
Camouflaged: It's pretty weird for them to be camouflaged in Forests and Mountains and Swamps, when these are very different locations. And you describe their fur as nearly always black or grey. I don't really think of Vanara as creatures that camouflage anyway. I suggest scrapping this entirely. Maybe some sort of super-grip instead, allowing them to use their feet since they don't have a tail? Difficult to disarm, difficult to knock off the tree when they're climbing, and better grapplers? It's fairly narrow, but I would expect the gorilla subrace to be a good grappler (and maybe shove as well).
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| #3JamesDaltonBellFeb 21, 2015 6:50:00 |
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