Didn't see a homebrew forum or anything closer to general discussion than here, so hopefully this is in the right spot. If not, I don't mind the thread being closed and being pointed in the right direction. That said, here we go!
ICHORA - Oozes endowed by the abberant power of the Elemental Chaos with intelligence that have taken form and seek adventure, answers, and purpose.
Core Statistics
- Ability Modifiers: +2 Constitution
- Size: Medium(see Amorphous)
- Vision: Blindsense to 20 feet, Normal otherwise
- Movement: 30 feet per turn
- Languages: Common + Primordial
Racial Characteristics
- Amorphous: As an action, you may don or doff any type of armor. In addition, you may squeeze through passages meant for smaller creatures than you. For a passage designed for a creature no smaller than Small, you suffer no penalty. For passages that are smaller still(no smaller than one inch in diameter), you must leave behind any equipment(weapons, armor, items) to get through. You remain a Medium creature for all other purposes during use of this ability. You may use this ability to escape nonmagical restraints as an action, but grabs and magical means of restraint will be unaffected by this ability.
- Elemental Essence: Choose one of the following damage types: acid, cold, fire, lightning, necrotic, or poison. You gain resistance to that damage type and may choose to deal that damage type instead of your normal type when you hit with an unarmed attack.
- Telepathy: You may directly mentally communicate with any creature you are otherwise aware of and can see within 20 feet, or may 'broadcast' in a manner that allows everyone within 120 feet to hear you. The target of your communication cannot send thoughts back to you in this way, and creatures that do not share a language with you will not understand you.
Racial Description
Able to shapeshift into any shape their dimensions may allow, an individual ichora can look like a gooey version of just about anything. Often enough however, they resemble a rough humanoid shape made of translucent gelatinous material, though fine details are impossible for an ichora to easily replicate. Often derided for their alien biology and appearance, they are rarely welcomed in society and often asked to leave or outright banished at the first available opportunity. Many live in seclusion and secret, often taking up residence in cleared dungeons or abandoned buildings, though those rare few that are accepted into society work hard and are strangely charming to those they befriend and live alongside. Their mannerisms tend to be innocent and naive at first, but they show remarkable adaptability, often changing their shape to resemble those races they live among and their etiquette to match.
They owe their intelligence to the warping of powerful energies ebbing from fissures of the Elemental Chaos, as well as the unstable nature of their progenitors. Ichora breed true and pass this intelligence down their lines, though due to this strange manner of origin it is possible for an intelligent ichora to have nonintelliigent ooze 'parentage'. This is a source of some stress in ichora communities, as there is a common fear that the energy that grants them a mind may dissipate one day and they will revert to their dungeon-crawling and mindless states. They are naturally inclined toward hardy and arcane work alike, though it is not unheard of for clerical or even druidic ichora to take up causes in the world. Ichora hold no alliegance as a whole toward Ghaunadaur, but some cults worship him, and members of said cults may abduct or recruit ichora as champions or sacrifices. Relgious or upstanding ichora of good or nature-domain deities despise such practice, and will eagerly work together with other races to stamp out any infestation of such worship.
So long as they receive proper sustenance, they are biologically ageless, and particularly resistant to diseases and poison. For those that befriend an ichora, they will find brave and stalwart allies even against the worst of foes.
Pictures
Female Ichora
Male Ichora + Defense Forme
So, the Ichora are meant to be balanced against the core races in the PHB, as I didn't have Unearthed Arcana or other such material to reference at the time(and certainly didn't see the stats of the Minotaur coming, hooboy what a monster!). With that said, these guys have been very popular among my circle both in games I've played as well as DMed, and tend to be well-received by those who hear about them. Therefore I submit them to you, please feel free to critique them and let me know if you find something over- or under-powered.
Ok what edition is this for?
There is no Homebre Forum, but there is a thread that acts as a repository of homebrew content, you can find it here.
Also, if you are interested in my take on a slime race for 5e, you can find it here.
Okay, this is easily the most unique race mechanics-wise I've seen, outside of the aarakocra. Neat stuff! I have some thoughts below, take 'em or leave 'em.
EbonyRubberWolf wrote:
Disadvantage on said perception checks seems sketchy to me, I'd also advise nuking the unarmed attack power. It's got some rather nasty synergy with monks and almost none at all with anyone else. It'd be a good racial feat I think.
rampant wrote:
I never said it steps on anyone's toes, I said that unless you're a monk then it doens't help you much at all given the general uselessness of unarmed attacks. I admit that I forgot tavern brawler, but that doens't really change much.
EbonyRubberWolf wrote:
rampant wrote: