Cultural Bias and the Spell of Preservation
by AshtagonGeneral Rules
Each cultural group has one or more bonuses, separated by a semi-colon (“;”) in the text. Each cultural group also has one or more feats which are considered alien to that culture.
A character can freely acquire any of the restricted feats for his culture. However, if he actually uses these restricted feats, then the SoP acts against him. The first time the character uses a feat, he must choose one of his cultural bonuses, which is lost. That bonus remains lost until he next gains a level. If he later uses a second, different restricted feat, he must choose another, different bonus to lose. This counter of restricted feats that have been used and bonuses that have been lost is reset each time the character gains a level.
A weapon proficiency feat is considered used if the character uses the weapon in combat; the same applies to an armour proficiency feat. The character cannot choose to act as if non-proficient in order to avoid losing his cultural bonuses.
A restricted skill may be taken up to half the number of ranks it would normally be allowed (level+3 /2 for class skills; half that for cross-class skills). If a character buys ranks beyond that point, he must sacrifice the use of one off the SoP bonuses until his character level rises to the point where his number of skill ranks no longer exceeds this limit.
Antalian
SoP bonuses: +2 on Climb checks; +1 on attack rolls with any one of: spears, axes, heavy blades, and bows (chosen at character creation).
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, light blades, maces, picks, blowguns, crossbows), armour proficiency (heavy).
SoP restricted skills: forgery, ride, use magical device
Azcan
SoP bonuses: +1 on attack rolls with spears and bows; Diehard or Endurance as a bonus feat (chosen at character creation).
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, heavy blades, hammers, axes, picks, crossbows), armour proficiency (medium, heavy).
SoP restricted skills: diplomacy, ride, sense motive
Beastman
SoP bonuses: +1 on attack and damage rolls with axes; +2 on saving throws against cold effects.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, heavy blades, picks, blowguns, crossbows, bows), armour proficiency (medium, heavy).
SoP restricted skills: disable device, open lock, ride,
Blacklore Elf
Special: The main effect of the SoP on the Blacklore elves is that most of their equipment will absolutely not function outside of their valley. The elves themselves do not gain any special bonuses or penalties.
Brutemen
SoP bonuses: Alertness or Improved Initiative as a bonus feat; Athletic or Iron Will as a bonus feat.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, light blades, heavy blades, picks, bows, crossbows), armour proficiency (medium, heavy, shields).
SoP restricted skills: decipher script, disguise, disable device, open lock, ride, sleight of hand
Gentle Folk
SoP bonuses: Great Fortitude as a bonus feat; Iron Will as a bonus feat; Self-Sufficient as a bonus feat; Skill Focus (any knowledge skill) as a bonus feat.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (any and all, except dagger and quarterstaff), armour proficiency (any and all).
SoP restricted skills: bluff, disguise, forgery, intimidate
Gentle folk receive four bonus feats. However, the near-total restriction on arms and armour ensures this will be easily broken, so it balances out.
Icevale Elf
SoP bonuses: +1 on attack rolls with bows and either spears or heavy blades (chosen at character creation).
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, hammers, picks, blowguns).
SoP restricted skills: forgery, ride, swim
Hutaakans
SoP bonuses: +2 on Knowledge (religion) checks; Stealthy as a bonus feat.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (heavy blades, spears, axes, picks, blowguns, bows).
SoP restricted skills: forgery, swim
Jennites
SoP bonuses: +1 on attack rolls with bows; Mounted Archery as a bonus feat.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, hammers, blowguns, slings, crossbows), armour proficiency (heavy, shield).
SoP restricted skills: climb, disguise, forgery, swim
Kogolor Dwarves
SoP bonuses: +1 on attack rolls with pole arms or heavy blades (chosen at character creation).
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, hammers, blowguns).
SoP restricted skills: disguise, forgery, ride, swim
Krugel Orcs
SoP bonuses: 60 ft infravision.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (axes, picks).
SoP restricted skills: disguise, forgery, swim
It is reasonable to suppose that infravision would be lost in an environment where it would rarely, if ever, be needed. It’s equally reasonable to suppose that the SoP keeps that infravision going. Krugel orc infravision in this “reality” is an artefact of the SoP, and is lost if the character goes against his culture.
Kubitts
Not doing this. Too silly even for me.
Malpheggi Lizardmen
SoP bonuses: +2 bonus on Survival checks; +2 bonus on swim checks.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, maces, picks, blowguns, slings, bows), armour proficiency (light, medium, heavy).
SoP restricted skills: disguise, forgery, ride
Merry Pirates
SoP bonuses: +1 on attack rolls with light blades.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (picks, blowguns).
SoP restricted skills: handle animal, ride
Milenians
SoP bonuses: +1 on attack and damage rolls with spears.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, heavy blades, hammers, picks, blowguns), armour proficiency (medium, heavy).
SoP restricted skills: none
Nithians
SoP bonuses: +2 on saving throws against fire effects.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (hammers, picks, blowguns, crossbows).
SoP restricted skills: swim
Oltecs
SoP bonuses: +2 on Climb checks; Stealthy as a bonus feat.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, heavy blades, picks, crossbows), armour proficiency (medium, heavy).
SoP restricted skills: disguise, forgery, ride, swim
Schattenalfen
SoP bonuses: +2 on Survival checks made underground.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, hammers, blowguns).
SoP restricted skills: swim
Tanagoro
SoP bonuses: Endurance as a bonus feat; Run or Diehard as a bonus feat; Great Fortitude as a bonus feat.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, heavy blades, hammers, axes, picks, blowguns, crossbows), armour proficiency (light, medium, heavy).
SoP restricted skills: climb, ride, swim
Traldar
SoP bonuses: Great Fortitude or Iron Will as a bonus feat.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, heavy blades, picks, blowguns, crossbows).
SoP restricted skills: none
Neathar
SoP bonuses: +1 on attack rolls with one of spears, clubs, or axes; Self-Sufficient as a bonus feat; Dodge as a bonus feat.
SoP restricted feats: weapon proficiency (flails, heavy blades, picks, crossbows), armour proficiency (light, medium, heavy.
SoP restricted skills: appraise, decipher script, disable device, forgery, open lock