Cultural bias for Hollow World cultures
by HerzogOk, here's a repost of my list where I have taken into consideration that the cultural bias rule should be used as a game balancing rule only.
Overall:
Characters should examine the OD&D rules for cultural weapons and armour.
The cultures:
1. Antalians.
Because Antalians are fearful of non-clerical magic use, they may not select an arcane class as favoured class.
+2 to climb skill. climb skill always a class skill.
effects of cultural bias:
bonus to climb skill disappears. climb skill is no longer automatically treated as a class skill. may still not select arcane class as favoured class.
additional balancing rules:
Positive effect after abandoning culture is very limited.
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
2. Azcan
Toughness feat at level, 1, 3, 6 etc.. (imitates +1 hp/lvl from original rules)
effects of cultural bias:
no longer gains toughness feat. existing toughness feats remain in effect.
Positive effect after abandoning culture is medium.
feats for non-cultural weapons are gained at next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
feats for non-cultural armour have to be bought.
3. Beastmen
Favoured Class: Barbarian, -+2 Str, +2 Con, -2 Int, -2 Wis, -2 Dex, -2 pts Natural Armour,
Low-light vision 60 feet.
(copied from Gary Davies)
results of cultural bias:
Beastmen are balanced even without the weapons and armour restrictions.
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
4. Blacklore elves.
Blacklore elves start out as Commoners (see DM guide).
Commoners have no weapon or armour feats, and can use one (simple) weapon. In case of the Blacklore elves, this is the torch weapon.
Whenever they want, Blacklore elves may take up an adventuring career, immediately gaining all the weapon and armour feats that come with it.
(Note: they do NOT have to gain a level first! The current level immediately becomes the selected class level. Current Character level and experience points remain the same. )
5. Brute-Men
Favoured Class: Barbarian
-2 Int, +2 Con
+2 Racial bonus on Listen, Search and Spot checks. A Brute-man who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it, but ONLY when that door is concealed as a natural object. (slightly modified from elf racial traits)
Improved Initiative.
Uncanny dodge. (even when not taking barbarian class)
Illiteracy.(even when not taking barbarian class)
results of cultural bias:
Brute-men are balanced even without the weapons and armour restrictions.
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken. However, brute-men have to spend a feat to lose illiteracy.
6. Gentle Folk
Gentle Folk start out as Commoners (see DM guide).
Commoners have no weapon or armour feats, and can use one (simple) weapon. In case of the Gentle Folk, this is the knife.
The Gentle Folk are true pacifists.
Therefore, different from the original rules, they suffer from the cultural bias in the following way:
When the temptation of abandoning the pacifistic lifestyle becomes to great, Gentle Folk may take up an adventuring career.
However, they do not automatically gain all weapon and armour feats that come with the chosen class. Instead, they may select a specific armour and weapon from the feats list that comes with the class each level they gain. They do not have to spend additional feats.
7. Elves of Icevale
Favoured Class: Female - ranger, Male - fighter
(copied from Gary Davies)
results of cultural bias:
Icevale elves do not get any special bonuses.
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
8. Hutaakans
-2 Str, +2 Wis
base speed 20
+1 natural armour
+2 on move silently and hide checks
Favoured Class: Cleric.
Hutaakans must spend 1/4 of their skill points on knowledge(religion)
They get a +2 on knowledge(religion) checks, and an additional +2 if the information is about Pflarr.
results of cultural bias:
no longer required to spend skill points. +2 on knowledge(religion) disappears. +2 on checks related to Pflarr remains.
feats for non-cultural weapons are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
feats for non-cultural armour are gained at one type per level gained. no additional feats have to be spend.
9. Jennites
Favoured Class: any but rogue.
+2 racial bonus to Ride,
Mounted Combat and Mounted Archery feats.
results of cultural bias:
Lose Mounted Combat and Mounted Archery feats.
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
10. Kogolor Dwarves
As dwarf, with the following changes:
+2 stonecunning becomes +2 brewing, +2 perform (yodelling)
Kogolor dwarves must spend 1/4 of their skill points on perform (yodelling) and climb. they get a +1 on their climb check.
results of cultural bias:
no longer required to spend skill points. bonus to climb check disappears.
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
11. Krugel Orcs
+4 Str, -2 Dex, -2 Int, -2 Wis
No longer suffer from Light Sensitivity
No longer have Darkvision
(copied from Gary Davies)
Krugel orcs must spend 1/4 of their skill points on riding. they get a +2 on riding checks.
results of cultural bias:
no longer required to spend skill points. bonus to riding check disappears.
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
12. Kubitts.
Favoured class: any.-+2 Dex, -4 Str.
Tiny (18")
Base speed 30
+2 on move silently and hide
results of cultural bias:
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
13. Malpheggi Lizard men
Amphibious,
Speed 20 feet, Swim 30 feet,
Natural Armour +4
(from Gary Davies)
Str +2, Dex -2
Malpheggi Lizard men must spend 1/4 of their skill points on Survival. They get a +2 on survival checks.
results of cultural bias:
no longer required to spend skill points. bonus to survival check disappears.
feats for non-cultural weapons are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
Feats for non-cultural armour have to be bought.
14. Merry pirates
Treat as original race having lost special abilities due to cultural bias.
(NB: if the cultural bias contains restrictions spanning several levels, it is assumed this has already happened)
Merry pirates must spend 1/4 of their skill points on Profession(Sailor). They get a +2 on Profession(Sailor) checks.
results of cultural bias:
no longer required to spend skill points. bonus to sailor check disappears.
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
15. Milenians
Weapon Focus and Weapons Specialisation (Spears)
results of cultural bias:
weapon focus and weapon specialisation (spears) are lost.
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
16. Nithians
Favoured Class: men: any
women: any but fighter or thief.
Nithian women may not become fighters or thieves without undergoing the cultural bias.
results of cultural bias:
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
17. Oltecs
Favoured Class: any but thieves.
+1 Dodge bonus.
+2 to move silently, climb and hide.
results of cultural bias:
Dodge bonus is lost.
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
18. Schattenalfen
As elf, with the following exceptions:
Darkvision instead of Low-Light vision
Light sensitivity
Stonecunning, appraise and craft bonuses (as dwarf) instead of search, spot and listen bonuses.
Schattenalfen must spend 1/4 of their skill points on Knowledge(Dungeoneering). They get a +2 on skill checks.
results of cultural bias:
no longer required to spend skill points. bonus on knowledge(dungeoneering) is lost.
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
19, Tanagoro
Base move 40.
Toughness feat at level 1,3,5,7,9 etc. (this may seem big, but remember they have no armour!)
results of cultural bias:
Base move reduced to 30
No additional Toughness feats. (existing remain in effect)
feats for non-cultural weapons are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
feats for non-cultural armour have to be bought.
20. Traldar
Nothing special
results of cultural bias:
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
21. Neathar
+2 dodge bonus to AC, Weapon Focus (primary tribal weapon or spear for clerics and rogues, staff for wizards.)
(from Gary Davies)
most Neathar tribes have required skills. (see the original rulebook to find out which skills). if the original rules require characters to take a skill, characters will be required to put one fourth of their skill points in that skill. If more then one skill is required, one fourth of their skill points must be divided over those skills. As a compensation, they will receive a +2 on that skill if it is a single skill, or a +1 per skill if more than one skill is required.
results of cultural bias:
Lose dodge bonus and weapon focus.
no longer have to spend skill points. bonuses to skills are lost.
feats for non-cultural weapons and armour are gained at the next level. Feats gained are for the class taken.
Ok, note that I have changed the buying feats rule to getting feats at next level for most of the cultures. This does still mean that HW characters will suffer non-proficient penalties until they reach a new level.
Second, feats gained are for the class taken. If you have gained 4 levels as a HW fighter, undergo the cultural bias, and select mage when reaching a level afterwards, you will not gain the heavy armour proficiency until you have taken at least another level in a class that grants that feat!