Updated the races again.
DarkSun Races
Just check the "In Review" ones for now. I promise to get the real Gith up there soonly since the current one there is way old.
Enjoy.
Level adjustment of +1?? They rather on par with PHB dwarves. Seems a bit much. I'd say boost em with a diseased bite (otherwise, their bite attack is about useless, unless they can use their bite attack in place of their fists as a mystik), or drop the level adjustment. Second, what happened to the differentiation between civilized and savage tari? I think that's what gave them the 'color' that would attract players to them, even if they receive a Str penalty (see sig, and join up dangnabbit! Or so help me I'll have Ben on the phone and crawlin up your sewer pipes to nip you next time your on the jon!).
Villichi
They seem okay, but I'm not sure if they are overpowered as psions for the +2 level adjustment. They're still cool though and I'd hate to see them get a +3 LA.
Tarek
Seem to be fine. I think the tarek may very well replace the mul as the warrior's first pick amongst the races. Which would be just fine by me.
Nikaal
I'd change the acid save from fortitude to reflex. Since its acid, if it hits you, you take damage. The objective would be to not get hit, hence a reflex save (if it were poison, I'd say to work it that way). Also, basing the DC on the Nikaal's con modifier makes it sound as if Nikaal acid varies from one to the next in potency. Accuracy is what would make more of a difference, so the DC should be adjusted by the Nikaal's dex modifier instead. This way, you'd have a realistic accuracy vs dodge effect during combat. Other than that, they look good.
Dray
They seem okay.
Gith and Kenku
Hurry up and get them posted! For the Kenku, if you have access to the Oriental Adventures 3e book, there's some interesting idea builders about Kenku (not to mention the Nezumi ratmen with some great pics, like the Nezumi Sorcerer). well, the Kenku are in the Creatures of Rokugan book, the Nezumi are in both core and creatures book (with interesting prestige classes in the creatures book). Not to plug the setting too much, but there's also tons of great ideas for new undead (I mean tons) and great depth on the Naga that would fit perfectly into Dark Sun (I'm using naga heavily in my own new region of Athas, thanks mostly in part to depth from the OA 3e books).
Originally posted by Mach2.5
Level adjustment of +1?? They rather on par with PHB dwarves. Seems a bit much. I'd say boost em with a diseased bite (otherwise, their bite attack is about useless, unless they can use their bite attack in place of their fists as a mystik), or drop the level adjustment.
Already had a diseased bite at one time, it's getting dropped unfortunately (so far anyways, still waiting for more feedback), it was causing too many problems with the LA, wanted it at +1 or +0, not +2. Which the site is in error, they should be at LA +0, I need to adjust that, oops.
Second, what happened to the differentiation between civilized and savage tari? I think that's what gave them the 'color' that would attract players to them, even if they receive a Str penalty
Same reason why you don't see civilized HE or savage HE, or any other race for that matter, man that would get ugly quick.
(see sig, and join up dangnabbit! Or so help me I'll have Ben on the phone and crawlin up your sewer pipes to nip you next time your on the jon!).
I'll join up on an unofficial level, can't do it on an offical level. The rage thing was a good idea, but I have yet to see any race that gets a class ability, correct me if I'm wrong.
I like how they have turned out though. Gives peeps another LA +0 race to use. You have to at least like that.
Villichi
They seem okay, but I'm not sure if they are overpowered as psions for the +2 level adjustment. They're still cool though and I'd hate to see them get a +3 LA.
Yeah, hoping they don't need to go to LA +3, if so I will take things away to prevent that.
Tarek
Seem to be fine. I think the tarek may very well replace the mul as the warrior's first pick amongst the races. Which would be just fine by me.
Kind of what I was shooting for, or at least give another option, wasn't expecting it to float as a LA +1 though.
Nikaal
I'd change the acid save from fortitude to reflex. Since its acid, if it hits you, you take damage. The objective would be to not get hit, hence a reflex save (if it were poison, I'd say to work it that way). Also, basing the DC on the Nikaal's con modifier makes it sound as if Nikaal acid varies from one to the next in potency. Accuracy is what would make more of a difference, so the DC should be adjusted by the Nikaal's dex modifier instead. This way, you'd have a realistic accuracy vs dodge effect during combat. Other than that, they look good.
Good call, I'll look into this.
Dray
They seem okay.
Just ok?!
Gith and Kenku
Need to poke Brax again for Kenku.
For the Kenku, if you have access to the Oriental Adventures 3e book, there's some interesting idea builders about Kenku
Heh, not sure how they are written up there, but Brax's version were evil, feathery bastards, mwuahahahaha.
(not to mention the Nezumi ratmen with some great pics, like the Nezumi Sorcerer). well, the Kenku are in the Creatures of Rokugan book, the Nezumi are in both core and creatures book (with interesting prestige classes in the creatures book).
So I hear, I need to check those books out, but I would rather just stick to original DS material. I don't like taking ideas from other worlds unless I really have to.
Not to plug the setting too much, but there's also tons of great ideas for new undead (I mean tons) and great depth on the Naga that would fit perfectly into Dark Sun (I'm using naga heavily in my own new region of Athas, thanks mostly in part to depth from the OA 3e books).
Mmmm, undead and nagas oh my!
Got a great idea for Yuan-ti still brewing for DS, wouldn't mind adding the Naga into that mix somehow, mwuahahaha.
Yuant-ti and Naga, Yuan-ti and Naga, you can't have one without the . . . other!
I'd love to hear your yuan-ti ideas. The region my unfortunately now defect group was developing concerned a large nation held in the scaly coils of the yuan-ti where citizenship and slavery meant the same thing (picture the city of Eldaarich high on religious crank). Reptialian races are the norm, with several Naga breeds being viable PC races (along with Nikaal, Ssurran, and a few others). Outside the yuan-ti grip things things went from bad to worse with a coalation of illithid, a war-torn region of twisted wemic tribes, a large semi-nation of gith (almost civilized gith! who'd have thunk it) and a degenerate group of Rhulisti halflings. And all these groups are vying for control of another ancient artifact left over from the Blue Age: a Pristine Tower.
I also have Gith posted.
Races
Templates
The "In Review" stuff is what is working to become official, the rest is just there as other ideas.
Special Qualities: Black Traits: A gray touched is immune to all cold attacks, etc, etcChange grey to black ;)
Templates
I'll try to review, but the thing is I'm not that knowledgeable about any of these races, aside from what I vaguely remember on each of them. I'll try to be constructive mechanics-wise anyways...
Dray
hmm... It seems I don't have my City by the Silt sea complement here... I'll get back on that race later then... They look good, I think.
You might want to state wether it is the bite or the claws which are the primary natural attack.
Gith
I like the adjustments. It's how I see the race.
I like the low-light vision.
It seems there is a general consensus that Giths are reptilian. This is probably based on the remark that giths "look like a cross between an elf and a reptile". However, I never thought of them as reptilian. In fact, I think there is an intention in the DS material to relate the savage gith of athas with the Planar Githyankis and Githzerai races. As such, they wouldn't be reptilian, no?
I see the claw attack mentionned in the original Boxed Set. I'm not all that sure they are warranted here. I'm not really saying they don't belong either... The thing is Savage Species usually associates natural attacks with level adjustment. But I agree these wouldn't be really powerful anyways.
Favored class rogue... really? Brute? (I know you changed the barbarian type class, but wouldn't it fit here?) or Ranger?
I plan to make a "leap attack" feat as a regional feat for kreen and gith. I think Unnapproachable East has something on that...
Nikaal
So I'm like: "What's a Nikaal???" So I grab Terrors of the Desert. Nope not there. Terrors beyond Tyr. Ah yes:
"EEEEEEEEEEEW! UGLY!!!" ;)
Weird race... lets see.
The ability adjustements could do, and from the picture, I do like the strength penalty, and from the description, the wisdom bonus. I'd go for a charisma bonus instead of intelligence though, since their intelligence is described as being average, and they are said to be pacifists and traders. Also, you would see that their natural psionics (in 2e) is entirely telepathic.
Its an interesting idea to have them get Any as bonus languages. As long as the character justifies this... nice.
I'm not sure the natural armor is warranted. Maybe +1. Like you say, the scales are fine.
The acid spit ability should have a recharge time of 1d4+1 rounds. Its almost standard in D&D 3e, and its even stated in the 2e version of the race that they have a recharge time of about 3 rounds. Other that that, it looks fine, with the ranged touch attack and damage.
Armor restriction. Perhaps this is not necessary. The "hydrated" ability could simply be negated when wearing armor.
I think the Tsaekali should remain exotic. It says that only a minority of the Nikaal use that weapon, and that it is an honor and something which is meant to be deserved. It fits nicely as exotic.
Wanderers. Hmm... Search seems nice. Appraise... not so sure...
Tireless: Sounds good.
Favored class: I'm not sure cleric is entirely accurate, since it says that their shamans never get really high in levels (rarely 5, never beyond 8). However, I have no idea of what clas to give them instead (MAYBE ranger). So cleric looks like the best choice.
Level adjustment: If you drop the +2 natural armor, the LA could be dropped to +1. +2 usually requires a good ability (such as a resistance or a moderately powerful spell-like ability). Spitting acid is good, but with a recharge time, and the necessary range touch, its not that powerful.
Tarek
The physical adjustments look fine, but why -4 to wisdom? Wisdom is rarely penalised in 3e (with the ogre and all animals with a wisdom score of 10). While I think a -2 adjustment could be waranted, -2 seems harsh, especially since the have eart shamans, even though these never get really powerful (-2 could represent that)
no opinion on darkvision.
Weapon familiarity is exactly right.
Ferocity ability is exactly right.
"Intimidator", forgive for saying so, sounds cliché! :p(Terminator!!! ;)) I don't think that's really waranted. Especially if Half-Giants don't have a similar bonus. Note that there is a feat (from EverQuestRPG) which allows to replace strenght and size modifiers to charisma.
Musky Odor: I don't think that could have such a detrimental effect on those skills. Maybe on Disguise, or maybe hide, sometimes. I think this could simply be expressed by having the Tarek affect persons near him as though they had the Scent feat. They would know something smells weird, and a check could be made to track or identify what it is. It could doule the range of the scent ability of creatures with the scent feat.
Favored class: Obviously...
Other: Tareks could automatically gain the benefits of your Teamwork feat when fighting alongside other Tareks.
Also, it might be nice to give them some advantage in earth magic. Something like the "Arcane Prodigy" feat, with Earth. Or spell focus. Or a favored earth cleric class feat. See Forgotten Realms for ideas.
Tari
hihihi :D
Tari are more powerful than other races and therefore have a Level Adjustment of +0.
"I think, therefore I am NOT!!!" :p
Just kidding...
I'll add that the Nezumi of Rokugan could help a lot here.
Size: From the video game, I thought Tari would be medium-size, but the description in the DS material borders on both. Could be small. But would they really be smaller than dwarves? I'm not sure... they say 5ft and 100 lbs... but base speed 9... hmm...
Abilities: -2 strenght obviously if they are small, but even at medium size. The rest could do. Why the wisdom bonus? I think I'd go for something like -2 str, +2 dex, +2 con, -2 cha. I'd reduce the dex bonus, especially since it says that Tari are clumsy theives (or careless, which also would contradict a wisdom bonus)
Bite is ok.
Good reflex: interesting idea.
Darkvision: I agree.
Poison and disease: Good.
"elven senses": Interesting idea. As they always are scavenging and stealing stuff... nice.
Favored class: Obviously.
Other: Diseased bite. I'd keep that. Something like or exactly filth fever. And I don't think it's unbalancing. The reasons are that in addition to being a relatively weak disease, and forcing the Tari to bite instead of fighting normally (causing minimal damage) the disease has an incubation period which prevents it from being of any use in combat unless the tari returns to fight a diseased target once it got sick, and before it cured.
Villichi
hmm... I'll comment that one later... Not sure... But one thing: Would it not be a template for human characters?
Villichi
hmm... I'll comment that one later... Not sure... But one thing: Would it not be a template for human characters?
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!
Where the hell where you people when I originally posted the idea for Villichi to be a template and got slaughtered by the outcry to make it a race instead? Hm? HMM? :D
Thanks for the rest, I'll double check gith, thought I got all the reptilian comments out.
These are pretty much almost in stone, so doubt I will change much more from what you see. Changes will come later after playtesting.
Originally posted by NytCrawlr
Where the hell where you people when I originally posted the idea for Villichi to be a template and got slaughtered by the outcry to make it a race instead? Hm? HMM? :D
Umm.... not around? I like the idea for a template instead of a race (makes perfect sense), but a race works as well...
Originally posted by xlorepdarkhelm
Umm.... not around?
Yeah, don't think you were around 1.5 years ago, if you were I don't remember.
I was here about 1.4 years ago to almost 1 year ago. :p (It's true!)
Originally posted by NytCrawlr
Yeah, don't think you were around 1.5 years ago, if you were I don't remember.
I wasn't around on the DS boards 1.5 years ago... I think I was annoying people in other forums somewhere else though.
And you know that I want Fighter as favored class for Gith.
I'm not changing it now though, so keep wanting. mwuahahahahaha
Not throwing away 1+ years of work...