3.5 Brute-man Revisited - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

3.5 Brute-man Revisited

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
gazza555
Mar 24, 2005 3:39:59 Hi Guys,

Finally bought Frostburn, (thanks Andrew ;) )

Here's my new take on the Brute-men, I've taken some ideas from Frostburn and others from suggestions on this list.

Brute-man
+2 Con, -2 Int
Size: Medium
Base Speed: 30 feet
Favoured Class: Barbarian
Primeval Instincts: +2 racial bonus on Listen & Spot skill checks. +2 bonus on Initiative.
Natural Awareness: Brutemen gain a +2 racial bonus on Search checks to notice naturally disguised traps, pits, etc. A bruteman who merely comes within 10 feet of a naturally diguised trap can make a Search check as if he were actively searching, and a brureman can use Search to find naturally disguised traps as a rogue can.
Illiteracy: A bruteman MUST spend 2 skill points to learn to read and write, and doesn't get to read and write automatically when taking a level in a class that would normally grant this. Learning to read and write breaks the bruteman's cultural bias.
Cultural Weapon Mastery: A brutemen gets +1 to attack rolls with the following cultural weapons: Hand Axe, Dagger, Club, Great Club, Light Hammer, Quarterstaff, Short Spear, Spear, Javelin, Short bow and Sling
Cultural Armour: Padded, Leather, Hide, no shields

I'm also thinking of taking an idea from Conan d20 - that of prohibited classes. Should a Hollow World race take a level in a prohibited class for that race he loses his cultural advantages.

What do you think of the new bruteman and prohibited classes?

Gary
#2
habronicus
Mar 24, 2005 7:34:37 Can't say if it's good or not without playtesting it but I will say this: change the INT penalty for a CHA penalty.

Here's my reasoning. INT penalty hits on the character Skill Points, and I don't see the Brute-Men as less skillful. If you do that, you can also remove his bonus on Search because that was only canceling his INT penalty anyway.

Finally, a note on Illiteracy. AFAIK, it's a Class feature, not a racial one. What would you do with a Brute-Man Barbarian? Force him to take 4SP to become literate, or does his racial illiteracy is redundant with the Barbarian? What about a Brute-Man Wizard... how can he become litterate before he even takes the class?

So... yeah, it needs a little tweaking, but it's looking good otherwise. Just my opinion, of course ;)
#3
gazza555
Mar 24, 2005 7:46:36
Can't say if it's good or not without playtesting it but I will say this: change the INT penalty for a CHA penalty.

Reason for Int is mainly that was what it was in the Hollow World camapign setting.

Finally, a note on Illiteracy. AFAIK, it's a Class feature, not a racial one.

This was taken from the Neaderthal race in Frostburn. I quite like it as it balances out other benefits.

On the the subject of wizards (and sorcerers), if I go along the lines of D20 Conan and have prohibited classes then these will be two of them for the bruteman.

Any class can buy off Illiteracy for 2SP but would lose his cultural advantages by 'breaking free' of his cultural heritage.

Gary
#4
loren_soth_02
Mar 24, 2005 22:42:21 I must say, I like it. I've been wondering for awhile now how to properly translate the cultural distinctiveness of Hollow World to d20 rules (hell, to be honest I never played AD&D Mystara, so I didn't even know how they were translated to D&D Rules). Your method seems so simple, yet exactly what was needed.

On question though, I like the racial benefits to Prefered Weapons, and I think the Prohibited Classes is an excellent idea, but what about the Prefered/Racial Armor? Is this the only armor they will be allowed to be proficient with? Or is this merely the only types of armors will allowed to be proficient with at first level (depending on the limitations of their class)?
#5
gazza555
Mar 29, 2005 2:30:34
On question though, I like the racial benefits to Prefered Weapons, and I think the Prohibited Classes is an excellent idea, but what about the Prefered/Racial Armor? Is this the only armor they will be allowed to be proficient with? Or is this merely the only types of armors will allowed to be proficient with at first level (depending on the limitations of their class)?

It's the only armour they are proficent in without breaking their cultural limitations. However, if they choose to go against their cultural heritage then they will be proficent in any armour that their class would normally allow. They do, of course, then lose their cultural compensations.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 gazza555 Mar 24, 2005 3:39:59	Hi Guys, Finally bought Frostburn, (thanks Andrew ;) ) Here's my new take on the Brute-men, I've taken some ideas from Frostburn and others from suggestions on this list. Brute-man +2 Con, -2 Int Size: Medium Base Speed: 30 feet Favoured Class: Barbarian Primeval Instincts: +2 racial bonus on Listen & Spot skill checks. +2 bonus on Initiative. Natural Awareness: Brutemen gain a +2 racial bonus on Search checks to notice naturally disguised traps, pits, etc. A bruteman who merely comes within 10 feet of a naturally diguised trap can make a Search check as if he were actively searching, and a brureman can use Search to find naturally disguised traps as a rogue can. Illiteracy: A bruteman MUST spend 2 skill points to learn to read and write, and doesn't get to read and write automatically when taking a level in a class that would normally grant this. Learning to read and write breaks the bruteman's cultural bias. Cultural Weapon Mastery: A brutemen gets +1 to attack rolls with the following cultural weapons: Hand Axe, Dagger, Club, Great Club, Light Hammer, Quarterstaff, Short Spear, Spear, Javelin, Short bow and Sling Cultural Armour: Padded, Leather, Hide, no shields I'm also thinking of taking an idea from Conan d20 - that of prohibited classes. Should a Hollow World race take a level in a prohibited class for that race he loses his cultural advantages. What do you think of the new bruteman and prohibited classes? Gary
#2 habronicus Mar 24, 2005 7:34:37	Can't say if it's good or not without playtesting it but I will say this: change the INT penalty for a CHA penalty. Here's my reasoning. INT penalty hits on the character Skill Points, and I don't see the Brute-Men as less skillful. If you do that, you can also remove his bonus on Search because that was only canceling his INT penalty anyway. Finally, a note on Illiteracy. AFAIK, it's a Class feature, not a racial one. What would you do with a Brute-Man Barbarian? Force him to take 4SP to become literate, or does his racial illiteracy is redundant with the Barbarian? What about a Brute-Man Wizard... how can he become litterate before he even takes the class? So... yeah, it needs a little tweaking, but it's looking good otherwise. Just my opinion, of course ;)
#3 gazza555 Mar 24, 2005 7:46:36	Can't say if it's good or not without playtesting it but I will say this: change the INT penalty for a CHA penalty. Reason for Int is mainly that was what it was in the Hollow World camapign setting. Finally, a note on Illiteracy. AFAIK, it's a Class feature, not a racial one. This was taken from the Neaderthal race in Frostburn. I quite like it as it balances out other benefits. On the the subject of wizards (and sorcerers), if I go along the lines of D20 Conan and have prohibited classes then these will be two of them for the bruteman. Any class can buy off Illiteracy for 2SP but would lose his cultural advantages by 'breaking free' of his cultural heritage. Gary
#4 loren_soth_02 Mar 24, 2005 22:42:21	I must say, I like it. I've been wondering for awhile now how to properly translate the cultural distinctiveness of Hollow World to d20 rules (hell, to be honest I never played AD&D Mystara, so I didn't even know how they were translated to D&D Rules). Your method seems so simple, yet exactly what was needed. On question though, I like the racial benefits to Prefered Weapons, and I think the Prohibited Classes is an excellent idea, but what about the Prefered/Racial Armor? Is this the only armor they will be allowed to be proficient with? Or is this merely the only types of armors will allowed to be proficient with at first level (depending on the limitations of their class)?
#5 gazza555 Mar 29, 2005 2:30:34	On question though, I like the racial benefits to Prefered Weapons, and I think the Prohibited Classes is an excellent idea, but what about the Prefered/Racial Armor? Is this the only armor they will be allowed to be proficient with? Or is this merely the only types of armors will allowed to be proficient with at first level (depending on the limitations of their class)? It's the only armour they are proficent in without breaking their cultural limitations. However, if they choose to go against their cultural heritage then they will be proficent in any armour that their class would normally allow. They do, of course, then lose their cultural compensations.