An idea for non standard race

[skulrik]

For some time, I've been juggling with an idea about creating 1st level adventurer of a non standard race. Maybe it's have been discuss in a another thread. If so, can you lead me to them please?

Here my idea:

We can introce the concept of "Racial class". With a racial class, one can start, and only start is character as, for example, a Minotaur Level 1. With no other class. After that, he can gain level in anyone class he want, and can freely add level in his minotaur class, without XP penalty.
Gaining level in the Racial class represent the growing of the character.

This is an exemple, for the minotaur:

The Minotaur

Abilities: Determine it with the method of your choice, and adjust Intelligence and Charisma as per the table 2.5 and 2.6 of the Core Rulebook II. The Minotaur have a base intelligence of 7, and a base charisma of 8.

Aligment: Usually Chaotic Evil

Hit Die: d8 (not gaining at every level, see the table below).

Class Skill: the Minotaur class skill (and the key ability for each skill) are: Intimidate(Cha), Jump(Str), Listen(Wis), Search(Int), Spot(Wis).

Skill Point at first level: (2 + Int modifier) x 4
Skill Points at each additionnal level: 2 + Int modifier

Race Features
All the following are race feature of the minotaur:

- +4 Racial Bonus to Search. Spot and Listen check.
- Illiterate
- Darkvision 60 feets.
- Bonus language: Giant
- Favored Class: Fighter

Racial Class Feature
Notes: the number of level are base on the ECL in the Dragin Mag #293

[COLOR=silver]
       Base 
Class  Attack  Fort   Ref    Will
Level  Bonus   Saves  Saves  Saves  Special
-----  ------  -----  -----  -----  -------  
1st    +1      +0     +2     +2     Hit Dice, Natural Armor +1, Strength Increase, Charge 1d6
2nd    +1      +0     +2     +2     Hit Dice, Natural cunning, Power Attack
3rd    +2      +1     +2     +2     Natural Armor +2, Strength increase, Charge 2d6
4th    +2      +1     +3     +3     Hit Dice, Constitution increase
5th    +3      +2     +3     +3     Natural Armor +3, Natural Cunning, Great Fortitude
6th    +3      +2     +4     +4     Hit Dice, Strength increase, Charge 3d6
7th    +4      +3     +4     +4     Natural Armor +4, Constitution increase
8th    +4      +3     +4     +4     Hit Dice, Matural Cunning
9th    +5/+0   +4     +5     +5     Natural Armor +5, Strength Increase, Charge 4d6
10th   +5/+0   +4     +5     +5     Hit Dice, Natural Cunning, Large Creature
[/COLOR]

All the following are racial class feature of the minotaur

Weapon and Armor proficiency: the minotaur is proficient in the use of all simple and martial weapon. They are not proficient with any type of armor, nor with shield.

Hit Dice: The minotaur get his Hit Dice at level 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.

Natural CA: when he grow, the skin of the minotaur become more harder, granting him natural armor.

Charge (Ex): A minotaur typically begins a battle by charging at an opponent, lowering its head to bring its mighty horns into play. In addition to the normal benefits and hazards of a charge, this allows the beast to make a single gore attack that deals damage equal to the dice indicated, plus Strength modifier.

Natural Cunning (Ex): Although minotaurs are not especially intelligent, they possess innate cunning and logical ability. At level 2, they will never becoming lost. At level 5, they are ables them to track enemies (gaining the track feat for free). At level 8, they are never caught flat-footed. At level 10, they became immune to maze spells.

Great Fortitude: same as Great Fortitude Feat

Power Attack: same as Power Attack Feat

Strength increase: The minotaur gain a +2 in force at level 1, 3, 6 and 9.

Constitution increase: The minotaur gain a +2 in constitution at level 4 and 7.

Large Creature: at level 10 of minotaur, he have reach his full maturity, and became a large creature. See the Core Rulebook III, p.5.



What do you think about that ?
Can you help me to improve the concept ?

Thanks for taking the time to read me.

 

[FireLance]

Oddly enough, I was just thinking of something similar today, but I was toying with a new race - the Morph. The idea is that they start out with no ability score adjustments, and their only racial ability is to gradually take on the characteristics of other races and templates.

It would be up to the DM and the player to work out the exact rate at which abilities are gained, but an ECL+X race or template should be broken down into a "class" of X levels.

Some common sense would be required, of course. I might allow stacking of templates and races within reason. It could be interesting to see what happens when a morph who starts out with levels in Frost Giant decides to take levels in Pixie.

The in-game explanation for morphs is that they are the descendants of a race of true shapechangers, but the shapechanging abilities have degenerated over the years so that morphs are now only able to change into other races and gain templates very slowly, and are unable to change back.

 

[Darkness]

Moved to House Rules.

 

[skulrik]

Darkness: sorry for starting the thread in the wrong place.... I will know for the futur.

FireLance: I like your idea of extending the concept to template. And I like even more your idea of the Morph race !! How do you plan to manage the abilities increase and decrease of the different race he will take ? If we gave him increase, I think we should also give him decrease. But it's seem strange to loss intelligence, for example.

And, can a Morph use all this different race abilities in the same time, or he must shapechange in a race for use the abilities of this race ?

Hey, it's very interesting !!


What do you think, of a book containing all the SRD race (and maybe more), broken into level ?

 

[Steven McRownt]

Just a question: why a +8 starting level should be a 10th level class? In theory, it should be 8... the problem in using templates, is that for ECL will slow down a character 'till 20th level...

Steven McRownt

 

[skulrik]

 

Originnaly posted by Steven McRownt
why a +8 starting level should be a 10th level class? In theory, it should be 8.

In Dragon Magazine #293, the ECL of the Minotaur is 10. It came after the Dungeons Master Guide, so I presume it's superceed it.

the problem in using templates, is that for ECL will slow down a character 'till 20th level...

I dont see why ? Can you explain ?

Thanks.

 

[twjensen]

the ol' ECL argument

It's been debated to death. The conclusion I came to was that the dragon ECLs are based on experienced players using all of the rules to their best advantage. So a Minotaur sorcerer who has moral qualms about grappling isn't really ECL 10. But a Minotaur fighter who uses reach weapons, fights tactically, grapples at any convenient opportunity, and who uses charges, bull-rushes and overruns to good effect can easily keep pace with other charaters of the same level.

To sum up: Playing an ECL'd creature is HARD and should be left to experienced 3e players, preferably those with experience with other tactical combat games to help out.

 

[LightPhoenix]

The problem I can think of off the top of my head is explaining how you can have a Minotaur 1/Fighter 19. Presumably the Minotaur has gotten older during his nineteen level stint, but based on the level system he's still a child.

Otherwise, I don't think this is a bad way to deal with a world where many races exist as possible PC races, without having to start a campaign at 10th level.

 

[skulrik]

Thanks twjensen, for your points about the ECL. I see that it can be a big job, to find the good number of "racial level" for a race.

LightPhoenix, you are totally right. A Minotaur 1/Fighter 19 make no sense..... may be we can say:

The number of racial level a character have must be greater or equal to the sum of his other level. Except when he have reach full maturity (no more level to take in his racial class).

Wat did you thing of that ?

 

[LightPhoenix]

LightPhoenix, you are totally right. A Minotaur 1/Fighter 19 make no sense..... may be we can say:

The number of racial level a character have must be greater or equal to the sum of his other level. Except when he have reach full maturity (no more level to take in his racial class).

Wat did you thing of that ?

I was thinking something along the same lines, actually. It's a simple answer, if not the most accurate.