Aquatic subtype abilities

[brightgoat]

Where do I find the abilities granted by being part of the aquatic subtype? I've looked everywhere, and I can't seem to find it.

Am I going crazy??

 

[Dr. Zoom]

AFAIK, there are none.

 

[kreynolds]

Seafarer's Handbook. Pretty slick and really simple.

 

[hong]

There are none, just as there are none for the "goblinoid" subtype, or "elf" subtype, and so on. The subtype just means that an aquatic creature may be affected by various magic items or spells that are keyed to it.

 

[kreynolds]

I guess I should have mentioned that what's in the Seafarer's Handbook is a template, not a subtype. Ooops.

 

[brightgoat]

But But But...

So, what gives Saghuin or merfolk or sharks or whatever the ability to breathe water?

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Gills.

 

[RogueJK]

Exactly... gills.

What gives a Dragon the ability to fly? Wings. What gives an elf better hearing than a human? His special ears.

It's part of the race, not any template or special ability linked to the subtype. The creatures lived in the sea, so they evolved certain abilities to aid them in that setting, such as gills so they can breathe water.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: But But But...

So, what gives Saghuin or merfolk or sharks or whatever the ability to breathe water?

I guess you could call it "the creature's default racial template" or "just a whole bunch of racial abilities" that makes them what they are. You can do either one. Just take your pick.

 

[coyote6]

I just noticed that the triton entry doesn't actually say that tritons can breathe in water (or air, for that matter).

In hindsight, it would've been nice if they'd explicitly specified which monsters can breathe in water, in air and water, and which (if any, besides presumably undead and constructs) don't need to breathe at all.