-- Uhm. Can we tone their Dex down? As well as their Int and Wis? I have a hard time swallowing this race as balanced with Str +2, Dex +6, Int +2, Wis +2. Oh, but their balanced by ONLY having normal Cha ... right. It also doesn't emulate the Gazetteer stat modifications. Suggest maybe -2 Str, +4 Dex, -2 Wis. Or +4 Dex, -2 Wis. If you want their statblock to be better, then give the Rakasta in the statblock a Nonelite Array first. This is common in MM for PC races presented as "monsters."Stats, how about : Abilities: Str 13, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10
Also, I don't see why they should get Finesse for free. Actual cats themselves don't get a bonus Feat.
Giving them the same bonuses as a housecat looks a bit silly. Those bonuses may be applicable to a Tiny, quadrupedal version of the race though. Suggest going with the more limited bonuses given to larger cats, like the Tiger. I have no problem letting them get a "catlike" bonus for Jump and Climb as per the smaller beasties. So maybe:
Skills: Rakasta have a +4 racial bonus on Balance, Hide, and Move Silently checks, and can use their Dex for Climb and Jump.
-- Uhm. Can we tone their Dex down? As well as their Int and Wis? I have a hard time swallowing this race as balanced with Str +2, Dex +6, Int +2, Wis +2. Oh, but their balanced by ONLY having normal Cha ... right. It also doesn't emulate the Gazetteer stat modifications. Suggest maybe -2 Str, +4 Dex, -2 Wis. Or +4 Dex, -2 Wis. If you want their statblock to be better, then give the Rakasta in the statblock a Nonelite Array first. This is common in MM for PC races presented as "monsters."
-- It's unnecessary to give it to them though. Actual wild animals would certainly get more use of their natural weapons. And as you say, they are not going to be using their claws unless they are somehow disarmed of their more effective constructed weapons.Zaster said:But the Rakasta are specialists with one particular, non-natural weapon (the kasa). I think the bonus feat makes sense because it reflects that trained weapon specialization.
-- Except at this point the CC Rakasta bears little to no resemblence to the original source material. They happen to be cat-looking humanoids with high Dex and low Wis in the source material. Heck going by the original material they have a much greater claim to getting Pounce then weapon finesse.I agree the Dex should be toned down to 15. But I like Boz's current stats for Strength and Wisdom. Cats are pretty strong and muscular for thier size (which you can really see in a human-size cat like a cougar, for example). And the 12 Wisdom is pretty standard for predatory animals (to reflect thier superior senses).
It's unnecessary to give it to them though. Actual wild animals would certainly get more use of their natural weapons. And as you say, they are not going to be using their claws unless they are somehow disarmed of their more effective constructed weapons.
Except at this point the CC Rakasta bears little to no resemblence to the original source material. They happen to be cat-looking humanoids with high Dex and low Wis in the source material. Heck going by the original material they have a much greater claim to getting Pounce then weapon finesse.
I'm not going to argue fantasy biomechanics, but it's probably unwise to give PCs all the good parts of a wild animal they resemble and zero of the drawbacks. Especially when it really should be a race directed towards being PCs from the start (preferablly with a sane LA).
-- The original Rakasta are a bit uhm .. lame in parts (their vulnerability to catnip for example. Yes. Catnip.) I have a no problem beefing them up either. But the suggested abilitity scores are too high IMO. They should be on the same powerlevel as elves and other races (LA+1 at most).Zaster said:Conversions that go beyond the strictest possible interpretation are pretty common in the Creature Catalogue, though
OK, before we get too worked up into a frenzy… nothing is decided yet.![]()
Looking back over all of your posts, it does seem to me that I have overpowered them a bit on stats. How about if we do as Krish says and give them more like: Str 13, Dex 15, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 8. sound good?.... How about if we lower the bonuses to +4 Hide, Move Silently & Balance, and keep the Dex mod for Climb & Jump? (as Tzeentch suggested).