Cultural Substitution Levels

[the Jester]

I like the idea of substitution levels. I don't have the races of... books, but I understand they're chock full of racial substitution levels.

Well, I was inspired with the idea of cultural substitution levels. I like the idea of tying culture into the classes; maybe a Forinthian fighter might have some distinguishing techniques that a Peshan fighter wouldn't or something. (I also have cultural paragon classes, based on the racial paragons in UA.)

Now, I have PH2, UA and the Planar Handbook, all of which have substitution levels in them (I think- could be wrong about UA, it's on loan), but I am curious about the racial ones. Please tell me about them! (Can someone post an example or two maybe?) They ought to be the closest thing out there to what I have in mind.

 

[Nifft]

Kobolds & Dragonborn (RotD):
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20060106a&page=3

Listing & evaluation of published ones (includes Planar ones which you have):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=414760

Some of my own at the top of this thread:
http://enworld.org/showthread.php?t=161597

Cheers, -- N

 

[the Jester]

Kobolds & Dragonborn (RotD):
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20060106a&page=3

Listing & evaluation of published ones (includes Planar ones which you have):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=414760

Some of my own at the top of this thread:
http://enworld.org/showthread.php?t=161597

Cheers, -- N

Thanks!

I'll look them over... I appreciate the help!

 

[the Jester]

Hmmm...

Would you say that substitution levels are generally better than the level they replaced? I thought part of the point was to make it equal but give it a specific type of flavor. But the RotD sub levels that I glanced at seemed to generally be a bit of a powerup.

The Planar HB, which I have, does a pretty good job of making the sub levels balance with the class features that they are replacing... I dunno. You guys tell me.

 

[Nifft]

SOME racial sub levels are just plain better. Why? Because normally that race/class combo is just plain worse. Warforged Paladin, Elf Wizard, etc.

In some cases WotC wanted to make the race/class combo better, because the normal mechanics did not harmonize with the archtype they desired (e.g. Elf Wizard).

But generally, racial sub levels are like alternate class features -- about equal.

-- N

 

[Phlebas]

Alternative for cultural flavour

I spent a long time trying to work on cultural variations for my homebrew world, including multiple prestige classes and lots of restricted/unique abilities. Luckily this was before I saw paragons or racial substitutions or I would have got even more confused

In the end i came up with a simple tweak. Each area of the world has its own Regional skill. Any character from that region treats this as a class skill - non-human races can either choose the skill of their homeland, or the skill of where they're living now.

Most of the skills are not too exciting (diplomacy, sense motive, bluff, climb, swim) unless you pick a barbaric land (Listen, Climb, Survival)- but then you're effectively limited on class choice to Barbarian (with some exceptions)

it just means that people know which area produces liars (Bluff), Paranoids (Sense motive) or hardy warriors (Survival)

not quite a substitution level, but an alternative for cultural flavour

 

[Nifft]

So, Jester, are you gonna share or what?

-- N

 

[the Jester]

So, Jester, are you gonna share or what?

-- N

I've only done one so far, I've been very busy (gaming again today, actually- I gotta go take care of a bunch of crap first, too... better get on it! )

Anyhow, here's the one that I have done.

FORINTHIAN SUBSTITUTION LEVELS

Forinthian Cleric: To take Forinthian cleric levels, a character must be a priest of the Light. The character must be about to take his 1st, 8th or 16th level of cleric.

Hit Die: d8

Class Skills: A Forinthian cleric has the class skills (and skill points per level) of a normal cleric.

Class Features

1st level- The cleric is proficient in all martial weapons. This ability replaces one of the cleric’s two domains.

8th level- The cleric gets a permanent untyped +1 to all attack rolls and a bonus feat from the fighter list. This replaces the 3rd and 4th level spells that the cleric would normally gain at 8th level, but the character’s caster level increases normally and his progression continues normally. (The character will gain a 2nd and a 5th level spell upon attaining 9th level, for example.)

16th level- The cleric trades the normal 7th and 8th level spell slots acquired at 16th level for a permanent untyped +1 bonus on attack rolls and a bonus feat from the fighter list. This bonus stacks with the bonus gained at 8th level.

 

[the Jester]

Forinthian Paladin

To take Forinthian paladin levels, a character must be a paladin of the Light. The character must be about to take his 1st, 10th or 15th level of paladin.

Hit Die: d10.

Class Skills: A Forinthian paladin has the class skills and skill points per level of a standard paladin.

Class Features

1st level: The standard paladin’s ability to use detect evil at will is replaced by the ability to detect chaos at will. Likewise, his aura is an aura of law, and his smite ability affects chaotic creatures, not evil ones. Whenever his smite ability would increase, it applies to chaotic (not evil) creatures.

10th level: A Forinthian paladin becomes immune to dazing, stunning and confusion. This ability replaces one of his daily smites (so a Forinthian paladin cannot smite chaos 3/day until 15th level).

15th level: In place of one of his weekly uses of remove disease, a Forinthian paladin gains immunity to Chaos touch effects, such as the touch of an obelisk of Na’Rat. The Forinthian paladin thereafter can always remove disease one less time per week than a standard paladin.

 

[the Jester]

Forinthian Sorcerer

Forinthian sorcerers are generally frowned upon by the people of Forinthia. Arcane magic is viewed with much greater suspicion on Forinthia than in most places. Some sorcerers get by via demonstrating holy powers. To take levels of Forinthian sorcerer, the character must be about to take his 1st, 8th or 12th level of sorcerer.

Hit Die: d4.

Class Skills: A Forinthian sorcerer has the class skills and skill points per level of a standard sorcerer.

Class Features

1st level: A Forinthian sorcerer adds cure light wounds to his class spell list as a 1st-level spell. (She must still take it as one of her spells known if she wishes to be able to cast it.) In return, mage armor and magic missile are removed from her class spell list.

8th level: A Forinthian sorcerer adds restoration to her class spell list as a 4th-level spell. (She must still take it as one of her spells known if she wishes to be able to cast it.) In return, stoneskin and polymorph are removed from her class spell list.

12th level: A Forinthian sorcerer adds heal to her class spell list as a 6th-level spell. (She must still take it as one of her spells known if she wishes to be able to cast it.) In return, disintegrate and project image are removed from her class spell list.