Ecology of the Hengeyokai (+ New Race Option!)

[I'm A Banana]

The third group there is already mimicked by most races we have. Rakasta, catfolk and tabaxi can be done with elves. Lupins can be done with gnolls. Bearfolk (or Pandaren, for the WoW-inclined) can be done with goliaths or even minotaurs (refluff gore with bear claws). Ratfolk can be done with halflings.

Yeah, but that's a little reductionist. By that logic, we only ever need Five different options. Human-Dwarf-Elf-Halfling-Halforc-DONE.

There's plenty of room for options that aren't reskinned other races, though I do think it's important to make them very distinct, if it risks hitting close to another race (like halflings and gnomes are pretty distinct in my mind, with one being the stout, doughty, suburban crusader of childlike innocence, and the other being the sneaky, brilliant, badger-using illusionist of diabolical trickery).

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Ostriches can too fly!

They just need pilots' licenses.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Yeah, but that's a little reductionist. By that logic, we only ever need Five different options. Human-Dwarf-Elf-Halfling-Halforc-DONE.

Shoot. All of those are bipedal anthropoids, so the other four go into the trash can.

Brad (who doesn't see the point in "too many races")

 

[Incenjucar]

To make a full-on anthro race, you could easily just give them a gnoll-like natural weapon, and a minor action encounter power to use it for an attack.

 

[Klaus]

Yeah, but that's a little reductionist. By that logic, we only ever need Five different options. Human-Dwarf-Elf-Halfling-Halforc-DONE.

There's plenty of room for options that aren't reskinned other races, though I do think it's important to make them very distinct, if it risks hitting close to another race (like halflings and gnomes are pretty distinct in my mind, with one being the stout, doughty, suburban crusader of childlike innocence, and the other being the sneaky, brilliant, badger-using illusionist of diabolical trickery).

Oh, I'm not advocating for removal of anthro races (I'm a rakasta fan, myself). Just pointing that being "part animal" isn't enough to make shifters, hengeyokai and rakasta/lupin/gnoll/minotaur overlap.

But you *do* need a strong hook beyong "part animal". And it helps if they aren't too much like their animal counterparts. For instance, I can't stand it when rakasta are depicted as being affected by catnip.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I wonder if now that we have this at will animal/hybrid form if shifter could be made more intresting as well.