John Cooper
Explorer
EMERGING FORMS: ITHWRA
By Rodney W. West
Primal Urge Games product number PUG02019
18-page PDF, $2.00
Emerging Forms: IthWra is a short PDF focusing on a new PC race, the IthWra. The IthWra can perhaps be best described as an intelligent, human-sized mantis with a predilection for the martial arts. The PDF provides the player everything he needs to run a PC of this strange new race.
The sole piece of artwork in the PDF is a grayscale illustration of an IthWra monk (judging from the sai it wields), as drawn by Dave Caspall, which also doubles as the cover artwork (in monochrome tans and browns). Dave does a fine job with this piece, conforming exactly to the creature's written description, right down to the wide eyestalks, gaunt limbs, and pitiful, rotting wings. The PDF also comes with two sheets of cut-out IthWra counters, using the same piece of art.
This is the first of the "Emerging Forms" PDFs I've ever seen, by I have to say that I like the format. We get a one-page introduction to the Emerging Forms line, followed by a half-page of fiction (and the illustration of the creature in question), a detailed description of the creature's personality, physical build, society and relationship with other races, religion, language, and so on. There's the typical Racial Traits entry and Age/Height/Weight tables like are found in the Player's Handbook, two sample stat blocks (one of a 1st-level warrior, one of a 1st-level monk), and three new feats appropriate to the new creature. Very well organized, and pretty much everything you'd need to play a PC of that race.
So, how is the IthWra as a player character race? Well, let me get this of my chest: the first thing I noticed about the IthWra is that its racial name is "wraith" chopped in half and swapped around back-to-front. I really dislike things like that, as it usually reeks of a lack of creativity on the part of the author. Likewise, the name "KaNgrej" (the insectoid race of which IthWra are a subspecies) looks to me less like a name and more like a case-sensitive computer password. But, naming conventions aside, the IthWra are pretty cool, and definitely stand out from the crowd. I particularly applaud the fact that Rodney chose an insectoid race, as there aren't a whole lot of them in D&D - the thri-kreen, sure, but beyond that you've got pretty much only the abeil (the bee-elf centaurs from Monster Manual II) and the dromites from the Expanded Psionics Handbook, but since the latter only have four limbs I hesitate to include them as true insects. I also like the fact that the IthWra mindset is geared towards martial skill, with an emphasis on the ways of the monk, since again, monks are fairly underrepresented as far as racial favored classes go. Rodney does a great job fleshing the IthWra out, adding such cool touches as a biological requirement to eat live food (they can get by on carrion or vegetation, but it causes them temporary Constitution damage when they eat such fare), and an inability to speak aloud without physical pain (resulting in the creation of a silent sign language composed entirely of subtle motions of their stunted wings). Bottom line: the IthWra are a cool race, and one I wouldn't mind including in my own campaigns.
The proofreading and editing jobs were a bit sloppy, though; in an 18-page PDF, I caught enough errors to fill up a page and a half of standard, college-ruled paper. As always, I'll pass my "errata list" on to the publisher, with the hopes that the errors can easily be rectified. In the meantime, though, here are the main changes I recommend making to Emerging Forms: IthWra:
Overall, Emerging Forms: IthWra is a handy little PDF, detailing a well-thought-out race that makes its niche in a little corner of the rules that nobody else seems to want for themselves. If the thought of a mantislike monk seems like something your campaign can use, then I heartily recommend this PDF. I give it a rating of "4 (Good)," and look forward to checking out other entries in the "Emerging Forms" PDF line.
By Rodney W. West
Primal Urge Games product number PUG02019
18-page PDF, $2.00
Emerging Forms: IthWra is a short PDF focusing on a new PC race, the IthWra. The IthWra can perhaps be best described as an intelligent, human-sized mantis with a predilection for the martial arts. The PDF provides the player everything he needs to run a PC of this strange new race.
The sole piece of artwork in the PDF is a grayscale illustration of an IthWra monk (judging from the sai it wields), as drawn by Dave Caspall, which also doubles as the cover artwork (in monochrome tans and browns). Dave does a fine job with this piece, conforming exactly to the creature's written description, right down to the wide eyestalks, gaunt limbs, and pitiful, rotting wings. The PDF also comes with two sheets of cut-out IthWra counters, using the same piece of art.
This is the first of the "Emerging Forms" PDFs I've ever seen, by I have to say that I like the format. We get a one-page introduction to the Emerging Forms line, followed by a half-page of fiction (and the illustration of the creature in question), a detailed description of the creature's personality, physical build, society and relationship with other races, religion, language, and so on. There's the typical Racial Traits entry and Age/Height/Weight tables like are found in the Player's Handbook, two sample stat blocks (one of a 1st-level warrior, one of a 1st-level monk), and three new feats appropriate to the new creature. Very well organized, and pretty much everything you'd need to play a PC of that race.
So, how is the IthWra as a player character race? Well, let me get this of my chest: the first thing I noticed about the IthWra is that its racial name is "wraith" chopped in half and swapped around back-to-front. I really dislike things like that, as it usually reeks of a lack of creativity on the part of the author. Likewise, the name "KaNgrej" (the insectoid race of which IthWra are a subspecies) looks to me less like a name and more like a case-sensitive computer password. But, naming conventions aside, the IthWra are pretty cool, and definitely stand out from the crowd. I particularly applaud the fact that Rodney chose an insectoid race, as there aren't a whole lot of them in D&D - the thri-kreen, sure, but beyond that you've got pretty much only the abeil (the bee-elf centaurs from Monster Manual II) and the dromites from the Expanded Psionics Handbook, but since the latter only have four limbs I hesitate to include them as true insects. I also like the fact that the IthWra mindset is geared towards martial skill, with an emphasis on the ways of the monk, since again, monks are fairly underrepresented as far as racial favored classes go. Rodney does a great job fleshing the IthWra out, adding such cool touches as a biological requirement to eat live food (they can get by on carrion or vegetation, but it causes them temporary Constitution damage when they eat such fare), and an inability to speak aloud without physical pain (resulting in the creation of a silent sign language composed entirely of subtle motions of their stunted wings). Bottom line: the IthWra are a cool race, and one I wouldn't mind including in my own campaigns.
The proofreading and editing jobs were a bit sloppy, though; in an 18-page PDF, I caught enough errors to fill up a page and a half of standard, college-ruled paper. As always, I'll pass my "errata list" on to the publisher, with the hopes that the errors can easily be rectified. In the meantime, though, here are the main changes I recommend making to Emerging Forms: IthWra:
- p. 11, IthWra, 1st-Level Warrior: Skills should include Swim +9 (0 ranks, +1 Str, +8 racial). The stat block should specify which skill the IthWra has chosen for its enlightened path Special Quality.
- p. 11, IthWra, 1st-Level Monk: Initiative should be +5, not +4 (+1 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative). Touch AC should be 12, not 11 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis). Flat-footed AC should be 11, not 12 (+1 Wis). Balance, Hide, and Move Silently should each be +5, not +4 (4 ranks for each skill, but also a +1 Dex modifier for each). Skills should include Swim +9 (0 ranks, +1 Str, +8 racial). CR should be 1, not 1/2. The stat block should specify which skill the IthWra has chosen for its enlightened path Special Quality.
Overall, Emerging Forms: IthWra is a handy little PDF, detailing a well-thought-out race that makes its niche in a little corner of the rules that nobody else seems to want for themselves. If the thought of a mantislike monk seems like something your campaign can use, then I heartily recommend this PDF. I give it a rating of "4 (Good)," and look forward to checking out other entries in the "Emerging Forms" PDF line.
