I've started to design a few heroic heritages for my own campaign, following a slightly different model. My campaign is going to be a low-magic, humans-only game in a pulpy, gritty world inspired by Robert E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, and Glen Cook. There are no Divine classes, and with the exception of warlocks, arcane classes are only available as multiclass options (like the spellscarred in the FRPG). Primal characters will probably be allowed once we see them, and if
Martial Power isn't as good as I'm hoping it is, I might reevaluate. With that in mind, I'm giving heritages the following benefits:
- Two minor abilities at 1st level. Usually, one is a skill bonus and the other is a unique ability. Some are borrowed from PHB/FRPG/MM races, others are original.
- An encounter power at 1st level. Some are attacks, some are utilities, analogous to the racial powers in the PHB.
- An encounter attack power at level 4.
- An encounter or daily utility power at level 8
- +2 to one of two ability scores at level 10 (which cannot be the same score the character put his human racial bonus into).
Here's an example:
Laani Spirit-Talker
“You think we're alone here? Foolish man, we are never alone.”
Prerequisite: Human raised in Laani
Recommended Classes: Rogue, warlock (fey pact)
You have been initiated in the ways of the Laani shamanic tradition. Through spirit-walks, ecstatic dance, and the consumption of hallucinogenic compounds, you have learned to commune with the spirits of the land, from tree-sprites to beast-gods. With your tom-tom drum at your side and your eyes opened to the hidden world, you call on your invisible friends to aid your allies and strike down your foes.
Laani Spirit-Talker Heritage Features
Spirit-Talker (1st Level): You speak Primordial, the language of the spirits. You add Nature to your list of class skills and gain a +2 bonus to Nature checks.
Spirit Magic (1st Level): You gain the Ritual Caster feat. You may substitute Nature as the key skill for any ritual that normally has Arcana as the key skill. This also affects the components required.
Enlightenment (10th Level): Choose either Wisdom or Charisma. You gain a +2 bonus to that ability score. The ability score you choose cannot be the one you added your human racial ability score bonus to.
Laani Spirit-Talker Prayers
Code:
[B]Beast Speech Laani Spirit-Talker Utility 1[/B]
[I]By beating a rhythm on your drum or performing a dance to attune yourself
to the spirit of a natural beast, you can speak to the animal.[/I]
[B]Encounter ✦ Divine
Standard Action Close[/b] burst 5
[b]Target:[/B] One natural beast in burst
[B]Effect:[/B] You can speak to the target and be understood, and you can
understand the animal's replies. This communication lasts for 5 minutes.
[B]Primal Scream Laani Spirit-Talker Attack 4[/B]
[I]With a shrill, ululating wail, you set spirits of terror and pain upon your
foes.[/I]
[B]Encounter ✦ Divine, Fear, Psychic
Standard Action Close[/B] blast 3
[B]Target:[/B] Each enemy in blast
[B]Attack:[/B] Charisma vs. Will
[B]Hit:[/B] 1d8 + Charisma modifier psychic damage, and the target grants
combat advantage to you and your allies until the end of your next turn.
[B]Spirit Walking Laani Spirit-Talker Utility 8[/B]
[I]Buoyed by your invisible allies, you easily stride across even the most
difficult terrain.[/I]
[I]Encounter ✦ Divine
Minor Action Personal
Effect:[/I] Until the end of your next turn, you ignore difficult terrain and can
walk across any horizontal surface (including liquids) without difficulty. You
are not immune to damage caused by hindering terrain.
