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Liquid Awesome
In my campaign I have established an area that is occupied by various barbarian tribes, each of which has a "totem animal". I've also established in the past that certain members of the tribes are able to draw upon the power of this totem animal to the point that they actually transform into the physical form of the creature for a brief time, so long as they are within their tribal lands. The people doing this were all NPC's and the vast majority of this activity took place where the PC's couldn't see it.
As a result I never really fleshed out any mechanics for this process. I now have a player who is considering making such a character (from the tribe with the Bear totem). We first looked at the Animal Lord PrC, but not only were the requirements too stringent for the kind of PC he wanted to make, they were also too stringent for the people who I'd already established as "Totem Warriors". Instead of create a whole new PrC, I decided to handle it via a series of feats available only to barbarians.
I'd appreciate your input on this series of feats. Keep in mind that the main benefits of these feats will only work in a relatively small geographical area (say a 60 by 60 mile area on average) and that most of the campaign will take place outside these areas.
Totem Warrior - (Requirement: Barbarian 3) You gain a +2 to all skill rolls when dealing with your totem animal. While in your tribe's home territory, this bonus increases to +4 and when Raging, you gain an extra +2 bonus to one attribute (in his case Strenth). When raging, your character takes on certain physical characteristics similar to your totem (in his case he'd probably get more hairy and his teeth might get longer and sharp).
Totem Champion - (Requirement: Barbarian 6, Totem Warrior) Your bonus to skill rolls dealing with your totem goes up to +4. While in your tribe's home territory, this bonus increases to +6 and when Raging, you physically transform into the animal form of your totem, gaining its physical characteristics.
One With the Totem - (Requirement: Barbarian 10, Totem Champion) You gain the ability to Speak With Animals of your totems type. While in your tribe's home territory you may freely transform into the physical form of your totem.
As a result I never really fleshed out any mechanics for this process. I now have a player who is considering making such a character (from the tribe with the Bear totem). We first looked at the Animal Lord PrC, but not only were the requirements too stringent for the kind of PC he wanted to make, they were also too stringent for the people who I'd already established as "Totem Warriors". Instead of create a whole new PrC, I decided to handle it via a series of feats available only to barbarians.
I'd appreciate your input on this series of feats. Keep in mind that the main benefits of these feats will only work in a relatively small geographical area (say a 60 by 60 mile area on average) and that most of the campaign will take place outside these areas.
Totem Warrior - (Requirement: Barbarian 3) You gain a +2 to all skill rolls when dealing with your totem animal. While in your tribe's home territory, this bonus increases to +4 and when Raging, you gain an extra +2 bonus to one attribute (in his case Strenth). When raging, your character takes on certain physical characteristics similar to your totem (in his case he'd probably get more hairy and his teeth might get longer and sharp).
Totem Champion - (Requirement: Barbarian 6, Totem Warrior) Your bonus to skill rolls dealing with your totem goes up to +4. While in your tribe's home territory, this bonus increases to +6 and when Raging, you physically transform into the animal form of your totem, gaining its physical characteristics.
One With the Totem - (Requirement: Barbarian 10, Totem Champion) You gain the ability to Speak With Animals of your totems type. While in your tribe's home territory you may freely transform into the physical form of your totem.
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