If I could get a few comments on a custom race ability, it would be appreciated

[Volaran]

Re: Leonine

I don't see how you can do this without either
a) giving them an ECL = Class Levels +8 or better (You are
describing something equvalent to a minotaur)
b) making them a NPC race only and not worrying about it
c) loading them down with disadvantages

Sample disadvange:
Poor learners -- Race does not get feats every three levels they only get their starting feat.
Bad reputation -- ALL other races in the campaign world kill them on sight due to their reputation for Bloodlust.
Bloodlust -- Never take prisoners, always kill foes

plus at least 4 more to get them down to a +0 race.

When designing a +0 race, compare them to humans. Humans get a net zero in stats (see DMG pg. 24 about not all stats being equal). They get one excellent feat, Bonus Feat (can choose any feat) and one good feat, Skilled (extra skill point per level, 4 at 1st).

You could make this a +0 race if, they were still medium-sized, but at the top end. You could give them a +4 bonus to strength and a +2 bonus to con with no other feats and no ability penalties.
But I am guessing from your description that they also have natural claws and teeth, plus some keen senses. Do they also have reach ? [/QUOTE

*nods* All improtant things to consider.

Actually no, none of the cat people get keen senses of any sort.

Since previous to this, all of the cat people have been NPCs (and will be for a long time, since the current campaign is on the northern continent, and the cats are on the southern, which is why this is low priority), I did ask about them in comparison to actual great cats. Did they feel kinship to them? Do they exhibit many of the same qualities? Things like that. Now, evolution isn't exactly applicible, since all the races were created by various powers to be much as they are now in the campaign, but he bent the rules a bit and explained it with those relationships. A member of one of the cat races might look on a tiger or a lion as we would on apes, monkeys. There are superficial similarities, moreso in the facial features and fur than anything else, but they don't look at them as close relatives. A leonine hand looks much more like a human hand than a paw, they don't have claws, their teeth aren't suitible for a bite attack ect.

It isn't to say that there aren't any weaker, smaller leonine...simply that their place in society isn't usually very high. They wouldn't be what someone would think of when they thought "Leonine". He didn't want the base Leonine to be much better than a base human. More focused, but far less versitile.

He did want a net zero in stats. No extra feat, or skills, and aside from the size increase, he hadn't even recommended any racial abilities.

I'm going to recommend he suck up the continuity problems and have them be on the upper end of medium and just be really bulky, with your recommended bonuses.

And once again, I appreciate the help. You've all saved me a lot of time, simply by tossing out ideas until the right one was hit.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

By the way, fearsome could also be reflected by a +2 racial bonus to Intimitidate Checks...

 

[Darklone]

First of all...

Mythic Races. There you got a whole sample of Feline Races. More than just cheetahs or lionlikes. And not many of them are too unbalanced as ECL 0 races I think...

For the charge: Thought of something like many big cats have in 3rd edition... The can pounce.

That means, they make a charge attack and get ALL their natural attacks plus rending damage with the claws. Since most catraces have natural weapons...

That kind of charge is deadly.
Disadvantages: Most of the catlike races are very proud of their claws and fur. Give them penalties when using weapons or armour. And give them penalties for monk classes. Or maybe write a class for them, similar to monk but not as mystic, more concentrated on their physical prowess and grace.

 

[Volaran]

Re: First of all...

Much as I like this persoanlly, it doesn't really fit with what's been extablished with them previously.

I may keep that in mind for my own wold though, so thank you.

 

[WaterRabbit]

Ok, this might work

How often have these showed up in the campaign ? If they haven't shown up too frequently, then most of what has been established could be chalked up to stories and legends.

IMO, to make it balanced with humans, their stat bonuses need to zero out (remember that str is a double stat) and the need to have one great trait and one good trait.

So, I would suggest the following:

+2 STR, -2 INT, -2 CHA (just like half-orcs)
They are strong {+2 Str}
They value might over reason {-2 Int}
They are warlike {-2 Cha}

Pounce [When a Leonine charges they get all of their attacks]
This would be a fearsome charge.

Run [They have the Run Feat]
This would give them speed. There is limit to how fast two legs will take you.

Fast [+5 bonus to base movement when lightly encumbered]
These two feats would give you a race that runs two miles per hour faster than the standard human.

This would give you a balanced race.

 

[SpottyJungleCat]

Whooo I Love this sort of Stuff

Leonine

+4 Str, +2 Con, -2 Int, -2 Wis, -2 Cha,
Large Size (And all that it bestows)
Write out the Leonine Code of Honour and Make sure the PC sticks to it or else penalize his XP by 5% or more* (Basically the equivalent of ECL +1 and the method I prefer for Monster PCs)
+1 bonus to Fortitude saves
Low Light Vision
Move 30ft
Favoured Class: Fighter


Cheeth

+2 Dex, -2 Wis
Medium Size (and all that it bestows)
Move 50ft
Enhanced Sprint. Instead of (x4) for running in mimimal Armour make the multiple (x5) normally and (x6) if the character takes the Run Feat. It gives the Cheeth potential of 300ft per round, a lot faster than other terrestrial creatures.
+4 Bonus to Spot Checks
+1 to Reflex saves
Favoured Class: Rogue (Run in, *pounce*, Sneak attack)


Give access to Charge feat as listed above.

(* Basically the equivalent of ECL +1 and the method I prefer for Monster PCs, ie a 5% penalty to XP per +1 ECL is sort of foils those People who want a Minotaur PC "What I get a Minoutaur PC but at the cost of 40% of my XP... No WAY!" but does not specifically disallow them. )