Jakindas are resourceful, adaptable and quick-thinking people that thrive in far-flung lands where few others would feel relaxed. The hostile deserts are their home, where they explore and search the ruins left by long since vanished race. A large majority of the jakindas is intrigued by the ancient ruins and has spent generations trying to find out its secrets. Strong evidence found within the ruins hint that the jakindas are somehow descended or related to this old race that once lived here. It has gone so far that this mystery has reshaped their very lives: it has become the number one priority to all jakinda communties across the deserts, to solve the mysteries of the ruins.
Every jakinda child is tutored at a very young age, in fear that the child will have no interest in solving the "shared purpose of their race", as it's often referred to as. Children that show no interest and potential are quickly branded and exiled from their communities. Even though a jakindas upbringing is harsh and hard, jakindas still have very strong bonds with their each other.
They tend to wear several layers of loose-fitting clothing, since the heat of the deserts seldom bothers them. They wear clothing such as shawls, cloaks, sashes, scarves, and veils.
A jakindas skin is rough and cracked, and skin color tends to be dark rusty brown. Jakindas are bold and has no body hair. They have an extra pair of transparent eyelids which protects their eyes from dust and sand. An average jakinda stands about three feet tall, and weigh between 35 to 40 pounds. Jakindas reach adulthood at the age of sixteen.
Jakinda Racial Traits
Jakinda Levels
Jakindas can take up to three levels in "jakinda" at any time. Not all jakinda, however, take racial levels (or all three of them).
Hit Dice: d6.
Skills
Skill Points at 1st Character Level: (6 + Intelligence modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Higher Levels: 6 + Intelligence modifier.
"Class" Skills: The jakinda's class skills (and the key ability for each skills) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Disable Device (Int), Hide (Dex), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Speak Language (n/a), Spellcraft (Int), Survival (Wis), Use Magic Device (Cha).
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Jakindas are proficient with all simple weapons, and with light armor, but not with shields.
Adaptive Learning (Ex): At 1st level a jakinda can designate any one of his selected jakinda class skills as an adaptive skill. This skill is treated as a class skill in all respects for all classes of that character, both current and future. For example, a jakinda who chooses Spot as an adaptive skill can treat Spot as a class skill for all future class levels, even if it is not normally a class skill for those classes.
Bonus Language (Ex): At 2nd level, a jakinda gains a bonus language, as if he had put ranks in the Speak Language skill. Jakindas are peculiarly fascinated by languages and have become exceptionally good at learning new ones.
Innate Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): At 3rd level, the jakinda gains the ability to cast comprehend languages twice per day and object reading once per day as spell-like abilities with a caster level equal to his jakinda level. The save DC for all innate spell-like abilities of the jakinda are Intelligence-based.
So what do people think? Is it balanced? Does it need a Level Adjustment? Iam aiming for a LA +0, since it's going to be a PC race. Questions, comments, and helpful criticism are appreciated! Thanks!
Sidenotes: There are no base spellcasting classes in my homebrew world! The ability to cast spells can only be acquired through advanced or prestige classes and the maximum limit is level 5 spells. The base classes are replaced with heavily modified d20 Modern classes.
Every jakinda child is tutored at a very young age, in fear that the child will have no interest in solving the "shared purpose of their race", as it's often referred to as. Children that show no interest and potential are quickly branded and exiled from their communities. Even though a jakindas upbringing is harsh and hard, jakindas still have very strong bonds with their each other.
They tend to wear several layers of loose-fitting clothing, since the heat of the deserts seldom bothers them. They wear clothing such as shawls, cloaks, sashes, scarves, and veils.
A jakindas skin is rough and cracked, and skin color tends to be dark rusty brown. Jakindas are bold and has no body hair. They have an extra pair of transparent eyelids which protects their eyes from dust and sand. An average jakinda stands about three feet tall, and weigh between 35 to 40 pounds. Jakindas reach adulthood at the age of sixteen.
Jakinda Racial Traits
- +2 Intelligence, -2 Strength: Jakindas are knowledgeable, quick-thinking and creative, but generally lack the same strength as that many of the other races have.
- Small Size: As a Small creature, a jakinda gains a +1 size bonus to Armor Class, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, and a +4 size bonus on Hide checks, but he uses smaller weapons than humans use, and his lifting and carrying limits are three-quarters of those of a Medium character.
- Jakinda base land speed is 20 feet.
- Desert Survivor: Jakindas are well-adapted to dry, hot conditions and arid environments. Jakindas receive a +4 racial bonus on saving throws to avoid non-lethal damage caused by exposure to hot temperatures.
- Transparent Eyelids: Jakindas have an extra set of translucent eyelids. These protective eyelids snap down in response to a hazard that effects vision. A jakinda suffers no penalties from reduced visibility during duststorms or sandstorms. In addition, these extra eyelids provide a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against gaze attacks.
- Lesser Sustenance: Jakindas can survive on one-tenth the food and water it takes to sustain a human. A jakinda can go without water for number days equal to their Constitution bonus (if any) to avoid dehydration.
- Schooling: Jakindas enjoy reading, study, and contemplation about many different subjects. They gain a +1 racial bonus on all checks with any two Knowledge skills of their choosing.
- Add +1 to the Difficulty Class for all saving throws against conjuration spells cast by jakindas: Jakindas are recognized for their reliance on creatures or materials brought to the caster by other means. This adjustment stacks with those from similar effects.
- Innate Spell-Like Abilities: A jakinda with an Intelligence score of at least 10 can use the following innate spell-like abilities: 1/day—guidance, message, read magic. Caster level 1st; save DC 10 + jakinda’s Int modifier.
- Automatic Languages: Common and Jakinda. Bonus Languages: Any.
- Racial Levels: Unlike humans, a jakinda can take few levels in "jakinda" as a class to develop their racial qualities more fully.
Jakinda Levels
Jakindas can take up to three levels in "jakinda" at any time. Not all jakinda, however, take racial levels (or all three of them).
Hit Dice: d6.
Skills
Skill Points at 1st Character Level: (6 + Intelligence modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Higher Levels: 6 + Intelligence modifier.
"Class" Skills: The jakinda's class skills (and the key ability for each skills) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Disable Device (Int), Hide (Dex), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Speak Language (n/a), Spellcraft (Int), Survival (Wis), Use Magic Device (Cha).
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Jakindas are proficient with all simple weapons, and with light armor, but not with shields.
Adaptive Learning (Ex): At 1st level a jakinda can designate any one of his selected jakinda class skills as an adaptive skill. This skill is treated as a class skill in all respects for all classes of that character, both current and future. For example, a jakinda who chooses Spot as an adaptive skill can treat Spot as a class skill for all future class levels, even if it is not normally a class skill for those classes.
Bonus Language (Ex): At 2nd level, a jakinda gains a bonus language, as if he had put ranks in the Speak Language skill. Jakindas are peculiarly fascinated by languages and have become exceptionally good at learning new ones.
Innate Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): At 3rd level, the jakinda gains the ability to cast comprehend languages twice per day and object reading once per day as spell-like abilities with a caster level equal to his jakinda level. The save DC for all innate spell-like abilities of the jakinda are Intelligence-based.
Code:
[b] BAB Fort Ref Will Def Abilities[/b]
1. +0 +1 +0 +0 +0 Adaptive learning
2. +1 +2 +0 +0 +1 Bonus language
3. +2 +2 +1 +1 +1 Innate spell-like abilitiesSo what do people think? Is it balanced? Does it need a Level Adjustment? Iam aiming for a LA +0, since it's going to be a PC race. Questions, comments, and helpful criticism are appreciated! Thanks!
Sidenotes: There are no base spellcasting classes in my homebrew world! The ability to cast spells can only be acquired through advanced or prestige classes and the maximum limit is level 5 spells. The base classes are replaced with heavily modified d20 Modern classes.
