Kangaroos:Familiars, companions, and PCs!

[Silver Griffon]

If anyone else has seen the movie Warriors of Virtue then I'm sure you have always wanted to play a humanoid kangaroo. I loved that movie and loved the roos! For those who don't know check it out at http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120479 and http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...1/104-4778651-3871962?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846. See it if you get a chance, its better than it sounds. And the iron ring is one of the coolest martial arts weapons you've never seen before.
Well, I figured if I was going to make a race of humanoid marsupials I had better start with stats for kangaroos. I learned a lot of interesting things about kangaroos while doing the research. Here's the Encarta entry: http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/refarticle.aspx?refid=761574683. And http://www.rainforest-australia.com/Kangaroos.htm There are lots of other links out there, too. Anyway, kangaroos make good summoned animals, animal companions and even familiars (the Tiny ones). The now extinct giant kangaroo translates nicely into a dire version. I'm attaching a word doc with my kangaroo stats. I would appreciate comments or suggestions on the kangaroo stats.
I'll post the humanoid roo race tomorrow.
edit: snappier subject

 

[Piratecat]

As a counterpoint, if you've seen the movie Kangeroo Jack, you never want to see a kangeroo again.

Twitch. Twitch.

 

[Morgenstern]

Nicely done. The take ten on jump checks is very stylish. I enjoyed the movie, though some of the camera work dteracted from the fight scenes with the roos. I'll look forwar to your race, especially if you can manage and ECL of +1 or less.

 

[Spatzimaus]

And if you've ever seen the movie Tank Girl... err, never mind.

 

[Silver Griffon]

Nicely done. The take ten on jump checks is very stylish. I enjoyed the movie, though some of the camera work dteracted from the fight scenes with the roos. I'll look forwar to your race, especially if you can manage and ECL of +1 or less.

Thanks! I reasoned that hopping is a distinct form of movement even though it is handled just like running, so I handled it like creatures with a natural climb or swim speed: +8 on checks, can always take 10. Removing the distance limitation according to height is the only thing I might be a little iffy on, but I think that it is a common enough ability in D&D (jump spell, thri-kreen, etc. and all with +30 instead of +8) that not having it makes a kangaroo's jumping prowess less impressive than it should be.
As far as ECL, I am aiming at +0, and I think I have accomplished it. But, that assumption is about to be tested because here it is.

 

[Morgenstern]

Well, I like them. The hearing and climb bonuses don't seem essential, but I don't have any imediate thoughts on something to replace them with. No real mention of the tail or balancing on it for them. I think their rear legs might count as some sort of natural weapon. Note that natural weapons and the unlimted jump actually overlap with their favored class, making them a little less powerful in the long run (a good thing). As for justifying the jump distance, I've seen footage of big reds (your medium sized one) clocked at 40 miles per hour, in a sustained series of 45 foot bounds. Impressive! You might add a note in their jumping ability that if they gain leap of the clouds (which they effectively already have) from a class, they instead gain a +5 bonus to all Jump checks.

(They are also strong swimmers - real all-terrain animals )

You need a hieght, weight and age category table for these guys.

Good stuff, simple and quite playable.

 

[Thresher]

Kangaroo's cant step backwards. This might have some effect in melee to someone, somewhere.

 

[Silver Griffon]

Sorry for the late reply.
Here's my first thought on height, weight and age:

Middle Age.....Old.............Venerable.....Max Age
50 years....... 75 years.....100 years .....+5d20 years

....................Height.....Height Mod.....Weight.....Weight Mod
Roo, man........4´ 10".....+2d10 ..........130 lb. .....X (2d4) lb.
Roo, woman....4´ 4" ......+2d10 ..........90 lb. .......X (2d4) lb.

Thresher, as far as stepping backwards, that's not really an issue since there is no facing in d20.

Morganstern, I view roos as having become humanoid enough that they've lost a little bit of kangaroo power. So, no natural weapons. Note, though that a monk fights with his whole body, and I do picture roo monks using those tails to balance on and to make attacks with while whirling around the battlefield. As far as the overlap with leap of the clouds goes, I don't plan on giving any bonus to replace it, but house rules is house rules and these is all house rules...