Lizardfolk Races

[Silverglass]

Lizardfolk have changed somewhat with 3.5, now they have 2 racial HD and an LA of +1. This makes a 13K Lizardfolk startarting PC an ECL 4 character.

Having played some tests this makes PCs "bite" unless they are a combat class. Fighting 2 Dire Apes with Sorceror's with 3 1st Level Spells is not that much fun (although having 2d8+1d4 HP is nice).

I think I need to make a radical change to Paludosus to make the inhabitants a playable race. To avoid changing very much I think that the best way is to introduce a Sub Race of Lizardfolk (for the History and the like that shouldn't change much as the references to Lizardfolk would be the same as for Lorlynia's Elves.

My basic question is whether people think that removing the racial HD leaves the LA +1 as reasonable or whether the extra racial traits should be toned down.

I would suggest a Sub-race called the Sauran (unless anyone thinks of a better name) with the following.

SAURANS AS CHARACTERS
Sauran characters possess the following racial traits.
— +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, –2 Intelligence.
—Medium size.
—A sauran's base land speed is 30 feet.
—Racial Skills: Sauran have a +4 racial bonus on Balance, Jump, and Swim checks.
—Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Sauran is automatically proficient with a Shortspear, Longspear and Spear.
— +5 natural armor bonus.
—Natural Weapons: 2 claws (1d4) and bite (1d4).
—Special Qualities (see above): Hold breath.
—Automatic Languages: Draconic, Tradespeak. Bonus Languages: Aquan, Goblin, Gnoll, Orc.
Favored Class: Fighter.
—Level adjustment +1.

Alternatively they could be toned down a bit. By lowering the racial bonuses to +2 (as they have a smaller tail) and removing the claw attacks.

 

[DMEntropy]

My suggestion is to consider dropping the racial bonuses to the skills to +2 each and lowering the natural armor class bonus to +3 from +5. After these changes, the Saurans can be a ECL+0 race in my opinion.

What do you think of that?

 

[Silverglass]

Well I looked at Half-Orc and a +2 STR, -2 INT and -2 charisma + darkvision is what they get as +0 ECL.

With +2 STR, +2 CON and -2 INT and anything else I don't think it can be justified as +0 LA so I can accept that they would be +1 LA, and 1 level behind the norm is playable from 1st (although I wouldn't complain if everyone else agreed.

 

[DMEntropy]

From what you said I would agree that ECL +1 is very reasonable.

 

[Emiricol]

Please stop using the half-orc as a basis of comparison They are broken, and even the folks at WOTC have on occasiona admitted that

My feeling on the proposal is that it is a really good idea. But I agree especially with dropping the natural armor bonus to +3.. Combined with +2 Str and +2 Con, a +3 natural armor bonus is a potent package.!

I am otherwise personally pretty comfortable with this suggestion.

 

[Silverglass]

Well I used the half-orc as they are the only PHB race that doesnt have an effective 0 stat modifier.

Anyway I had a think about it and am proposing the following (a couple of the ECL point systems indicate that this does get an LA of +1).

SAURANS AS CHARACTERS
Sauran characters possess the following racial traits.
— +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, –2 Intelligence.
—Medium size.
—A Sauran’s base land speed is 30 feet.
—Racial Skills: Sauran have a +2 racial bonus on Balance, Jump, and Swim checks.
—Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Sauran is automatically proficient with a Shortspear, Longspear and Spear.
— +4 natural armor bonus.
—Natural Weapons: Bite (1d4).
—Automatic Languages: Draconic, Tradespeak. Bonus Languages: Aquan, Goblin, Gnoll, Orc.
—Favored Class: Fighter.
—Level adjustment +1.

 

[DMEntropy]

I think that this looks good for +1 LA. I do not wish to muddy the waters at this late time, but have you considered adding some kind of cold susceptability for the Saurans? Just curious.

 

[Silverglass]

I think that this looks good for +1 LA. I do not wish to muddy the waters at this late time, but have you considered adding some kind of cold susceptability for the Saurans? Just curious.

Well no as Naeron created the lizardfolk as a homoeothermic race, if you are destined to conquer the whole world then preventing your armies operating at winter or in colder climes seems a bit too stupid. Also core rules Lizardfolk are a temperate race rather than a tropical one which argues against their being cold-blooded (which isn't implemented in the rules anyway).

 

[DMEntropy]

Homeotherms rule!

Just thought I would ask.

 

[Emiricol]

I'm find with it