Mind Flayer as a Race?

[Finnius7125]

Hello all, I've been working on converting the Mind Flayer from the monster manual into a playable race. The lore behind the sparse race, in short, would be an incomplete assimilation of the person's mind, leaving a sane (i.e. not an evil monsters's) mind within the new mind flayer's body.

There are just a few things that I could use advice on since I'm still pretty new to creating races/classes/campaigns etc. and I want to make sure I'm not making something too powerful or something too close to another race.

The main areas where I'm having trouble are deciding ability score bonuses and how to make "Devour Brain" into a racial encounter power.

For ability powers, I feel that Charisma should be the main score to receive a bonus, but then the rest of the ability scores for a Mind Flayer as based off of the MM (specifically CON, WIS, and INT) are equal. I was originally going to do the PH3 method of giving a choice between WIS and INT for the second bonus but found that it would give basically the same set as the Shardmind race. Does this mean I should change out either WIS or INT for CON? Or is having the set ability score bonus different from the Shardmind's good enough?

For the racial encounter power I wanted a triggered immediate interrupt on an adjacent enemy's death. At this point the mindflayer can spend a healing surge and gain temp hit points equal to some modifier (dice or Abil. score). Too powerful or just right?

Well, hopefully this wasn't too wordy. Basically just tell me if I have a good idea going or I'm completely bonkers.

 

[Fridayknight]

Hey,
first thing to note about ability score modifiers are that it doesnt matter what they may look similar to (so Cha, int, wis would probably give enough options). Then check whether the classes that have these as key stats are 'mindflayer-like' (wiz for int is good, psion is all good).

Another key point (that is not mentioned) is the racial defence bonuses - these are meant to make up for the dump stat (which will be fort), not to boost will up to an unassailable level.

The racial power is interesting: adjacent enemy means that all your prime mindflayer classes are losing out, perhaps make this a 5square; healing surge + temps is too much, i would say go all temp and make it a set amount (eg highest abil score).

If in doubt always check the wotc forums (i know for certain that there is a peach thread on this race already in homebrew races and monsters).

GL

 

[Pistonrage]

I don't normally like monsters as PC races, but setting that aside I'd recommend....

Stat adjustments: +2 int and +2 Dex or Chr
race defense: fort (seems obvious)
ability: +2 damage against creatures you have grabbed (eat dem brains!)


Tentacle At-will standard action highest stat +2/4/6 vs reflex melee range 1d6+stat mod damage and target grabbed(until escape) Special: if used against a target you've already got grabbed, attack is against fort, and damage is increased to 2d6+stat mod (eat dem brains! don't forget the +2!) if the attack reduces the target to 0HP brain devoured(killed, can't knock out)

Mind blast Encounter minor action close burst 3 one enemy in burst int+2/4/6 vs will int mod damage and target dazed till end of next turn.


That's what i got off the top of my head.

 

[Fridayknight]

the tentacle at-will is OP. Try making it encounter (a choice maybe - like the Drow's).