New Race: Tauren (half-mino)

Merlion · Feb 12, 2003

Yea I'd say its fine at +0 it doesnt look terribly powerful to me. Heck I'd say it'd still work without the Wis penalty...I think Str is made a teensy(mind I say I THINK and TEENSY) bit to much of.

SylverFlame · Feb 12, 2003

DnD is a combat based system, just look at the space given to combat in the books. On top of this, the non-combat stuff runs on basically the same system (though that's just as much for the ease of simplicity I guess).

The big thing is when you look at the DMG and see the equivalent stat adjustment. One increase in Str is worth multiple decreases in the mental stats, but an increase is say Chr, is worth one decrease in Str. Balanced? I think not.

My point is that the ability balancing of the Tauren, which comes out at an overall -2, is mostly balanced since there is a 1d10 bonus attack on the creatures charge attacks (giving them the attacks of weapons and this gore). If you remove the Wisdom penalty then I'd either reduce the damage on this gore attack or just require it as a full round action that does not allow you to have any other attacks that round (except for your AoO's).

SpikeyFreak · Feb 12, 2003

SylverFlame said:
DnD is a combat based system, just look at the space given to combat in the books. On top of this, the non-combat stuff runs on basically the same system (though that's just as much for the ease of simplicity I guess).

The big thing is when you look at the DMG and see the equivalent stat adjustment. One increase in Str is worth multiple decreases in the mental stats, but an increase is say Chr, is worth one decrease in Str. Balanced? I think not.

My point is that the ability balancing of the Tauren, which comes out at an overall -2, is mostly balanced since there is a 1d10 bonus attack on the creatures charge attacks (giving them the attacks of weapons and this gore). If you remove the Wisdom penalty then I'd either reduce the damage on this gore attack or just require it as a full round action that does not allow you to have any other attacks that round (except for your AoO's).

You can't attack more than once if you charge.

Thanks for the input though.

--Furrie Spikey

Morgenstern · Feb 13, 2003

So, I'm looking at this race, and I'm liking it a lot, since it seems to have been created with respect for game balance. I agree that Str get's way over-valued (Dex is every bit as potent, and a Con bonus is never unwelcome for fight-y types

). I absolutely encourage the effort to make these guy ECL +0.

Most of the changes I'd consider are tradeoffs. The skill bonuses mostly work to ofset the ability penalties (at least in terms of situational awareness). The thing that most strikes me as dangerous is the d10 charge. That's a very good weapon for a first level sorcerer to be carrying around without spending a single GP (or feat).

Little things I'd be looking at.

Looks like the minotaur's gore gets only x.5 Str bonus (like an off handed weapon), while the charge get's x1 Str bonus.

Completing the decorative 'no maze' ability by making it the full Natural Cunning (Ex): no maze, never caught flat-footed.

The race is currently missing a favored class, which is another way to reduce the overall power level. Humans have flexibility as one of their main advantages.

So.

Give them a favored class. Probably Barbarian or Fighter, depending on the level you wan their culture at. (I'd favor fighter to distinguish them more from half orcs)

Clarify if they are humanoids, or monsterous humanoids (could go either way).

I'd make the attacks:
Gore: 1d4 (+1/2 Str mod), provokes attack of opportunity.
Charge: 2d4 (+ Str mod).

And then either:
Give them the full Natural Cunning ability (complete with the restrictions an (Ex) ability implies),

Or

Drop the Wisdom penalty.

Sounds like an interesting start to your campaign

.

reddist · Feb 15, 2003

I wrote up a half-minotaur template and sold it to Dragon (along with some others) about a year ago. It hasn't seen print yet, and I think the rights revert back to me in a month or two. I'll check the paper work again, and if I can, I'll post it later on.

-Reddist

SpikeyFreak · Feb 17, 2003

Morgenstern said:
Looks like the minotaur's gore gets only x.5 Str bonus (like an off handed weapon), while the charge get's x1 Str bonus.

This would change a mechanic that already exists, and I'd rather not do that.

Morgenstern said:
Completing the decorative 'no maze' ability by making it the full Natural Cunning (Ex): no maze, never caught flat-footed.

That seems a little too powerful to me.

Morgenstern said:
The race is currently missing a favored class, which is another way to reduce the overall power level. Humans have flexibility as one of their main advantages.

I'm inclined to agree that fighter fits the race best.