Plausable for an Ecl 0 flying race?

[Wolf72]

I haven't really followed this topic very well ...

arrrooooo ... *wolf howls for old memories*


but a feat tree might be an alternative ... each successive feat (some must be taken ahead of others) would give the PC more capabilities.

first feat might be limited flight ... another one might be glide

etc

just some thoughts

 

[Voldrath]

Now, how is a polearm used??? It is two handed, but they only have two feet? How do they weild a polearm, and still stand up?

That one's simple they can't.

However modified gauntlets, daggers and even shortswords might be an option. I have a image in my head of this bird-like creature leaping off the ground and doing a backward sommersault with its slashing blades of death!

Actually some beleive (myself included) that Velociraptors (Deinonychus in the MM) et al were early avians (not true reptilian) - so imagine that this race is an evolved raptor and attacks accordingly (leaps up with slashing claws/daggers/swords etc) - maybe even allow them to take Pounce as a Feat

I think pounce would be reasonable. I was also thinking of allowing them to make a full attack with a DC 10 jump check. Consider battle spurs(spiked gauntlet) added to the list.

A few points:

1) I recently allowed a player to run a flying character. 60 ft fly is far, far too good, as I found out to my dismay. I would suggest 30 feet, to keep him with the rest of the party. At most, 40 ft.

2) The race, as listed, cannot hover. This means that a flying character must take a move action every round. No full-round actions while flying, including spells that take more than one action to cast. This is a serious limitation if the character is going to be flying in combat.

3) As written, can this character even be a wizard or cleric? How would it handle components? What about handling other items, such as wands, rods, potions, etc? The more I look at it, a monk with Vow of Poverty may be the only really viable choice. A rather limited fighter (given the limited choice in weaponry) might also work.

4) Even if you end up with a balanced LA 0 flying race, it's a real pain to GM them - go into it with your eyes open.

1 good to hear from someone with experiance on the matter. I was woried about the fly speed myself, back to 40'.
2 Actualy hovering requires a move action anyway. I was thinking of giving them favored class ranger with a flight based combat path. Probably Flyby, Hover, and Adroit Flyby.
3 Yes I'd let them cast spells. After all dragons can and they don't have true hands either.

 

[Tonguez]

I haven't really followed this topic very well ...

arrrooooo ... *wolf howls for old memories*


but a feat tree might be an alternative ... each successive feat (some must be taken ahead of others) would give the PC more capabilities.

first feat might be limited flight ... another one might be glide

etc

just some thoughts

I once created such a feat tree for a winged race I once created (essentially winged humans)

1 Wings - Can glide 20ft (2/3 base speed) before having to land also gains +5 to Jumps (cannot be used in confined spaces less than 15')
2 Maneuverability - start with clumsy, each time feat is taken gains 1 Maneuverability step (poor-average-good-perfect)
3 Increase Speed - + 10' each time feat is taken
4 Flyby Attack
5 Wingover (Prereq Average Maneuverability)

I also considered making Flight a skill which required a skill check whenever a maneuvere was attempted

so variant
Maneuverability - The creature gains the flight skill to be used to perform ANY maneuvere while flying

eg
Hover dc 30
Move backward dc 25
Reverse dc 25
Turn in place dc 25
Swoop DC 15