Arkhandus
First Post
Well, here's one example of mine, for a homebrew setting where I modified
the core races. I won't bother posting my custom plant-folk race, the
Verdalii, who have several racial benefits that are gradual and level-based,
because their description is rather long.
Half-Orcs
(To note, humans in my homebrew get another bonus feat at 11th-level,
and most part-human hybrid races gain bonus feats like them. Also,
humans and most part-human hybrids receive certain regional benefits.)
+2 Strength, -2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma: Half-orcs possess some of
their orcish parents' brawn, albeit lessened somewhat by the more mediocre
strength of their human parents. Half-orcs also suffer from the primitive
mentality and learning difficulties that their orcish brethren possess,
although their human side lessens this to a degree and sharpens their wits
slightly. However, in addition to the natural egotism and standoffish attitude
which they inherit from their orcish parents, half-orcs also suffer from
prejudice and disdain by many other folk, due to their mixed blood and the
very noticeable physical features caused by it.
Medium-Size: Half-orcs are Medium-sized, and thus have no special
benefits or penalties related to size.
Speed: Half-orc base speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision: Half-orcs possess the keen nocturnal eyesight of their orcish
brethren, and have Darkvision to a range of 60 feet, allowing them to see
fine in the dark, but not magical darkness. Darkvision is black and white
only, but otherwise just like normal vision, and a half-orc can function
just fine with no light at all.
Something To Prove: Because they are often downtrodden, disrespected,
and subjected to prejudice and distrust, half-orcs become stubborn,
fearless, and obsessed with proving themselves before their peers. Thus,
half-orcs receive a +2 racial bonus on any saves and checks against fear,
and they gain a +2 racial bonus on Charisma checks and Charisma-based
skill checks made to adjust the way others view and treat them. Note that
this does not modify the initial reaction of others to the half-orc.
Live By Your Wits: Half-orcs learn to survive on their wits alone, using
guile and empathy derived from their human heritage to influence others
and to get out of tricky situations. As a result, half-orcs receive a +1 racial
bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Sense Motive skill checks for
every three character levels, and a +1 racial bonus on Will saves for every
four character levels. Also, half-orcs have an uncanny sort of luck that aids
them sometimes, allowing them to avoid otherwise nasty fates or
repercussions. Once per week, a half-orc may immediately re-roll any
attack roll, saving throw, or check that would otherwise fail, and the
half-orc must take the result of the new roll. Use of this ability must be
declared immediately when the success or failure of a roll is learned.
Extra Feats: Just like their human parents, half-orcs each get a bonus
feat for free at 1st-level, in addition to the standard feat that all
characters gain at 1st-level. The half-orc must still meet all the normal
prerequisites for this bonus feat, however, but they can choose any feat
that they qualify for. Also, at 11th-level, a half-orc gains another free
feat, chosen under the same guidelines.
Regional Benefits: Half-orcs gain additional benefits determined by the
region in which they spent the majority of their youth, just like humans
do; each region has various skill bonuses, regional feats, heritage feats,
and class skills associated with it. Half-orc regional benefits and regional
languages are listed in the Human/Half-Breed Regional Benefits Table, below.
Automatic Languages: Common and regional language.
Bonus Languages: Half-orcs may choose their bonus languages from
amongst the following - Draconic, Giantkin, Gnoll, Infernal, Orcish, and
Rock Goblin.
Favored Class: A half-orc's favored class is determined by region, and
each region has two favored classes to choose from, as noted on the
Human/Half-Breed Regional Benefits Table, below.
(Below is a small part of the aforementioned table. Jovan and Zuradim
are two human-dominated regions in the setting, where humans or
halfbreeds may originate.)
Human/Half-Breed Regional Benefits Table
Region---Language---Fav. Classes---Special Benefits
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Orc-------Orcish-------Barbarian-------Intimidate is always a class skill;
(Half-orcs only)--------Rogue----------gains +1 on Intimidate checks per
---------------------------------------two character levels; gains a free
---------------------------------------Weapon Focus feat with any simple
---------------------------------------or martial weapon, regardless of
---------------------------------------prerequisites, and also gains free
---------------------------------------proficiency with that weapon
---------------------------------------if necessary
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Zuradim---Zuradi-------Bard------------Diplomacy and Sense Motive are
-----------------------Rogue----------always class skills; +1 on all Craft
---------------------------------------and Profession checks; +1 on
---------------------------------------Appraise checks per two character
---------------------------------------levels.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jovan-----Jovanik------Bard------------Free Jovanik regional feat; may
-----------------------Fighter---------choose any single skill to always
---------------------------------------be a class skill; +2 on checks with
---------------------------------------that skill plus an additional +1 per
---------------------------------------two character levels (treat all
---------------------------------------Craft skills as a singular skill for
---------------------------------------this, and do the same for
---------------------------------------Knowledge and Profession).
the core races. I won't bother posting my custom plant-folk race, the
Verdalii, who have several racial benefits that are gradual and level-based,
because their description is rather long.
Half-Orcs
(To note, humans in my homebrew get another bonus feat at 11th-level,
and most part-human hybrid races gain bonus feats like them. Also,
humans and most part-human hybrids receive certain regional benefits.)
+2 Strength, -2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma: Half-orcs possess some of
their orcish parents' brawn, albeit lessened somewhat by the more mediocre
strength of their human parents. Half-orcs also suffer from the primitive
mentality and learning difficulties that their orcish brethren possess,
although their human side lessens this to a degree and sharpens their wits
slightly. However, in addition to the natural egotism and standoffish attitude
which they inherit from their orcish parents, half-orcs also suffer from
prejudice and disdain by many other folk, due to their mixed blood and the
very noticeable physical features caused by it.
Medium-Size: Half-orcs are Medium-sized, and thus have no special
benefits or penalties related to size.
Speed: Half-orc base speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision: Half-orcs possess the keen nocturnal eyesight of their orcish
brethren, and have Darkvision to a range of 60 feet, allowing them to see
fine in the dark, but not magical darkness. Darkvision is black and white
only, but otherwise just like normal vision, and a half-orc can function
just fine with no light at all.
Something To Prove: Because they are often downtrodden, disrespected,
and subjected to prejudice and distrust, half-orcs become stubborn,
fearless, and obsessed with proving themselves before their peers. Thus,
half-orcs receive a +2 racial bonus on any saves and checks against fear,
and they gain a +2 racial bonus on Charisma checks and Charisma-based
skill checks made to adjust the way others view and treat them. Note that
this does not modify the initial reaction of others to the half-orc.
Live By Your Wits: Half-orcs learn to survive on their wits alone, using
guile and empathy derived from their human heritage to influence others
and to get out of tricky situations. As a result, half-orcs receive a +1 racial
bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Sense Motive skill checks for
every three character levels, and a +1 racial bonus on Will saves for every
four character levels. Also, half-orcs have an uncanny sort of luck that aids
them sometimes, allowing them to avoid otherwise nasty fates or
repercussions. Once per week, a half-orc may immediately re-roll any
attack roll, saving throw, or check that would otherwise fail, and the
half-orc must take the result of the new roll. Use of this ability must be
declared immediately when the success or failure of a roll is learned.
Extra Feats: Just like their human parents, half-orcs each get a bonus
feat for free at 1st-level, in addition to the standard feat that all
characters gain at 1st-level. The half-orc must still meet all the normal
prerequisites for this bonus feat, however, but they can choose any feat
that they qualify for. Also, at 11th-level, a half-orc gains another free
feat, chosen under the same guidelines.
Regional Benefits: Half-orcs gain additional benefits determined by the
region in which they spent the majority of their youth, just like humans
do; each region has various skill bonuses, regional feats, heritage feats,
and class skills associated with it. Half-orc regional benefits and regional
languages are listed in the Human/Half-Breed Regional Benefits Table, below.
Automatic Languages: Common and regional language.
Bonus Languages: Half-orcs may choose their bonus languages from
amongst the following - Draconic, Giantkin, Gnoll, Infernal, Orcish, and
Rock Goblin.
Favored Class: A half-orc's favored class is determined by region, and
each region has two favored classes to choose from, as noted on the
Human/Half-Breed Regional Benefits Table, below.
(Below is a small part of the aforementioned table. Jovan and Zuradim
are two human-dominated regions in the setting, where humans or
halfbreeds may originate.)
Human/Half-Breed Regional Benefits Table
Region---Language---Fav. Classes---Special Benefits
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Orc-------Orcish-------Barbarian-------Intimidate is always a class skill;
(Half-orcs only)--------Rogue----------gains +1 on Intimidate checks per
---------------------------------------two character levels; gains a free
---------------------------------------Weapon Focus feat with any simple
---------------------------------------or martial weapon, regardless of
---------------------------------------prerequisites, and also gains free
---------------------------------------proficiency with that weapon
---------------------------------------if necessary
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Zuradim---Zuradi-------Bard------------Diplomacy and Sense Motive are
-----------------------Rogue----------always class skills; +1 on all Craft
---------------------------------------and Profession checks; +1 on
---------------------------------------Appraise checks per two character
---------------------------------------levels.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jovan-----Jovanik------Bard------------Free Jovanik regional feat; may
-----------------------Fighter---------choose any single skill to always
---------------------------------------be a class skill; +2 on checks with
---------------------------------------that skill plus an additional +1 per
---------------------------------------two character levels (treat all
---------------------------------------Craft skills as a singular skill for
---------------------------------------this, and do the same for
---------------------------------------Knowledge and Profession).
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