[RACE] Nietzscheans

dreaded_beast

First Post
For those of you who watch the Andromeda TV show, here is my take on the Nietzscheans.

Any comments and suggestions welcome.

Would this race require an ECL?

Nietzscheans
(Homo sapiens invictus)
*the following paragraph "physical characteristics" is taken from the following website, which is directly linked to from the official Andromeda website.
http://www.allsystems.org/social/nietz.shtml

Physical Characteristics
Nietzscheans are bigger, faster and stronger than normal Humans. They are immune to most poisons and diseases. They can breathe chlorine gas without harm. They can eat a much wider variety of foods, survive in harsher environments, and pride themselves on thriving where normal humans wouldn't dare to tread.

+4 Constitution
Nietzscheans are physically superior than normal humans. They are stronger not because of actually muscle ability, but through their genetically enhanced health and stamina, making them tougher to kill than normal humans.

-4 Charisma
Nietzscheans have a "superiority complex", where they believe themselves to be superior to most sentient species, which is usually true in the physical sense. While usually being physically attractive, they have an infamous reputation of being untrustworthy, devious, and selfish, even in regards to
their own kind.

*Nietzschans are able to substitute their Consitution bonus in place of their Charisma bonus in regards to Intimidate checks. A Nietzschan has faith in their genetic superiority, which stems from their high Consitution scores. In addition, a higher Constitution score is physically evident in Nietzschans. As a result, a higher Constitution score enables a Nietzschans to receive bonuses to Intimidate checks.

Bone Spurs
Nietzscheans possess bone spurs along their fore-arms which they can use during combat. They are always considered armed when attacking with these spurs. These are natural attacks and do not provoke an attack of opportunity. They do 1d4 points of slashing and piercing damage. They can use both left and right spurs during the same round, but suffer the penalties for two-weapon fighting. These penalties can be lessened by taking the appropriate feats. There is no penalty for fighting with only one bone spur. Nietzcheans can apply feats to their bone spurs that apply to attacks, such as Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, etc.

Physical Superiority
Nietzscheans possess a +2 bonus to their FORTITUDE and REFLEX saves due to their physical superiority, since they are tougher and faster than normal humans.

Disease and Poison
Nietzscheans are immune to nonmagical disease, which enables them to survive on a wider variety of foods. They recieve a +4 bonus on saves against poison and magical diseases.

Breath Attacks
They recieve a +4 bonus on saves against breath weapons and attacks or spell-like affects that require inhalation. They are immune to chlorine gas, such as that from the breath weapon of a green dragon.

Enhanced Senses
They recieve a +2 bonus to spot, listen, and sense motive checks from their enhanced senses.

Survivor
They are able to sustain themselves on a wider variety of foods and are breed for survival. They recieve a +2 bonus on wilderness lore checks.

Favored Class: Any

Base Speed: 30 ft
Size: Medium
Natural AC: 10
 

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Great Idea. Nice to see an Andromeda fan out there!
 

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Each pride has it's " focus ". The Kodiaks were obviously focused on physical perfection, while other prides like the Drago Katsov were focused on treachery and politics...I would adjust stats to reflect that.

Also, all members of the subspecies are 30% stronger, faster, and have heightened senses, as well as immunity to natural diseases and toxins. The race can also eat nearly anything organic.

Below average abilities would not be tolerated in the species, so you would have to set up a new way to roll stats to reflect this.

example I did with elves in my world:

str12+d4
dex16 +d8
con13+ d4
int12+d8
wis15+d4
cha12+d6

A Kodiak would probaly look like this:

str: 9+d10 ( 10-19 )
dex 9+d10 ( 10-19 )
con 10+d10 ( 11-20 )
int: 10+d8 ( 11-18 )
wis 10+d8 ( 11-18 )
cha 10+d10 ( 11-20/this assumes that physical looks are included in the charisma score )

Choose 1-2 prime abilities for the 11-20 range, 1-2 10-19 range and the rest 11-18 when creating other prides.


These people are not called " Ubers " for nothing, and great care should be taken to balance them when introduced into a setting. it is an interesting concept though!
 

Nietzscheans should not have an ablity score penalty they are superior or at least equal to humans in every way because they are enhanced Humans their "superiority complex" Should not affect their actual charisma since it would also make them poor telepaths, sorcerers, bards, and diplomats areas where Nietzscheans would probably excel. Probably your best bet is to give bonuses to give the equivalent of one +2 bonus to a good stat +2 str or dex and one +2 bonus to a lesser stat +2 int, cha, or wis depending on pride check the DMG for the table on what constitutes a balanced bonus/penalty
(example orca pride focused on physical endurance, intelligence and perception so Instead of +2 str or dex that bonus becomes +2 wis and int, while the original bonus for a mental stat might become a +2 con see DMG)

and yes they probably need an ECL
 

Other things would have to be added from the show...

For instance, their higher senses, especially hearing, makes them vulnerable to high pitched sonic attacks ( Interesting episode ).

They are over confident, treacherous, competitive and arrogant, making them suseptable to getting killed before reaching old age. Good alignments would be rare.

They still bleed

Roleplaying penalty: The Pride. Those without prides are outcasts or survivors of a sundered pride, which can be very dangerous depending on which pride or prides did the sundering.

Atheists: Clerical classes would not be an option for this subrace. " God is Dead " remember.
 

Well, for my own campaign, I made the Genetic Engineered Template (which is currently for NPCs only).
Genetic Engineered Creatures are mainly produced to make superior warriors (and spellcasters, to some extent) and are both used by some humanoid "empires" (well, the main user is far away from being an "empire") and the Formians for their upcoming Invasion of space (but with the formian, nobody will notice it, I think...)

It gives +2 to Strength, Dex, Constitution and Intelligence.
Base Speed +10 feet
+2 to Hide, Listen, Move Silenty, Search, Spot
Darkvision 60 Feet + Lowlight Vision
Spellresistance 10+HD (might remove this)
+2 racial bonus on Fortitude Saves against disease and poison, +2 racial bonus against charm effects.
They gain the Endurance, Improved Initiative and Run Feat.
Base creatures without natural weapons gain the Improved Unarmed Feat.
CR +1
ECL +2


I left Wisdom and Charisma out, because it seems to be less needed from a combat point of view, and because it is probably more difficult to "measure".

Mustrum Ridcully
 

thanks for the responses

i am a bit biased in thinking that nietzscheans are superior to humans in almost every way. this opinion stems from their portrayal on the show.

more often than not, dylan hunt, some crew members and some guest stars are able to outthink and outfight most "common" nietzscheans. "common" defined as those that are the "red shirts" of the series. they are usually killed or dispatched in 1 or 2 hits during the show, in otherwords, nameless extras.

its kinda late where i am at right now, and i have a few other points i want to express, but i think i will wait until morning.

the next race i am contemplating making are the magog. i will try to post a more coherent rough draft on magog tommorrow.
 


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