Racial Trait to replace Nezumi Taint Immunity?

[Sound of Azure]

For a mini-world I'm considering running, I've created a number of pre-generated characters for the players to run. One of these is a Nezumi Scout.

Nezumi originally appeared in the Oriental Adventures sourcebook, back in 3.0e. They're basically "rat dudes". They seem balanced enough as they are. Unfortunately, one of their racial traits doesn't mesh well with the mini-world, as there is no taint mechanic in place in the game (and I don't intend to add one).

I'm looking for a balanced alternative to the taint immunity. I was considering giving them Scent as a starting feat (they can normally take the feat, but don't automatically get it), increasing the disease and poison immunity, or giving them the Elven secret door sense.

Here is the full list of the Nezumi's racial traits:

>Medium size

>+2 CON, -2 INT

>Base Speed 40 ft.

> Low-light vision

>+2 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks

>+2 racial bonus on saves against Poison and Disease

>Immune to the Shadowlands taint; They can't get a Taint score, and suffer no effects from exposure to the Shadowlands. effects such as the cloud of taint spell or the special attacks of Shadowlands creatures can still harm them however.

>Natural weapons: Claws, bite 1d4 damage.

>Keen Scent: Can take the Scent feat if they have Wisdom of 11 or higher.


Any interesting ideas?

 

[Cabral]

I would go with a +2 or +4 racial bonus versus disease or maybe an immunity to non-magical disease.

 

[smootrk]

That is tough, as they seem to have most other 'rat' traits addressed. Why not grant the effect of a rat familiar (a straight +2 on Fort saves), or possibly the Alertness feat?

Another aspect that may be overlooked for a Rat race, is that rats can swim rather well... why not grant a swim skill check bonus or possibly even an actual swim speed.

You might even grant bonus for climb and/or balance while you are at it.

I would probably not grant all these abilities at the same time... just a few rat ideas for you to consider.

 

[Nifft]

Shadowlands taint seems like a small thing -- it's not going to come up at low levels, and at high levels, presumably all PCs will have some immunity before they visit.

So, perhaps a +1 or +2 to saves vs. death magic? (Small high-level benefit.)

Cheers, -- N

 

[Kunimatyu]

Nezumi are already very powerful without any sort of additional trait to make up for the Shadowlands Taint Immunity.

+2 to Con, 40ft speed, and natural weapons? That's amazing, and maybe too good.

 

[Cabral]

Whoops, missed that they already had disease resistance. Why not steal from the Wererat entry and give them Scent property outright.

 

[Quartz]

Just do away with the immunity to Taint. The race is pretty strong as is.

 

[Sound of Azure]

I'll just give them Alertness, I think (Good idea smootrk) . Thanks for the comments, everyone!