Savage Species??
- Thread starter Khaalis
- Start date
David Eckelberry said:
Well I for one consider he book worth the $30 pricetag. I rather agree with a limited, but not <b>wholly</b> denied, ability to multiclass (I think I like the idea of "monster levels must be twice or more the sum of all other levels" -- so if you want a minotaur mage, you can be Minotaur(4)/Wizard(2) just fine ... ).
However, you already have errata to work on (sorry to be the bearer of ill tidings): there is no description I can find ANYwhere of the "Aquatic" template. The Templates chapter leaps directly to Feral. Aquatic does show up in the lists in the back of the book, though.
Oh, as for the lists: please give a BIG thank you to whoever approved of printing the monsters TWICE (once alphabetically, once by starting ECL). Now, if I want a specific ECL, I look on that table; if I already know which fugly-b*st*rd I want to check up on, I look in the alpha table. Great idea, well worth the extra two or three pages!! 8)
One other semi-negative issue I have with the templates (and one I intend to house rule out of existance), is the "Taur" template's insistane that the lower-body creature must be at least size M, or up to size L.
I think a better stance would have been, "both parts must be the same size; increase one and/or decrease the other per the MM size-change rules to match". I'd've loved to try a Grig/Housecat mix ... a "Grigtaur" ... heh. Or something similar; even Homunculous/constrictor (for a nagalike homunculous).
Just a couple thoughts, an observationof minor error, and lots of praise for a generally well-done book.
Thank You
Just wanted to reply and say THANK YOU to David for stopping in and giving us his insight into the question. It is not often we can interact directly with an author and get the "inside" scoop. Overall I am very happy with Savage Species and it will go to great use in all future gaming experiences.
As for the specific issue in question, I think in many games it will fall to a DM's call on whether or not to House Rule or "Rule 0" the Racial Class Multiclassing Restriction, OR people will use Racial Write-ups like the "Young" line of races (ex: Young Centaur, Young Minotaur, etc.) form AEG's Monsters. As Pax has said, I think many people will still enforce Racial Class Levels but do so as a House Rule allowing for 1/2 of your Racial Class in other classes (but totally dependant on the Strength of the creature). As David stated, not all creatures are created equally.
Personally I am a fan of the Minotaur race and have had Minotaurs as a playable race since way back in the days of 2E Dragonlance. In fact one of the most influencial NPC's I have ever had in my games is a Minotaur Fighter (and shhh... Rogue) named Morktrosh that runs a cozy little Tavern/Inn (and secret Gladitorial Pit) in Waterdeep called the Galloping Minotaur. I have also always allowed most of the Intelligent Humanoids as playable races. Savage Species finally allows me a decent rule set for the creation and use of these characters and NPC's rather than muddeling through it myself.
Thanks again to all those involved in making Savage Species a reality. You satisfied a previously left-out sector of the gaming community who always felt discriminated against for all those Intelligent humanoids that could not become bigger and better than being a lowly "Monster".
Just wanted to reply and say THANK YOU to David for stopping in and giving us his insight into the question. It is not often we can interact directly with an author and get the "inside" scoop. Overall I am very happy with Savage Species and it will go to great use in all future gaming experiences.
As for the specific issue in question, I think in many games it will fall to a DM's call on whether or not to House Rule or "Rule 0" the Racial Class Multiclassing Restriction, OR people will use Racial Write-ups like the "Young" line of races (ex: Young Centaur, Young Minotaur, etc.) form AEG's Monsters. As Pax has said, I think many people will still enforce Racial Class Levels but do so as a House Rule allowing for 1/2 of your Racial Class in other classes (but totally dependant on the Strength of the creature). As David stated, not all creatures are created equally.
Personally I am a fan of the Minotaur race and have had Minotaurs as a playable race since way back in the days of 2E Dragonlance. In fact one of the most influencial NPC's I have ever had in my games is a Minotaur Fighter (and shhh... Rogue) named Morktrosh that runs a cozy little Tavern/Inn (and secret Gladitorial Pit) in Waterdeep called the Galloping Minotaur. I have also always allowed most of the Intelligent Humanoids as playable races. Savage Species finally allows me a decent rule set for the creation and use of these characters and NPC's rather than muddeling through it myself.
Thanks again to all those involved in making Savage Species a reality. You satisfied a previously left-out sector of the gaming community who always felt discriminated against for all those Intelligent humanoids that could not become bigger and better than being a lowly "Monster".
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