Scarecrow

[Aspect of Veles]

A while ago I posted an idea for a Scarecrow race and an associated class. This quickly fizzled as I lost my notes, became incredibly busy, and forgot about it. In the interim The MM3 has introduced a monstrous scarecrow as a mainstream 4e monster. Recently I found my notes. I have scrapped the class idea, but have brushed up the race a bit. Through test-play it appears to be well-suited to Striker roles. I am posting it here so that others can use it and so that I can receive any feedback to help improve the story and rules behind this race. It is completely unconnected with the MM3 Scarecrow.

[I'm not sure if the attachment went through, let me know if it didn't]

 

[Aspect of Veles]

Additional Feats

I plan on releasing a series of Scarecrow-specific feats, some allowing the player to replace his powers with race-specific ones.

 

[Aspect of Veles]

Ability Scores and Race Negatives

I am also considering changing the "+1 to any" to a +2 to Int. I originally planned to have them have a weakness to fire, but that didn't really work into the 4E idea with the rest of the races.

 

[dangerous jack]

Unnatural Balance: "Easy DC" could be annoying for the DM (who has to open the book and check pg 42). And since the scarecrow gets a bonus to Dex & Acrobatics, it would be at least a "roll 10 or higher" situation (i.e. a save). If the character is trained in Acrobatics and has a decent Dex, it would become such an easy check as to be not worth rolling. Making it a save treads on the dwarf's power space, and making it immune to prone attacks is more powerful than the dwarf's, but is highly situational.

Straw Filled Carapace: I know that my PCs haven't met any foes that use a hammer/mace in the last level (or two?). So I wouldn't rate it an on par ability with a tiefling's resist fire, which comes up more frequently. Something that works against more monster attacks might be interesting.

Darkvision: Darkvision could be problematic... it could bypass interesting elements of DM's encounters. Lowlight vision mixed with a bonus to defenses vs. creatures with concealment or total concealment might be worth investigating.

Overall, it's a cool idea. But I think it needs a power that will come up every encounter. Something that makes it clear that the character is "scarecrow-y" and/or "filled with straw". A fear based attack, unsettling double-jointedness, replacing the straw stuffing, a cloud of straw, etc.

Edited to add: I really like the flavour though, and like characters like this.

 

[Aspect of Veles]

I had meant to change the "Easy DC" but I guess I forgot, thanks for pointing it out. Maybe I'll replace that whole bit with an encounter power like you said.

Originally I had "Blunt Weapon" instead of "Hammer/Mace", and I did realize that it seemed a little... how do you say? Out of place when other characters had resistances to damage types. I was thinking of maybe replacing it with a bonus to fear saves or a resistance to psychic damage.

 

[Aspect of Veles]

Updated PDF

Here is the updated PDF.

I've changed "Straw-Filled Carapace" to "Brainless Courage" (+5 to saving throws vs. Fear), and the effect on " Unnatural Balance" to "When knocked prone a Scarecrow can stand up as a minor action on their next turn."


Race Feats are also up there. I'm really not sure on the balance there, as I've never really tried my hand at house-rule feats before.

 

[Aspect of Veles]

Sorry, havin' trouble uploading. I THINK the right PDF is on the first post now.

 

[Grimgrin]

I have some suggestions
　
Scarecrow Race
+1 any attribute is a little odd since it allows the PC to take a +3 DEX bonus as written. If you want some flexiblity, I would make it +2 INT or WIS (Like the Psi Races). Fire Vulnerability would be good for the scarecrow theme, but it is too easily overcome by equipment to be a proper penalty for PCs. Otherwise I like what you have written.


Strawfilled Carapace: As written it gives a double DEX AC bonus which is too good a bonus IMO; maybe a fixed bonus (i.e. +1 AC at 1st, 11th, and 21st) and drop the fire vulnerability. Additionally the feat could provide an armor based bonus to "escape" checks and/or eliminate some of the penalties to "squeezing" through tight spaces while wearing cloth or no armor.

Soul Harvesting: You have to specify how long the soul pool endures. Is it for the encounter or the day or the lifetime of the scarecrow. (Between "rests" seems appropriate).

Reaping Tools: I would limit this weapon feat to the sickle and scythe.

Mow Down: Knocking others down seems odd for a light weight straw man but fits the farming theme. Maybe if the scarecrow fell prone as well.

You should also add a fear related racial feat. Such as:
Scare Tactics: +1 attack bonus to powers that have the Fear and Psychic Keywords.

 

[dangerous jack]

Brainless Courage: steps on the toes of Halflings, who have the same power
Lifeless Brutality: neat, but does "Lifeless" imply that they are undead? or should they at least have the Shadow Origin property like Revenants (or Shadar-Kai)
Unnatural Balance: you could probably rewrite this as simply "A scarecrow can stand up as a minor action."

I think they're still missing something that they can use every encounter to show that they are a scarecrow. Elves will use Accuracy every encounter, Dragonborn will use their Breath Weapon every encounter, etc. As written, I could play several encounters without being knocked prone or facing a fear attack, and could easily "forget" that I'm playing a scarecrow. If I'm a scarecrow, I want to do something really cool that non-scarecrows just can't do.

Off the top of my head, something weird might be:
Unnerving Movement (minor, encounter) * Fear
Effect: You may shift 2 squares before this attack
Target: Close burst 1, targets enemies in burst
Attack: Dex+2 or Cha+2 vs. Will
Hit: 1d4+Cha modifier psychic damage, and the target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls against you until the end of its next turn

 

[Aspect of Veles]

Thanks for The Tips

Thanks for the tips guys.

I'll go through and fix as many of the problems as I can. I'll take your suggestions, adjusting where I see fit, and then go from there.

Some of the aspects (such as fire vulnerability) will almost undoubtedly be scrapped from this version and reserved for special situations, such as my story-driven Oz campaign, as I can see how it doesn't really fit with the 4e vision, no matter how much I want it to.