Suggestions to replace Halflings
- Thread starter Wightbred
- Start date
1) Take the halflings and make them into reptiles or amphibians. If you go the former route, you can cop some elements of Egyptian croc mythology for part of their society. If the latter, you can make them Slaad worshipers...or even decended from something from the Far Realms. In that case, Lords of Madness' aberration rules could give you some clues.
2) Make them some kind of fey, possibly like the Killoren from RotW. Fey riverfolk could have all kinds of interesting cultural mores.
3) Yank the River Spiritfolk from 3Ed Oriental Adventures.
4) Anthropomorphic flightless versions of aquatic birds- plenty of options here ranging from eagles & ospreys to pellicans, gulls, ducks, geese, swans and flamingoes. Penguins or Puffins, even!
5) As 4 above, but using pre-avian or even aquatic dinosaurs as the base.
6) Rework the Giff from Spelljammer. After all, hippos ARE semiaquatic mammals. Imagine a large & physically imposing river race who, while prepared for battle & commanding the riverways of much of the world, are nonetheless politically "Neutral."
7) Snakes ranging in type and size from Anacondas to Copperheads to Sea Snakes are quite at home on the water, giving you the option of revamping the Yuan Ti for your purposes.
8) There are all kinds of Arthropods who live in, on or under the water, most notably half the menu at Red Lobster (though you'll find some spiders as well as the extinct sea-scorpions and trilobites on the list as well). Some, like Mantis, Pistol, and Bullet shrimp are quite dangerous even to humans. An anthro version of some such would work as a river race.
9) Sentient Plants.
10) Continuing the Anthro theme- mollusks. Most are "harmless," but cone snails have a toxin quite capable of killing humans.
2) Make them some kind of fey, possibly like the Killoren from RotW. Fey riverfolk could have all kinds of interesting cultural mores.
3) Yank the River Spiritfolk from 3Ed Oriental Adventures.
4) Anthropomorphic flightless versions of aquatic birds- plenty of options here ranging from eagles & ospreys to pellicans, gulls, ducks, geese, swans and flamingoes. Penguins or Puffins, even!
5) As 4 above, but using pre-avian or even aquatic dinosaurs as the base.
6) Rework the Giff from Spelljammer. After all, hippos ARE semiaquatic mammals. Imagine a large & physically imposing river race who, while prepared for battle & commanding the riverways of much of the world, are nonetheless politically "Neutral."
7) Snakes ranging in type and size from Anacondas to Copperheads to Sea Snakes are quite at home on the water, giving you the option of revamping the Yuan Ti for your purposes.
8) There are all kinds of Arthropods who live in, on or under the water, most notably half the menu at Red Lobster (though you'll find some spiders as well as the extinct sea-scorpions and trilobites on the list as well). Some, like Mantis, Pistol, and Bullet shrimp are quite dangerous even to humans. An anthro version of some such would work as a river race.
9) Sentient Plants.
10) Continuing the Anthro theme- mollusks. Most are "harmless," but cone snails have a toxin quite capable of killing humans.
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I can't believe I didn't suggest this earlier...
Anthro Turtles.
Not TMNT guys.
Anthro turtles modeled on something like an Alligator Snapping turtle, big enough to work as living river-barges (size L?), and a dangerous bite attack.
Anthro Turtles.
Not TMNT guys.
Anthro turtles modeled on something like an Alligator Snapping turtle, big enough to work as living river-barges (size L?), and a dangerous bite attack.
Blair Goatsblood
First Post
Pygmies
Fallen Seraph
First Post
Make your own version of a Gremlin.
Gremlins make their life on the rivers, the pattern of their scaly skin similar to a boggy, swamp they found it quite easy to hide and shelter in the rivers. They also began to develop a means of travel down the river. The first of their riverboats.
As time progressed and the Gremlins became more sophisticated riverfolk, their boats began to make contact with the various towns and cities of the world. In Human lands in the beginning they were shunned, but their quick, smart minds quickly made them into sought after merchants. This also enabled them to trade and grow more wealthy, finding a strong appreciation for objects of extreme-value. In the Goblin and Orcish lands their small-size and relative weaknesses made it easy for them to integrate themselves into these lands without resistance. Their higher intelligence has allowed them to manipulate and grow in power in such lands.
Gremlins also make fair rogues, with their keen intelligence and small size but agile bodies gaining them natural advantages. Many wishing to gain wealth through less "legal" terms have taken up the art of thieving. Many Gremlin thieving-clubs and gangs exist in the cities of the world. They are hunted down violently but continue to spring up, many especially Humans have taken a strong dislike to Gremlins viewing them as "vermin" but their cunning ways and strong-trade links have kept these thoughts hidden.
Well this is just one idea, for a monstorous race of river-traders to swap for Halflings.
Gremlins make their life on the rivers, the pattern of their scaly skin similar to a boggy, swamp they found it quite easy to hide and shelter in the rivers. They also began to develop a means of travel down the river. The first of their riverboats.
As time progressed and the Gremlins became more sophisticated riverfolk, their boats began to make contact with the various towns and cities of the world. In Human lands in the beginning they were shunned, but their quick, smart minds quickly made them into sought after merchants. This also enabled them to trade and grow more wealthy, finding a strong appreciation for objects of extreme-value. In the Goblin and Orcish lands their small-size and relative weaknesses made it easy for them to integrate themselves into these lands without resistance. Their higher intelligence has allowed them to manipulate and grow in power in such lands.
Gremlins also make fair rogues, with their keen intelligence and small size but agile bodies gaining them natural advantages. Many wishing to gain wealth through less "legal" terms have taken up the art of thieving. Many Gremlin thieving-clubs and gangs exist in the cities of the world. They are hunted down violently but continue to spring up, many especially Humans have taken a strong dislike to Gremlins viewing them as "vermin" but their cunning ways and strong-trade links have kept these thoughts hidden.
Well this is just one idea, for a monstorous race of river-traders to swap for Halflings.
Robert Ranting
First Post
I have found that Grippli are a real hit with female gamers in my local group, especially if you treat them as being evolved from jungle tree frogs as they were illustrated in the issue of Dragon magazine where their 3.5 stats appeared. While bullywugs and other frogmen are more common in fantasy, they tend to be squat, toadlike, and drab in color. Grippli however have bright, cheerful colored patterns, that clearly mark them as individuals with similar color combinations indicating clan or tribe. It may not seem like a big deal, but it gives them a visual "hook" which helps distinguish them from the "drab dryskins". They're small, agile, stealthy, and clannish, just like 4e's halflings, and as frogs they need to stay near some source of water to keep themselves moist, so riverboats are a good habitat for them. They are also incredibly "cute" with their large eyes and bright colors, which allows them to either ingratiate themselves to the locals or divert suspicion away from their larcenous activities. Oh, they also make good thieves, since they literally have sticky fingers 
Here is some art to inspire ideas:
http://ursulav.deviantart.com/art/Frog-Tribe-18069793
http://ursulav.deviantart.com/art/Kachina-Frog-471986
My second suggestion is that you use the Nezumi from Rokugan/Oriental Adventures as a base. They are a race of survivors and scavengers who live on the edge of human soceity, relying upon strong familial bonds and determination, skill, and sheer tenacity to survive. They tend to be less disciplined than other races, focusing more on the survival of the group (which often means the adventuring party) over their own concerns. They tend to be rogues, rangers, barbarians or sorcerors, as their short lives and tendency to live in the moment discourages rigorous study or training in anything except the most practical skills. In fact, their religion states that Tomorrow, the personification of the uncertainty of the future and the inevitability of death, is actively chasing their race. Each nezumi is effectively racing against Tomorrow to accomplish all that he can for himself and others before he is caught. This makes Nezumi characters driven and courageous heroes with little concern for pomp and circumstance, and a focus on practicality, tangible rewards, and direct action for the benefit of the greater good.
The only obstacle with the Nezumi is that they happen to be anthropomorphic rats and mice, which is often an archetypal "villain" race (such as the Skaven of Warhammer). However, if you balance the evil Nezumi with good ones (drawing from Rokugan, Red Wall, and various anime that feature mouse-people in a good light) then they have as much breadth of moral standing as any fantasy race. Of course, many people will not look kindly on "river rats", but that works fine for the halfling's niche.
Robert "Frogs and Rats, Rafting Together" Ranting
Here is some art to inspire ideas:
http://ursulav.deviantart.com/art/Frog-Tribe-18069793
http://ursulav.deviantart.com/art/Kachina-Frog-471986
My second suggestion is that you use the Nezumi from Rokugan/Oriental Adventures as a base. They are a race of survivors and scavengers who live on the edge of human soceity, relying upon strong familial bonds and determination, skill, and sheer tenacity to survive. They tend to be less disciplined than other races, focusing more on the survival of the group (which often means the adventuring party) over their own concerns. They tend to be rogues, rangers, barbarians or sorcerors, as their short lives and tendency to live in the moment discourages rigorous study or training in anything except the most practical skills. In fact, their religion states that Tomorrow, the personification of the uncertainty of the future and the inevitability of death, is actively chasing their race. Each nezumi is effectively racing against Tomorrow to accomplish all that he can for himself and others before he is caught. This makes Nezumi characters driven and courageous heroes with little concern for pomp and circumstance, and a focus on practicality, tangible rewards, and direct action for the benefit of the greater good.
The only obstacle with the Nezumi is that they happen to be anthropomorphic rats and mice, which is often an archetypal "villain" race (such as the Skaven of Warhammer). However, if you balance the evil Nezumi with good ones (drawing from Rokugan, Red Wall, and various anime that feature mouse-people in a good light) then they have as much breadth of moral standing as any fantasy race. Of course, many people will not look kindly on "river rats", but that works fine for the halfling's niche.
Robert "Frogs and Rats, Rafting Together" Ranting
The archetypal Nezumi is an anthropomorphic black/brown rat...but there is no reason you can't replace one rodent species with another.
White mice...squirrels...hamsters...
Giant space hamsters...
White mice...squirrels...hamsters...
Giant space hamsters...
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