Page 1 of 1

Some assistance on creating a PC race and/or class...

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 5:30 pm
by Kelthrax
I had a couple ideas I wanted to work on for some humanoid player character races and/or classes. I could use some assistance and/or direction, if anyone wouldn't mind helping.

1) Shroomkin (aka Mushroom-man) PC race

A 4-5' tall mushroom man. 'nuff said. Except I don't want them to be like myconids. I was thinking along the lines of evolutionary changes that players may choose from. Perhaps one variant will have lichen and bark-like growths that increase its AC, one variant that release hallucinogenic spores that cause confusion, or another that releases poisonous spores. They would be restricted on armor due to their body structure, perhaps a 2x cost? Definitely no helmets or hats. And for sustenance they can absorb nutrients from any organic matter by touch (when they rest they have tiny roots - hyphae - that grow from their 'skin'). Maybe darkvision? Perhaps a +4 Save vs. Poison with a Constitution 13 Requirement? Limited to Fighters and Wizards only?

2) Scavenger or Salvager or Trash Collector PC Class or Race

I'm imagining goblins from the movie Labyrinth. Basically guys who can take leftover pieces of armor or weapons or debris to make 'something'. Their armor will be mix-matched, weapons haphazardly strapped together, with a chance things will fall apart, perhaps on a natural roll of a 1 or from critical hits? If given time they can construct shields, spears, melee weapons, armor pieces, etc. out of things they have scavenged. Perhaps they can eat anything, have higher Constitution but low Charisma. It kind of sounds like a class, but I could see this being a race of goblinoids as well.

I've got some other ideas, but I'll get the ball rolling for these two things for now. Thanks for any assistance!

Re: Some assistance on creating a PC race and/or class...

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 7:11 pm
by GM Parseth
Shroomkin
I would personally avoid anything that can boost AC or the spores myself. I do like the sustenance ability you described but I'm not sure about Darkvision since that seems to be one everyone goes to to make their races "unique". And I would just give them a +2 Save vs Poison. As for anything more unique than that, maybe some form of berserk mode based on the tales of berserkers who would consume a heady drink of mushroom broth to go berserk themselves. Not sure how well that would work out. And the class restrictions seem fine to me.

Salvager
An interesting idea! Maybe any armor they wear suffers a -1 to AC every time they are hit but armor is cheaper for them to purchase/make. As for weapons, maybe an innate -1 to all damage rolls but all weapons cost 1/2 price based on materials they scavenge? Minimum Constitution of 9, maximum Charisma of 17? And I would say make them like Halflings and Dwarves in terms of weapon size restrictions but like Dwarves in that they don't suffer carry weight restrictions. Lastly, maybe they have a better chance of finding treasure?

Re: Some assistance on creating a PC race and/or class...

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 10:32 pm
by Hywaywolf
I see lots of goodies for these races, but not many drawbacks other than spending extra for armor and thats only a drawback at character creation; after a few delves money for armor isn't really an issue anymore. Now having your armor fly to bits in a melee is a big drawback :). And they have darkvision which is reasonable and to be expected for a mushroom breed (pooped on and kept in the dark). How fast does a shroomkin move? Seems to me they should move slower than normal folk. That should give them a penalty on initiative rolls. And how long does it take to take in enough nutrient through their hyphae. Seems that would be a slow process as well. And those goblins in the movie Labyrinth were a dimwitted bunch so your scavenger class needs to have a penalty in the intelligence ability and maybe even wisdom if you want to mimic them :). But they are pretty loyal to their king.

Re: Some assistance on creating a PC race and/or class...

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 4:47 am
by Kelthrax
Let’s see...

1) Shroomkin
Requirement - Con 13, max Cha 15
Must ‘root’ self once a day to get nutrients, takes an hour?
Darkvision 30’
Cannot wear metal armor, only modified leather/hide whatnot that can be tailor-made?
Slow movement?
Penalty to Initiative?
Spores released 1/day - poisonous or hallucinogenic?

2) Scavenger Goblin (Gimling, Gnoblar?)
Requirement - Con 13, max Int 15
Salvage armor, mundane items, weapons from debris and detritus but has a chance of being reduced effectivity from critical rolls or a percentage per usage?