Kave
2013-12-21, 12:41 PM
A player asked me if he could create a paraplegic character. Since there are no oficial rules for this, or many discussions on how to make a character like this viable, i've created my own set of rules on how a paraplegic character should work after he or she learned how to overcome some of his or her frailties.
I would like opinions, comments or ideas on this template and how to make it more fair/balanced :smallsmile:
(I am aware that this could be a flaw instead of a template, but we usualy play at a 2 flaw limit, and not being able to use your legs seems too much compared to the other types of flaws.)
Acquiring this template gives the character an extra feat.
A paraplegic character either lost control of his legs or was born without them. She eventually learned how to overcome the difficulties of not being able to walk, but due to the trauma or not ever knowing how to use her legs, she may never be able to walk even if her legs are magically restored, or if new legs were created magically.
A paraplegic character gains a +2 bonus to strength, and a +4 bonus to climb checks, due to the heavy usage of her upper muscles for daily tasks. The character gets a -10 on balance checks since she must drag her body on the surface, and can't position the weight of her legs. She also automatically fails jump checks, has a -5 on swim checks, and a -10 to climb surfaces taller than herself (if the character has legs, consider how tall she would be if she could stand).
A dismounted paraplegic character on the ground is always considered prone, but does not receive the usual -4 penalty to attack rolls. She still gains +4 AC against ranged attacks, -4 AC against melee attacks, and is immune to trips. Using a move action, a paraplegic character may position herself on a sitting position that allows her to use ranged weapons other then the crossbow.
A paraplegic character has a crawling movement speed of 10ft, she cannot charge, run, or withdraw, but still may perform 5-foot step actions. Using medium or heavy armor reduces her speed to 5ft. A paraplegic character cannot use tumble skill, but may instead use the climb skill to pass through enemy occupied or threatened spaces without provoking attacks of opportunity.
Due to the lack of the leg limbs or due to muscular atrophy, the paraplegic’s body is lighter than normal. A character who does not have legs weights 5/7 of the average weight for that race, and a paraplegic who still has his legs but cannot use them weights 6/7 of the average weight.
Interpretatively, a paraplegic character obviously would not be able to perform actions that would require the use of his legs. However, the DM should encourage the player to attempt to improvise ways to perform such tasks. It is highly unadvised for the DM to allow players to acquire this template for the extra feat and bonuses if they have ways to avoid its penalties, such as by having a fly speed.
I would like opinions, comments or ideas on this template and how to make it more fair/balanced :smallsmile:
(I am aware that this could be a flaw instead of a template, but we usualy play at a 2 flaw limit, and not being able to use your legs seems too much compared to the other types of flaws.)
Acquiring this template gives the character an extra feat.
A paraplegic character either lost control of his legs or was born without them. She eventually learned how to overcome the difficulties of not being able to walk, but due to the trauma or not ever knowing how to use her legs, she may never be able to walk even if her legs are magically restored, or if new legs were created magically.
A paraplegic character gains a +2 bonus to strength, and a +4 bonus to climb checks, due to the heavy usage of her upper muscles for daily tasks. The character gets a -10 on balance checks since she must drag her body on the surface, and can't position the weight of her legs. She also automatically fails jump checks, has a -5 on swim checks, and a -10 to climb surfaces taller than herself (if the character has legs, consider how tall she would be if she could stand).
A dismounted paraplegic character on the ground is always considered prone, but does not receive the usual -4 penalty to attack rolls. She still gains +4 AC against ranged attacks, -4 AC against melee attacks, and is immune to trips. Using a move action, a paraplegic character may position herself on a sitting position that allows her to use ranged weapons other then the crossbow.
A paraplegic character has a crawling movement speed of 10ft, she cannot charge, run, or withdraw, but still may perform 5-foot step actions. Using medium or heavy armor reduces her speed to 5ft. A paraplegic character cannot use tumble skill, but may instead use the climb skill to pass through enemy occupied or threatened spaces without provoking attacks of opportunity.
Due to the lack of the leg limbs or due to muscular atrophy, the paraplegic’s body is lighter than normal. A character who does not have legs weights 5/7 of the average weight for that race, and a paraplegic who still has his legs but cannot use them weights 6/7 of the average weight.
Interpretatively, a paraplegic character obviously would not be able to perform actions that would require the use of his legs. However, the DM should encourage the player to attempt to improvise ways to perform such tasks. It is highly unadvised for the DM to allow players to acquire this template for the extra feat and bonuses if they have ways to avoid its penalties, such as by having a fly speed.