Lamia Character: Good, Bad, Can it be Done?

[7th son of sons]

I'm not sure if this would belong in this section or the Homebrew Section, But I believe it belongs here.

I am starting up a new campaign in a couple of weeks. One of my players has been rather consistently playing Human Girls, and while I don't hate her for it, I do want to change things up, as many in my group are fond of humans as well. As such, my next campaign is without the option to play a human character. She was understandably upset, but came to an Idea: A Lamia.


So, I was wondering what you thought on the subject. What would a Lamia's level adjustment be? Would it even be Feasible to play such a race? Would it be balanced compared to characters of Normal Races and Classes? What would it's stat boosts be? SLA's? Extraordinary Abilities? Could it be put together into a Savage Progression?

Thank you in advance, I know this is an Odd request, so I turned to more expert hands on this one.

[Pan151]

It's probably not gonna be proper for a regular game without homebrewing, but there is a Lamia race (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/resources/systems/pennpaper/dnd35/soveliorsage/monstersKtoL.html#lamia) in the SRD

[Meowmasterish]

While Lamia are in the SRD, you might be meaning half-woman/half-snake. The lamia in the SRD is half-human/half-lion. There is a half-human/half-snake race called the Naga, but they all cast as level 7+ sorcerers, so your DM might not allow it.

[Fenris-Wolf]

In SRD, Lamia's are evil half lion centaur-like creatures and they have 9 HD and LA of +4 (ECL 13). Naga's are also evil, none of the different types have listed LA's that I know of and they have a human head on top of a snake's body.

The creatures with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a snake Meowmasterish was probably thinking of are Lillends http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/resources/systems/pennpaper/dnd35/soveliorsage/monstersKtoL.html#lillend, and they are attractive, feather-winged, good-aligned outsiders with bardic abilities. They could be a neat choice for a monster race; 7 HD and LA of +6 they are the exact same ECL (13) as the Lamia.

[Necroticplague]

If you want mechanics for making your snake-chick, Serpent kingdom has some rules that could help. The Replacement Tail graft, as the name implies, replaces you legs with a snake-like tail. Gives a slower speed, but adds a constrict attack and a swim speed. Also, some variety of yaun-ti are similar to what your looking for (I think Abominations, but might be Halfblood).

[shylocke]

Savage species?

[otakumick]

the oriental adventures naga are more suitable for players and they aren't evil.

[Zionara]

Have a look here..http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/advancedRaceGuide/raceBuilder.html


It would come out at around 20-30 RP, thoiugh you can make it for like 15 if you like. Humans have 9, dwarves 11 and a Drow Noble has 41 RP
You could make some of tha abilities into Lamia feats, much like the Drow feats, so that the different abilities would become available as it grows.

[Frogteam]

Seconding Oriental Adventures, there's an la +1 "greensnake naga". Note that the stats for it were updated to 3.5 in a dragon magazine. #318

[ngilop]

There's also Yuan ti but as they aren't OGL the best I cna do is slap you this link (http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Yuan-ti)

They are snake peoples.

But in the end it don't matter at all about any of us saying snake peoples it only matters on what your player's definition and Idea of a Lamia really is

In actuality she was just an really really ugly human queen of libya turned child eating demon.. the assiciation with snakes didn't come untill the early 1800's so you know around 2000 years after the whole lamia myth was originated.

[Jurai]

The Shinnomen Naga from Oriental Adventures are indeed a suitable choice for this. Dragon 318 has the 3.5 Errata for them, wherein they become Monstrous Humanoids.

[Lord Vukodlak]

While Lamia are in the SRD, you might be meaning half-woman/half-snake. The lamia in the SRD is half-human/half-lion. There is a half-human/half-snake race called the Naga, but they all cast as level 7+ sorcerers, so your DM might not allow it.

The Monster manual Naga aren't really half-human/half-snake there snakes with human faces. Now if one is looking for upper body human lower body snake I did design a Nagi (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16770056#post16770056)race for Pathfinder.

[Necroticplague]

Another option might be to use the rules for anthropomorphic animals in savage species. Select a snake to base it on, then just follow the rules.