Prophet_of_Io
2014-08-20, 01:57 AM
Shifters are one of my favorite non-core races. A glimmer of hope resided in me that they might have been core this time around. I can still hope that they'll be in the DMG but that's unlikely. What I most liked about shifters is back in 3.5 with the Races books, Shifters had enough traits to create a wide variety of character options. I've translated those 10 traits as best I can into subraces. Without furthur adeu, Shifters:
Shifters
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity and Wisdom scores each increase by 1.
Age. Shifters are considered adults in their early teens and live a few decades short of a century
Alignment. Most Shifters lean towards chaos. They aren’t against being law abiding citizens but most prefer a free nomadic nature over that of a rigid city lifestyle.
Size. Shifters range from a little over 5 feet to well over 6. Your size is medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 ft.
Darkvision. Keen senses and bodies built for hunting and stalking you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only in shades of gray.
Natural Athletes. You gain proficiency in the Acrobatics or Athletics skills.
Shifting. A shifter can tap into their lycanthropic heritage to gain a shot burst of power. Each shifter has a trait, determined by their subrace, that grants manifests when a character is shifting. Each shifter trait provides advantage on Wisdom based saving throws. Shifting lasts a number of rounds equal to 2 + half your class level (minimum 3). You can’t shift again until you’ve completed a long rest.
Subrace. Descendants from various different strains of lycanthropy bred to create the shifter race. While the race as a whole may look the same to the less seasoned eyes, many shifters are born with more individual talents. Choose one of these subraces.
Beasthide
Ability Score Increase. Con increases by 1
Beast Hide. Your natural armor adds 1 to your AC
Natural Toughness. While shifting your natural armor bonus is 2 instead of 1 and you are considered proficient in constitution based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Cliffwalk
Ability Score Increase. Dex incases by 1
Cliff Adepts. You gain a climb speed of 20 feet.
Mountain Mastery. While shifting your climb speed is equal to your base speed instead of 20 ft and you are considered proficient in dexterity based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Dreamsight
Ability Score Increase. Wis increases by 1
Natural Attunement. You can communicate to animals as if under the effect of a speak with animals spell.
Sight Beyond Sight. While shifting you are considered proficient in perception and can see invisible creatures as if you are under the effect of a see invisibility spell. You are also considered proficient in Wisdom based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Gorebrute
Ability Score Increase. Str increases by 1
Natural Charger. You gain horns that you are proficient with that can be used as natural weapons but only as a shove attack action. The horns function as natural weapons and deal 1d6 damage.
Brutal Disposition. While shifting your horns deal 2d6 damage when using a shove attack and you are considered proficient in strength based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Longstride
Ability Score Increase. Dex incases by 1
Fleet of Foot. Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.
Strider. While shifting your base walking speed increases to 40 feet and you are considered proficient in dexterity based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Longtooth
Ability Score Increase. Str increases by 1
Fanged. You gain a bite attack that you are proficient with. This functions as a natural weapon dealing 1d4 points of damage. Whenever you use the attack action you may use your bonus action to make a bite attack.
Fierce and Feral. While shifting your fangs deal 1d6 damage instead of 1d4 and you are considered proficient in strength based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Razorclaw
Ability Score Increase. Str increases by 1
Clawed. You gain a Claw attack that you are proficient with. The claws function as a natural weapon and as a finesse weapon and deal 1d4 points of damage
Quick and Cutting. While shifting you can make an attack with your claws anytime you use the attack action and you are considered proficient in strength based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Swiftwing
Ability Score Increase. Dex incases by 1
Winged. You gain a pair of wings that allow you to glide at a speed of 20 feet per round. You must end the round of the ground otherwise you will fall at the end of the round. The wings are usually leathery, like a bat, but some have been known to be feathered like a bird's.
Child of the Air. While shifting your wings instead grant you a fly speed equal to your base speed and you are considered proficient in dexterity based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Truedive
Ability Score Increase. Con increases by 1
Elite Lungs. You can hold your breath a number of rounds equal to your constitution score x5 and gain a swim speed equal to half your base speed.
Of the Sea. While shifting you can breath underwater and you are considered proficient in constitution based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Wildhunt
Ability Score Increase. Con increases by 1
Bred for the Hunt. Your proficiency bonus in perception and survival doubles when attempting to track by order or tracks. You automatically can tell the direction of familiar scents within 30 feet of you.
Sense of Nature. While shifting you gain blindsense 20 feet and you are considered proficient in constitution based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
The hardest trait to translate was, of course, shifting. Ability score increases aren't something that 5e seems to do. I turned to the barbarians rage for some inspiration. I also didn't want to take away from a barbarian's rage as an option so I wanted to do different things. As it stands I'm not sold on the saving throw proficiencies but I can't think of a better option. I've also considered throwing in temp hit points but that would've just been something else I'd have to scale.
Input is very much appreciated, as is balance and phrasing of mechanics. Also feel free to toss out trait names, most of them were just things I threw in last minuet.
Hope you enjoy.
Shifters
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity and Wisdom scores each increase by 1.
Age. Shifters are considered adults in their early teens and live a few decades short of a century
Alignment. Most Shifters lean towards chaos. They aren’t against being law abiding citizens but most prefer a free nomadic nature over that of a rigid city lifestyle.
Size. Shifters range from a little over 5 feet to well over 6. Your size is medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 ft.
Darkvision. Keen senses and bodies built for hunting and stalking you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only in shades of gray.
Natural Athletes. You gain proficiency in the Acrobatics or Athletics skills.
Shifting. A shifter can tap into their lycanthropic heritage to gain a shot burst of power. Each shifter has a trait, determined by their subrace, that grants manifests when a character is shifting. Each shifter trait provides advantage on Wisdom based saving throws. Shifting lasts a number of rounds equal to 2 + half your class level (minimum 3). You can’t shift again until you’ve completed a long rest.
Subrace. Descendants from various different strains of lycanthropy bred to create the shifter race. While the race as a whole may look the same to the less seasoned eyes, many shifters are born with more individual talents. Choose one of these subraces.
Beasthide
Ability Score Increase. Con increases by 1
Beast Hide. Your natural armor adds 1 to your AC
Natural Toughness. While shifting your natural armor bonus is 2 instead of 1 and you are considered proficient in constitution based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Cliffwalk
Ability Score Increase. Dex incases by 1
Cliff Adepts. You gain a climb speed of 20 feet.
Mountain Mastery. While shifting your climb speed is equal to your base speed instead of 20 ft and you are considered proficient in dexterity based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Dreamsight
Ability Score Increase. Wis increases by 1
Natural Attunement. You can communicate to animals as if under the effect of a speak with animals spell.
Sight Beyond Sight. While shifting you are considered proficient in perception and can see invisible creatures as if you are under the effect of a see invisibility spell. You are also considered proficient in Wisdom based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Gorebrute
Ability Score Increase. Str increases by 1
Natural Charger. You gain horns that you are proficient with that can be used as natural weapons but only as a shove attack action. The horns function as natural weapons and deal 1d6 damage.
Brutal Disposition. While shifting your horns deal 2d6 damage when using a shove attack and you are considered proficient in strength based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Longstride
Ability Score Increase. Dex incases by 1
Fleet of Foot. Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.
Strider. While shifting your base walking speed increases to 40 feet and you are considered proficient in dexterity based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Longtooth
Ability Score Increase. Str increases by 1
Fanged. You gain a bite attack that you are proficient with. This functions as a natural weapon dealing 1d4 points of damage. Whenever you use the attack action you may use your bonus action to make a bite attack.
Fierce and Feral. While shifting your fangs deal 1d6 damage instead of 1d4 and you are considered proficient in strength based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Razorclaw
Ability Score Increase. Str increases by 1
Clawed. You gain a Claw attack that you are proficient with. The claws function as a natural weapon and as a finesse weapon and deal 1d4 points of damage
Quick and Cutting. While shifting you can make an attack with your claws anytime you use the attack action and you are considered proficient in strength based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Swiftwing
Ability Score Increase. Dex incases by 1
Winged. You gain a pair of wings that allow you to glide at a speed of 20 feet per round. You must end the round of the ground otherwise you will fall at the end of the round. The wings are usually leathery, like a bat, but some have been known to be feathered like a bird's.
Child of the Air. While shifting your wings instead grant you a fly speed equal to your base speed and you are considered proficient in dexterity based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Truedive
Ability Score Increase. Con increases by 1
Elite Lungs. You can hold your breath a number of rounds equal to your constitution score x5 and gain a swim speed equal to half your base speed.
Of the Sea. While shifting you can breath underwater and you are considered proficient in constitution based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
Wildhunt
Ability Score Increase. Con increases by 1
Bred for the Hunt. Your proficiency bonus in perception and survival doubles when attempting to track by order or tracks. You automatically can tell the direction of familiar scents within 30 feet of you.
Sense of Nature. While shifting you gain blindsense 20 feet and you are considered proficient in constitution based saving throws and double the proficiency bonus to them.
The hardest trait to translate was, of course, shifting. Ability score increases aren't something that 5e seems to do. I turned to the barbarians rage for some inspiration. I also didn't want to take away from a barbarian's rage as an option so I wanted to do different things. As it stands I'm not sold on the saving throw proficiencies but I can't think of a better option. I've also considered throwing in temp hit points but that would've just been something else I'd have to scale.
Input is very much appreciated, as is balance and phrasing of mechanics. Also feel free to toss out trait names, most of them were just things I threw in last minuet.
Hope you enjoy.