Arracor
2015-01-05, 07:16 PM
If you're familiar with my other 2 threads, this is a natural progression. Otherwise, the idea is that I have a race of house-people. Basically, their real 'body' is the house, and they can animate a more typical constructed humanoid body in order to go out and be adventurers or farmers or whatever floats their.... house. Ahem. So I'll post the text of the race below, and then we'll talk subtypes.
Bailecroi
Medium Construct (Living)
Speed 30ft
Does not require air, food, drink, or sleep
Immunity (Poison)
Immune to Blinded, Deafened, Exhausted, Poisoned, Stunned, Unconscious
Dual Nature: Bailecroi are composed of 2 parts; the home, which is their true self, and the shell, which is a constructed body they use to interact with the world around them. A Bailecroi’s soul naturally resides in its home, not in its shell. It is always aware of any damage to its structure, and as an action it can shift its attention to its home form; the shell is effectively Unconscious until the Bailecroi returns to it, and it may at any time inhabit one of its own shells as an action. The destruction of a shell does not mean death, merely inconvenience.
Heartstone: Every Bailecroi home contains a Heartstone, which can be made of any sufficiently sturdy material. This object contains the Bailecroi’s soul. If removed from the home, the Bailecroi loses their connection to that home. If destroyed, the Bailecroi dies, even if their home still stands. All Bailecroi shells contain a sliver of their Heartstone, and to construct an additional shell they must first permanently sacrifice 2 points of Constitution, representing the loss of the required sliver of their soul.
Bloodless Life: Bailecroi reduced to 0HP never have to roll death saves and are considered automatically stable, though their shell can still be destroyed by taking failed saves from damage.
Home Is Where the Heart Is: A Bailecroi home comes with many benefits over a typical dwelling. Vermin tend to shy away. Ceilings never leak. Floorboards never creak. The temperature is always comfortable, with no need for a fire. Residents gain advantage on saves against disease and poison, and healing from rest is doubled. As such, Bailecroi homes are coveted. Most Bailecroi choose inhabitants to reside in their home, allowing those inside to reap the many benefits in return for keeping the Bailecroi safe from harm. In addition, Bailecroi gain a sort of sustenance from the positive emotions of their inhabitants. Without it they tend to feel cold, empty, lacking purpose. When in home form, a Bailecroi can communicate telepathically with anyone else inside. They also gain Advantage on any saves to resist mental effects.
Shell Type: Bailecroi choose a subtype upon character creation, to reflect the shell their parent gave them, or that they had built for themselves. The shell is the subtype; if a Bailecroi changes shells, their subtype changes accordingly to match their new shell. While in home form, a Bailecroi has no subtype.
Ok so first, yes. They do have what basically amounts to discount lichdom. It's limited in the fact that making new shells is -expensive-. You need to find a craftsman capable, first off. You need to pay them large sums of money, and possibly acquire special materials on your own. And of course, you shave off a sliver of your own soul for each new shell you want to make. It's a flavorful option, mostly, and a sort of safety net for permanent character death, but I don't think it's especially overbalanced.
Speaking of balance. So these subtypes. These actually determine what stats (and maybe abilities?) the character has. I'm thinking of having at least 3, possibly 4 or more if I want some, ah, specialty options. The tricky bit here is representing them all equally, statwise, while still addressing the difference between a barebones wooden shell and an elaborate silver-gilded one with complex moving parts that simulate facial expressions. These things can look like anything from Grootlike hunks of wood to high-end porcelain dolls that could almost be mistaken for a blood-and-flesh person.
That said, there are a few archetypes I'm thinking of. First, the more simple, easy to make wooden shell. Imagine a jointed mannequin. What stats and benefits might this grant? Then there's shells constructed to be durable, built to resist wear and tear, and/or built for battle. And then you have your fancy-pantsy shells, which can come in all sorts of varieties but basically boil down to being as lifelike as possible. These are the ones that cost the most money, the ones that best fit social roles. I'm thinking Cha boost, and Charisma/social related perks.
Of course none of that is set in stone, there's room to explore other ideas. That's what this thread is for! Help me come up with these shells, these racial subtypes. The game starts in about a month and I can guarantee at least 1 person will want to play one of these. Show me what you glorious bastards/bastettes can do!
Bailecroi
Medium Construct (Living)
Speed 30ft
Does not require air, food, drink, or sleep
Immunity (Poison)
Immune to Blinded, Deafened, Exhausted, Poisoned, Stunned, Unconscious
Dual Nature: Bailecroi are composed of 2 parts; the home, which is their true self, and the shell, which is a constructed body they use to interact with the world around them. A Bailecroi’s soul naturally resides in its home, not in its shell. It is always aware of any damage to its structure, and as an action it can shift its attention to its home form; the shell is effectively Unconscious until the Bailecroi returns to it, and it may at any time inhabit one of its own shells as an action. The destruction of a shell does not mean death, merely inconvenience.
Heartstone: Every Bailecroi home contains a Heartstone, which can be made of any sufficiently sturdy material. This object contains the Bailecroi’s soul. If removed from the home, the Bailecroi loses their connection to that home. If destroyed, the Bailecroi dies, even if their home still stands. All Bailecroi shells contain a sliver of their Heartstone, and to construct an additional shell they must first permanently sacrifice 2 points of Constitution, representing the loss of the required sliver of their soul.
Bloodless Life: Bailecroi reduced to 0HP never have to roll death saves and are considered automatically stable, though their shell can still be destroyed by taking failed saves from damage.
Home Is Where the Heart Is: A Bailecroi home comes with many benefits over a typical dwelling. Vermin tend to shy away. Ceilings never leak. Floorboards never creak. The temperature is always comfortable, with no need for a fire. Residents gain advantage on saves against disease and poison, and healing from rest is doubled. As such, Bailecroi homes are coveted. Most Bailecroi choose inhabitants to reside in their home, allowing those inside to reap the many benefits in return for keeping the Bailecroi safe from harm. In addition, Bailecroi gain a sort of sustenance from the positive emotions of their inhabitants. Without it they tend to feel cold, empty, lacking purpose. When in home form, a Bailecroi can communicate telepathically with anyone else inside. They also gain Advantage on any saves to resist mental effects.
Shell Type: Bailecroi choose a subtype upon character creation, to reflect the shell their parent gave them, or that they had built for themselves. The shell is the subtype; if a Bailecroi changes shells, their subtype changes accordingly to match their new shell. While in home form, a Bailecroi has no subtype.
Ok so first, yes. They do have what basically amounts to discount lichdom. It's limited in the fact that making new shells is -expensive-. You need to find a craftsman capable, first off. You need to pay them large sums of money, and possibly acquire special materials on your own. And of course, you shave off a sliver of your own soul for each new shell you want to make. It's a flavorful option, mostly, and a sort of safety net for permanent character death, but I don't think it's especially overbalanced.
Speaking of balance. So these subtypes. These actually determine what stats (and maybe abilities?) the character has. I'm thinking of having at least 3, possibly 4 or more if I want some, ah, specialty options. The tricky bit here is representing them all equally, statwise, while still addressing the difference between a barebones wooden shell and an elaborate silver-gilded one with complex moving parts that simulate facial expressions. These things can look like anything from Grootlike hunks of wood to high-end porcelain dolls that could almost be mistaken for a blood-and-flesh person.
That said, there are a few archetypes I'm thinking of. First, the more simple, easy to make wooden shell. Imagine a jointed mannequin. What stats and benefits might this grant? Then there's shells constructed to be durable, built to resist wear and tear, and/or built for battle. And then you have your fancy-pantsy shells, which can come in all sorts of varieties but basically boil down to being as lifelike as possible. These are the ones that cost the most money, the ones that best fit social roles. I'm thinking Cha boost, and Charisma/social related perks.
Of course none of that is set in stone, there's room to explore other ideas. That's what this thread is for! Help me come up with these shells, these racial subtypes. The game starts in about a month and I can guarantee at least 1 person will want to play one of these. Show me what you glorious bastards/bastettes can do!