Pandakin

[Threeshades]

After my thread looking for a suitable race that i can make Pandas of (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2473363) turned out few results, I decided to work up my own set of rules for them. I decided to call my race Pandakin, because I like the sound of the word "kin" and Pandafolk seemed a little unoriginal to me and I didnt want to use anything that has been already used, like Pandaren.
I tried to make them have a very Panda typical behavior and to show that in the rules:

So here they come:

Pandakin, Middle-sized Monstrous humanoid
Base land speed: 30 ft.
Abilities: Str +2; Wis +2; Dex -2; CH -2; Pandakin are physically strong and very thought- and careful, but they appear slightly clumsy and are reclusive indivduals.
Low-light vision
Natural armor bonus +1: due to their thick fur and tough skin, Pandakin recieve a +1 natural armor bonus
Skills: Pandakin recieve a +4 racial bonus on climb checks.
Languages: Automatic Languages: Pandakin, Common; Bonus Languages: Gnoll, Elven, Halfling, Sylvan, Kara-Tur (i dont know what's the main Language in Kara-Tur called. Also if Kara-Tur is not the Chinese/Japanese equivalent in your game world, replace this with the appropriate language)
Favored class: Ranger. Pandakin are loners usually bonded to their homes nature, so they often follow the path of te Ranger, which suits their lifestyle the most.
Height and Weight: Pandakin are tall and sturdy. They don't show many diversities between males and females. Use the Haight and Weitght table for male Half-Orcs for both male and female Pandakin.
Age: Pandakin have a slow progression in life and can get very old. Use the age categories for Dwarves.


So what do you think, is it still over/underpowered?

[Maryring]

I think it is slightly overpowered. Give them one more drawback for the natural armour, and they'll be fine.

[Theodoxus]

I think they're just fine - favored class Ranger with a hit to Dex means they're not going to be optimal archers... They have on real skill bonuses - climb makes sense, but it certainly isn't overpowering - a lack of other more useful skill bonuses (like the perception set) makes up for the +1 NA. The attribute adjustments balance out nicely - though at first I was confused by the Cha hit... Panda's seem so cute and cuddly, they should get a boost - everyone wants to be their friend... but only at first - once they get to know the reclusive beasts, the -2 Cha would make sense ;)

The only thing I would think to do (to eliminate potential criticism) would be to go the way that link for the Pandaren in the other thread had: 20 ft speed with the ability to 'go on all fours' for +10. That would certainly alleviate fears for the NA (might even possibly boost it to +2) It would retain flavor of the Panda (typically methodical in their movement), still allow 'normal' movement rate for overland travel (nice for your partymates), yet keep the Pandakin safely within the +0 LA arena.

All in all, not a bad writeup... Would consider playing one as a druid, myself :)

Theo

[Threeshades]

The movement rate is a nice idea. but the moving on all fours, kind of throws them back into being animals too much (Catfolk, Gnolls and such also dont move on all four). While a 20ft movement rate is worse for the party than for the character himself.

Well the fact is pandas are slow in movement after all, so it might be suitable though.

[Jaykell]

Awesome! Ive always wanted to play a panda race and this one is a really well balanced one

[Threeshades]

I just made a little drawing of a Pandakin in size comparison with a /very sketchy) human samurai. The human turned a little bit small, but he's an asian after all, and asians tend to be smaller than caucasians for example, so I guess its okay.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Tobi-Sean/pandakin2.jpg

This is about what i had in mind for them to look like (that sword the panda has would then beconsidered a Greatsword)

PS: It appeared to me, Pandakin sounds like Anakin.

[Innis Cabal]

you are aware that the Padaren was published in the WoW game manuels, just thought i would bring that to your attention ThreeShades. But the race looks fine IMO, not to stong, not to weak. I would even replace Half Orc with these

[Threeshades]

you are aware that the Padaren was published in the WoW game manuels, just thought i would bring that to your attention ThreeShades. But the race looks fine IMO, not to stong, not to weak. I would even replace Half Orc with these

absolutely and 100% aware, but the pandaren rules just dont fit into my image of a Panda-folk.
they shouldn't have a climb speed, they are not entire bears anymore. An altered physique makes them worse blimbers than real pandas. Also they shouldnt have any racial weapon proficiencies, i think of them as a peaceful race, and the natural wepons also were too much.

So I made something i thought more suitable.

[Matthew]

Whilst I am not a big fan off this sort of thing, I have to say that is a very good drawing. I guess you are playing 3.0 if you consider the Panda Kin's weapon to be a Great Sword? In 3.5 it would be a Large Bastard Sword (or a Large Long Sword if, like me, you felt that better modelled a Katana...)

[Caelestion]

Large masterwork bastard sword :)

[Maryring]

That picture there is incredibly neat. You're a good drawer.

[cferejohn]

You forgot: Must spend 20 hours a day eating bamboo.

[brian c]

You forgot: Must spend 20 hours a day eating bamboo.

Meh, that would be like if Catfolk had: Must spend 20 hours a day sleeping. (You were joking though, I assume :smallwink: )

It's pretty cool, and I agree they should have a lower movement speed to 20'. Pandas just aren't that quick, and it would also keep it as a definitely LA +0

[Threeshades]

Whilst I am not a big fan off this sort of thing, I have to say that is a very good drawing. I guess you are playing 3.0 if you consider the Panda Kin's weapon to be a Great Sword? In 3.5 it would be a Large Bastard Sword (or a Large Long Sword if, like me, you felt that better modelled a Katana...)

they're still medium sized. the comparing human just turned out a little too small.

@cferejohn
Catfolk also dont have to lick themselves and choke up hairballs

@Maryring
Thanks a lot!

[Matthew]

Oh right. I just assumed they were Large, like Minotaurs. Hmmn. At the least they should have Powerful Build, I think, but I guess that would saddle them with LA, which you probably don't want. Actually, I think a creature like this probably ought to have LA more than +0.

[brian c]

Oh right. I just assumed they were Large, like Minotaurs. Hmmn. At the least they should have Powerful Build, I think, but I guess that would saddle them with LA, which you probably don't want. Actually, I think a creature like this probably ought to have LA more than +0.

If you give it Powerful Build, it's definitely LA +1. As is, it's borderline. With speed 20', it should be LA +0

[Caelestion]

Balanced and minor stat boosts/penalties, natural armour +1, lowlight vision and a +4 Climb bonus, with a fixed favoured class. Of course that's LA +0. Let's not caught in the goblinoid trap here.