ATHATH
2016-02-24, 02:21 PM
Previous Thread: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?475161-Glamer-(Race)-Optimization
I'm back with another seemingly OP race from Dragon Magazine!
In Dragon #307 (the same one with that Half-Elf race that loses Wisdom as it levels up), in the Monsters in the Alley article, I found the Willora. It is a tiny Shapechanger with two racial HD and two LA (given in a sidebar), and I think it might be the best race for a Paladin or Monk that I have yet seen.
First, its stat buffs. Wiloras have a racial -6 to STR, +10 to DEX, +10 to INT, +8 to WIS, and +10 to CHA. Never worry about MADness again!
"Sure, those are good stats, but my Monk or Paladin still can't do anything outside of combat!"
Well, it's a good thing that the Willora is the greatest interrogator known to man. When the Wilora locks eyes with a living creature, that creature must make a Will save vs. an intrusive telepathic link that the Wilora creates. For every round that the link remains in place (the target gets a save every round, and can break the link by being more than 30 ft. away from the Wilora), the Wilora learns the answer to one question to one question "to the best of the target's knowledge". The answer doesn't have to be yes or no, and a clever question like "What has happened so far during your life?" will let you immediately learn about everything that has happened to the target (the ability is called Memory-Snatching Gaze, by the way, so this doesn't break the fluff). Your song also hypnotizes people (as the Hypnotism spell), which means that you can force them to look into your eyes or just become your slaves. You also get a 60 ft. fly speed. Unfortunately, all of these abilities only function in your natural form.
"Your 'Natural Form'?"
And now for the best feature of the Wilora: at night, it can use Polymorph Self (large or smaller bird or bird-like forms only, and it only lasts until daybreak) at-will. In addition to avian forms, if the Wilora has successfully used its Memory-Snatching Gaze ability that night, it can use Polymorph Self to turn into the last creature that it has used its MSG on (it must be large or smaller). No longer shall your Monk or Paladin be overshadowed in melee by the party Wizard! Ok, that's a lie, but you get the point.
Side Note A: Humorously, a later article in the same issue concerning how the 3 H's and the Polymorph line shall be changed in 3.5 remarked on how OP Polymorph Self was.
Side Note B: Some of the prestige classes mentioned later in the issue have some unique requirements, like having more wealth than what WBL says that you should have.
Side Note C: Remember the Catoblepas from last time? One of the prestige classes in this issue has class abilities that specifically function against them.
Side Note D: A Wilora could probably do decent impressions of were-birds and Vampiric Raptorans (mind-control powers, ability to turn into a bat, flight, weak during the day, etc.).
Back on topic: What are the best avian Polymorph Self forms (assume that it works like a self-only Polymorph)? So far, I have winged Dragons (yeah, that's stretching it a bit, but the article let Owlbears and Gryphons qualify as bird-like, so I think they're close enough) and Raptorans as particularly good options.
I'm back with another seemingly OP race from Dragon Magazine!
In Dragon #307 (the same one with that Half-Elf race that loses Wisdom as it levels up), in the Monsters in the Alley article, I found the Willora. It is a tiny Shapechanger with two racial HD and two LA (given in a sidebar), and I think it might be the best race for a Paladin or Monk that I have yet seen.
First, its stat buffs. Wiloras have a racial -6 to STR, +10 to DEX, +10 to INT, +8 to WIS, and +10 to CHA. Never worry about MADness again!
"Sure, those are good stats, but my Monk or Paladin still can't do anything outside of combat!"
Well, it's a good thing that the Willora is the greatest interrogator known to man. When the Wilora locks eyes with a living creature, that creature must make a Will save vs. an intrusive telepathic link that the Wilora creates. For every round that the link remains in place (the target gets a save every round, and can break the link by being more than 30 ft. away from the Wilora), the Wilora learns the answer to one question to one question "to the best of the target's knowledge". The answer doesn't have to be yes or no, and a clever question like "What has happened so far during your life?" will let you immediately learn about everything that has happened to the target (the ability is called Memory-Snatching Gaze, by the way, so this doesn't break the fluff). Your song also hypnotizes people (as the Hypnotism spell), which means that you can force them to look into your eyes or just become your slaves. You also get a 60 ft. fly speed. Unfortunately, all of these abilities only function in your natural form.
"Your 'Natural Form'?"
And now for the best feature of the Wilora: at night, it can use Polymorph Self (large or smaller bird or bird-like forms only, and it only lasts until daybreak) at-will. In addition to avian forms, if the Wilora has successfully used its Memory-Snatching Gaze ability that night, it can use Polymorph Self to turn into the last creature that it has used its MSG on (it must be large or smaller). No longer shall your Monk or Paladin be overshadowed in melee by the party Wizard! Ok, that's a lie, but you get the point.
Side Note A: Humorously, a later article in the same issue concerning how the 3 H's and the Polymorph line shall be changed in 3.5 remarked on how OP Polymorph Self was.
Side Note B: Some of the prestige classes mentioned later in the issue have some unique requirements, like having more wealth than what WBL says that you should have.
Side Note C: Remember the Catoblepas from last time? One of the prestige classes in this issue has class abilities that specifically function against them.
Side Note D: A Wilora could probably do decent impressions of were-birds and Vampiric Raptorans (mind-control powers, ability to turn into a bat, flight, weak during the day, etc.).
Back on topic: What are the best avian Polymorph Self forms (assume that it works like a self-only Polymorph)? So far, I have winged Dragons (yeah, that's stretching it a bit, but the article let Owlbears and Gryphons qualify as bird-like, so I think they're close enough) and Raptorans as particularly good options.