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Wulfskadi
2016-05-10, 11:19 PM
I made this race with some of my favorite anime and book series in mind. I also purposefully tried to balance this race to avoid LA by making in unfavorable in all social environs and including the state of weakness (which would be so fun to DM). Any feedback or suggestions would be welcome. Also feel free to use this race in any campaigns you have going forward, or to adapt it to another edition. Image courtesy of the series "Yu Yu Hakusho"



Alternate race: Half demon


The Mazoku king, Rizen, roused himself
from his slumber and looked down upon his half breed spawn.
“So” he thought. “He’s finally here, the one to replace me as the
head of the Mazoku tribe…” Rizen cast his gaze down at his
great grandchild as he ran towards the throne, energy brimming
from his fist. The starved king lifted his hand. Suddenly the young half
demon’s body was thrown back. “Hmm…” Rizen pondered
gazing lazily upon the collapsed form of his successor.
“We have a lot of work to do.”
—A literary interpretation of Yu Yu Hakusho

Whether The result of a secret Love affair with a
human princess or a long latent gene that decided to
surface Half demons are common wherever humans
and a compatible species exist.


Not human, Not demon

Half-demon is a general term for any mix
between humans and creatures of magic.
As of such, the general appearance
of Half-demons has a much
greater range than any other race.
However Half- demons often
resemble humans (as some demons do)
with a few choice pieces of anatomy that
denote their demonic heritage. Although
they have a much greater range of heights
amongst them, they are almost always
human sized. Your size is medium.


Outcasts of two worlds

Half-demons can be said to take the worst
of both worlds, having only a fraction of the
strength of a demon and being alienated in human
society, they often become scapegoats for crop failures
and other calamities, or simply
objects of ridicule. Amongst demons
Half-demons are often viewed as a mockery of
Demon kind and are often hunted for sport. Even if
they prove their strength half-demons are still seen as
outsiders by full demons
Often the only people a half-demon can trust or love
are their parents, who, ironically, are often seen as
despicable by their respective race and become
outcasts themselves. Because of this Half-demons
develop defensive characteristics. Because of this
half demons often choose to kill their offenders instead of
resorting to more humane methods. Pun intended


Without a home

Half-demons can neither live as humans or demons
and often have to either live in the wilderness or
dominate a group of humans or demons
in order to gain respect. There is no natural role
for half demons to play amongst the races as a diplomat
or as a symbol of peace as with half orcs and half elves.
Thus the occurrence of a Half-demon hero is rare.
.

Half - demon Names

Half-demons usually are named by the parent, or
in good cases, parents who raised them and are given
either a human name or a demon name. Occasionally
they end up with one of both, each for dealing with
it’s respective race.

Male Demon Names: I have no Idea what to put here

Female Demon Names: Nor here, I don’t know any demon names….
San? Maybe?
Male Human Names: John?

Female Human Names: The human name list is
just too d#@$ long choose one from that list or something.

Half - Demon Traits

Your Half-demon character has certain traits deriving from
your demonic ancestry.

Return to mortality: For at least
one 12 hour period each month (DM may increase duration
for up to 24 hours) you lose all your
racial bonuses (including your demon language)
and temporarily take a -1 to strength, dexterity
and constitution modifiers. During this period you
are fully human and none can tell you are
a half demon. NO ONE.
These disadvantages end when
the time of weakness ends. Talk to your DM
about when your time of weakness should be.
Generally it’s something that happens every
month and relates to your specific nature.

Variant: Extended weakness: Some half demons
spend a much greater amount of time in their human
form, transforming into formidable creatures when
their humanity abates. Talk to your DM about
extra racial bonuses and an extended human period.

Age. Half-demon aging varies depending on the
Demonic parent. Often they mature at the same rate
as humans, if a little faster and some can live to be
hundreds of years old while others age the same
way as normal humans.

Alignment. Although their human blood cancels
out any alignment skew Half-demons might have
they are most often chaotic due to the harsh
environments they are often raised in.

Size. Half-demons range in height with a bit more
variety than humans but not by much.
Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision. Thanks to your demon blood, 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
light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't
discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Demon parent. You count as either a fey
fiend or aberration as well as human. You can
pass through barriers that normally restrain
your kind but must make a saving throw (default constitution)
or enter a return to mortality for 1 hour.

Languages. You can speak, read, and
write Common and the respective tongue
of your demon type

Demonic appearance. You have a piece
of demon anatomy that sets you apart. Your
subrace determines this trait. When this trait
is visible the DM can, at their discretion,
impose disadvantages on charisma checks made
to sway a creature’s emotion. Full blooded
demons of your same type can tell that you
are a half demon. Creatures with enhanced
smell or an ability to determine race
can tell you are not human but cannot
easily tell what your other half is.

Subrace. Several sub races of Half-demon
exist, each showing the characteristics
of their demonic parent.
Choose one of these subraces.

Beast Demon:
As a Beast Demon demon your demonic
heritage shows it’s ugly head through
demonic anatomy that grant inhuman abilities

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score
increases by 1. And your Dexterity increases by 1

Demon anatomy ability.
Because of your heritage you have
pieces of anatomy that give extraordinary
powers.
Choose two:
• Demonic resistance: You gain resistance
to one type of damage (This can be taken
multiple times for a different damage type
each time).
• Demonic Claws: You have an anatomical
weapon such as teeth, horns or claws. You gain
proficiency in unarmed strikes and they deal 1d6
of the appropriate damage, Slashing, bludgeoning
or piercing. Choose when you gain this ability to
use dexterity or strength for these strikes (these
count as magical after you reach 7th level)
• Demonic shielding: Your demonic anatomy
Includes some kind of unusually durable
Material. Your AC increases by 1
• Otherworldly senses: Your demonic anatomy
grants you blind sight in a 30 foot radius
• Devilish Resilience: Your hitpoint maximum
increases by 2 for every level you have
• Infernal vitality: You are immune to
Non-magical poison
• Devilish talents: You gain proficiency
In one skill, tool, weapon. You can take
This feature multiple times for a different
Skill tool or weapon each time.
• Fey mobility: When you use the
Dash or disengage action you can
Ignore difficult terrain. Additionally
While dashing your speed increases
By an extra 20 feet.
• Fey grace: You gain proficiency in
Dexterity saving throws
• Demonic strength: You gain proficiency
In strength saving throws
• Monstrous constitution: You gain
Proficiency in constitution saving
throws
• Fey smell: You can add twice your
Proficiency bonus to perception checks
That rely on smell.
• Gills: You can breathe underwater and have
A swim speed of half your movement speed

Possibility: Every three levels you gain
another demonic anatomy feature

Demonic Appearance:
Beast demons often have
multiple pieces of anatomy that denote
their demon heritage. Despite this they
can often pass as humans to those who don’t
have much experience with demons. You must
make a disguise check to hide your demon attributes.

Possibility: At 10th level (every 5 levels?) you gain one of the
Following greater demonic abilities. These abilities can only
Be taken once each.

• Wings of the demon: You grow wings and
gain a flight speed of 60 feet
• Strength of hide: You gain immunity to
one kind of energy damage.
• Full demon blood: You can temporarily
become a full-fledged demon, double your
demon anatomy bonuses and damage. You
can do this for 5 minutes each day, they
do not have to be consecutive. This cannot
be activated during your period of humanity
• Demonic advantage: You gain permanent
Advantage on either strength, dexterity
or constitution saving throws.


Mutation:
Mutation Half-demons show more
demon traits than human ones and
often appear monstrous or in some
cases hideous. Often the result of
an aberration spawn it can also be the
result of a bad mix between genetics.
these half demons are the most despised
by both humans and demons as they are
often hideous mockeries of both races.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score
increases by 2 your Strength score increases by 2

Disfigured armor. Your demonic biology
covers you in hardened skin or muscle and allows
you to add your constitution modifier to your armor class
in place of your dexterity.

Demonic strikes. Your misshapen anatomy grants you one
Natural weapon with which you are proficient. This weapon
Deals 1d8 of the appropriate type (piercing, bludgeoning or
Slashing)

Demonic Appearance. Mutations look
almost nothing like humans and your demonic trait is
obviously visible to others. Sometimes they are huge beasts
with ox heads, other times they have thorny red skin coating their
body. Talk to your DM about what your appearance should be.

Half-spawn:
Half spawn are half –demons who represent
their general stereotype, resembling humans
on a day to day basis but becoming monstrosities
in battle. Beast demons their demonic
heritage shows primarily through their psychic
abilities rather than physical features.


Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score
increases by 1 and your Intelligence score increases by 1

Demonic casting:
Half spawns have the ability to channel
their demonic energy and cast spells.
Intelligence (charisma?) is your casting ability.
You gain two demonic abilities*
(Ignore components)
• Demonic wings: You can cast Feather fall targeting only yourself once per day
• Demonic leap: You can cast Jump targeting only yourself once per day
• Demonic speed: You can cast expeditious retreat on yourself once per day
• Demonic speed 2: You can cast Long-strider on yourself once per day
• Demonic sight: You can cast detect magic once per day
• Demonic understanding: You can cast comprehend languages once per day
• Demonic resistance: You can cast protection from evil and good on yourself once per day
• Succubus’ enchantment: You can cast charm person once per day
• Succubus’ deceit: You can cast disguise self once per day
• Devil’s curse: You can cast Bane once per day
• Devil’s order: You can cast command once per day
• Devil’s intuition: You can cast detect evil and good once per day
• Fey empathy: You can cast speak with animals once per day
Note* You must complete a long rest before using a demon ability again.

Possibility: Every three levels you gain
another demonic power or can choose to
be able to cast a demonic power twice more per day.

Possibility: At 10th level (every 5 levels?) you
Gain a greater Psychic ability.
• Choose one 3rd level spell, you can cast this
Spell once per day

Demonic Appearance. Half-spawn have very little
demon anatomy on a day to day basis. Often they’ll
have an extra eye or horns. However when they take damage
they have to make a wisdom saving throw
against the damage +5 or
reveal their full demon nature.
Using a demon ability causes you to
take full demon form. If you are in full
demon form you cannot disguise yourself
without fully covering yourself.
When you rage this automatically
activates. Talk to your DM
About what you look like in full demon form.



To be a demon or not to be:
Half- demons half a unique perspective
on life, having literally the worst possible standing
point in society. Many of them decide to try and
become a full demon through magic, some try
to become human, however a precious few embrace
their mongrel nature and use it to become incredibly
powerful. There are ways to turn a half demon
into a full demon and vice versa however they are
extremely rare and difficult to acquire and use
even after they are discovered.

Rerem115
2016-05-10, 11:34 PM
This seems extremely powerful, almost at the level of a class rather than a race.

Venardhi
2016-05-11, 12:38 AM
I have to agree. There are some really cool ideas in here but unless the whole party is playing as this race it really wouldn't make sense for a DM to incorporate into their campaign.

Wulfskadi
2016-05-11, 08:23 AM
Remember that anything with the "Possibility" tab would be an alternate feature that could be added into a campaign. Also, the race is supposed to be powerful, I wanted it to model the kind of anime hero powers that give main characters their edge.

Final Hyena
2016-05-11, 09:23 AM
As pointed out, it's definitely too powerful unless the entire party goes with it, but given the variety within the race that's not a big deal. However at higher levels when you get to pick more of the choices it does cut down on that variety a bit. My other concern is it does add a lot of complexity for just a race, but plenty will love that.

PoeticDwarf
2016-05-11, 09:40 AM
To powerful, and a "default con save" isn't a thing in 5e

Wulfskadi
2016-05-11, 11:45 AM
To powerful, and a "default con save" isn't a thing in 5e

Some barriers are just straight up barriers and don't have saving throws, in this instance use a constitution saving throw. The value of this throw would either be that of the caster, or 10, whichever is higher.

Markoff Chainey
2016-05-12, 04:29 AM
I like some of the abilities, but the package is way too powerful and it includes many things that IMO need to be left out...

Either you are a demon or not a demon... this whole "return to mortality" thing is a nightmare to handle for the DM and when it should be a real disadvantage, it should trigger when the player does not want it.

When you are a half-demon, you should logically be affected by things that effects demons, even if you don't like it. If you want to introduce them as a race, you need to be careful of spell effects like banishment. - This can easily end a PC career early.

A demon is not a fey, nor an abberation, this needs to go. If you like, make a different race for those, but do not mix them up with demons. A demon is also not a fiend. - In the D&D universe, there is a strict and inherently logic differentiation.

By the book, a Tiefling is a half-fiend (and a half-demon version exists too in SCAG). When you want to model a half-demon, I would make the Tieflling the baseline, maybe mix it with Shifter or Changeling from the UA.

Wulfskadi
2016-05-12, 11:25 AM
A demon is not a fey, nor an abberation, this needs to go. If you like, make a different race for those, but do not mix them up with demons. A demon is also not a fiend. - In the D&D universe, there is a strict and inherently logic differentiation.




I know how the typing classes work, I read the monster manual (three times). I meant the word "Demon" to be the stereotypical all encompassing term used by commoners that entails all things scary and bad.