danielxcutter
2016-07-22, 09:30 PM
This is a homebrewed race(?) I am making, that I plan to use in a original setting currently in the works. If you have additional good features that you think should be added then I may include that too. I have never played D&D before, and only have partial knowledge of the system, so feel free to toss in a few ideas or point out bad ones.
Welp, here I go.
●Lore
No one knows how the Deathborn came to be. It has been proven that they have something to do with the Plane of Negative Energy, but besides that, nothing else has been discovered. What is known, however, is what they are: sentinent negative energy spirits that have taken physical form. Often this happens when a mindless undead such as a zombie or a skeleton is exposed to large amounts of negative energy, but sometimes they use a corpse or humanoid construct as their vassel, and occasionally occur naturally in places which have an extraordinarily high concentration of negative energy(though Deathborn formed through the latter occasion are much weaker until they latch on to a physical body). Regardless of origin, however, all Deathborn come into existence as one, and generally stay that way.
Despite their somewhat... unusual origins, however, each Deathborn is as different from another as much as - and sometimes even more than - other races in both personality and alignment. This also extends to their unique powers; for the abilities they gain often reflect how they interact with the world. To judge all Deathborn by the traits of a single individual would be as foolish as judging sand by examining a single grain.
●Appearance
Deathborn have grayish skin, hair black as ebony, and eyes like chips of obsidian. When they first inhabit a body, these are the only things that change. However, after a short while - often less than a week - they gradually change into a medium sized humanoid form that reflects how the spirit views itself, although some traits may remain, such as elven ears or a few scales on the arms for example. These traits are minor and are purely external. Deathborn have been known to undergo minor changes after gaining their "default" form. These are usually tied to the Deathborn's experiences or mental state, but such accounts are rare and most Deathborn never go through this.
●Features
Size: Deathborn are medium sized humanoids.
Movement: Deathborn basic land speed is 30 feet.
Living Undead Subtype: Deathborn are treated as Undead, but with the following exceptions.
●Deathborn are affected by Reincarnation, but cannot be resurrected by Raise Dead. However they can be revived with the Raise Undead spell, and come back as Deathborn when revived. They are not affected by the Animate Undead spell or similar effects. Resurrection and True Resurrection do work on Deathborn.
●Deathborn require rest in the form of 4 hours of mediation. Also, they require 8 hours of rest to replenish spell slots.
●Deathborn do not "die" until they fall to -10 or less, but are incapacitated when they fall to 0 or less but over -10.
●Due to having free will, Deathborn require twice the HD to control with the Control Undead spell or similar effects.
●Deathborn derive Hit Dice, base attack bonus, saves, and skills from their class.
●Deathborn possess a constitution score and are subject to critical hits.
●Semi-Living Body: 25% chance to negate a critical hit. Half healing effect from negative energy but half damage from positive energy as well.
●Darkvision out to 60ft.
●Deathborn do not possess blanket immunity to all mind-affecting effects.
For example:
Charm/hold/dominate person/etc do not affect Deathborn, but charm/hold/dominate monster do.
●Deathborn heal naturally.
●Deathborn do not possess blanket immunity to fortitude save effects. Death born do possess immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, disease, nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, effects that cause the sickened condition, and energy drain.
●Deathborn use constitution for concentration checks.
●Deathborn do not receive any automatic proficiencies.
●Deathborn may benefit from consumables such as potions.
●Favored Class: When creating a character, you may choose between Fighter, Rogue or Sorcerer as a favored class. This cannot be changed later, even with a Limited Wish or Wish.
Deathly Traits: When learning feats, Deathborn may choose from the Deathborn feat list, regardless of class(unless said feat requires specific class levels). Also, when creating a character, Deathborn gain one feat from the Deathborn feat list that they are capable of learning normally.
(Feats will be added later.)
[EDIT: Added more specifics.]
[EDIT: Minor changes.]
[EDIT: Added Favored Class and Deathly Traits.]
[EDIT: Added more specifics.]
[EDIT: Changed resurrection mechanics and changed Light Fortification to Semi-Living Body.]
Welp, here I go.
●Lore
No one knows how the Deathborn came to be. It has been proven that they have something to do with the Plane of Negative Energy, but besides that, nothing else has been discovered. What is known, however, is what they are: sentinent negative energy spirits that have taken physical form. Often this happens when a mindless undead such as a zombie or a skeleton is exposed to large amounts of negative energy, but sometimes they use a corpse or humanoid construct as their vassel, and occasionally occur naturally in places which have an extraordinarily high concentration of negative energy(though Deathborn formed through the latter occasion are much weaker until they latch on to a physical body). Regardless of origin, however, all Deathborn come into existence as one, and generally stay that way.
Despite their somewhat... unusual origins, however, each Deathborn is as different from another as much as - and sometimes even more than - other races in both personality and alignment. This also extends to their unique powers; for the abilities they gain often reflect how they interact with the world. To judge all Deathborn by the traits of a single individual would be as foolish as judging sand by examining a single grain.
●Appearance
Deathborn have grayish skin, hair black as ebony, and eyes like chips of obsidian. When they first inhabit a body, these are the only things that change. However, after a short while - often less than a week - they gradually change into a medium sized humanoid form that reflects how the spirit views itself, although some traits may remain, such as elven ears or a few scales on the arms for example. These traits are minor and are purely external. Deathborn have been known to undergo minor changes after gaining their "default" form. These are usually tied to the Deathborn's experiences or mental state, but such accounts are rare and most Deathborn never go through this.
●Features
Size: Deathborn are medium sized humanoids.
Movement: Deathborn basic land speed is 30 feet.
Living Undead Subtype: Deathborn are treated as Undead, but with the following exceptions.
●Deathborn are affected by Reincarnation, but cannot be resurrected by Raise Dead. However they can be revived with the Raise Undead spell, and come back as Deathborn when revived. They are not affected by the Animate Undead spell or similar effects. Resurrection and True Resurrection do work on Deathborn.
●Deathborn require rest in the form of 4 hours of mediation. Also, they require 8 hours of rest to replenish spell slots.
●Deathborn do not "die" until they fall to -10 or less, but are incapacitated when they fall to 0 or less but over -10.
●Due to having free will, Deathborn require twice the HD to control with the Control Undead spell or similar effects.
●Deathborn derive Hit Dice, base attack bonus, saves, and skills from their class.
●Deathborn possess a constitution score and are subject to critical hits.
●Semi-Living Body: 25% chance to negate a critical hit. Half healing effect from negative energy but half damage from positive energy as well.
●Darkvision out to 60ft.
●Deathborn do not possess blanket immunity to all mind-affecting effects.
For example:
Charm/hold/dominate person/etc do not affect Deathborn, but charm/hold/dominate monster do.
●Deathborn heal naturally.
●Deathborn do not possess blanket immunity to fortitude save effects. Death born do possess immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, disease, nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, effects that cause the sickened condition, and energy drain.
●Deathborn use constitution for concentration checks.
●Deathborn do not receive any automatic proficiencies.
●Deathborn may benefit from consumables such as potions.
●Favored Class: When creating a character, you may choose between Fighter, Rogue or Sorcerer as a favored class. This cannot be changed later, even with a Limited Wish or Wish.
Deathly Traits: When learning feats, Deathborn may choose from the Deathborn feat list, regardless of class(unless said feat requires specific class levels). Also, when creating a character, Deathborn gain one feat from the Deathborn feat list that they are capable of learning normally.
(Feats will be added later.)
[EDIT: Added more specifics.]
[EDIT: Minor changes.]
[EDIT: Added Favored Class and Deathly Traits.]
[EDIT: Added more specifics.]
[EDIT: Changed resurrection mechanics and changed Light Fortification to Semi-Living Body.]