Malapterus
2023-05-01, 09:31 PM
As the horribly annoying sort of player I am, I have always wanted to make a Fine playable race. I've been inspired by Shimmerlings for some time now, and decided to make them playable.
I ran this through the Pathfinder race builder and got it ostensibly to a 10, and then I added a bunch of stuff to it because that's just who I am folks.
Please take a look at this and tell me if it is too weak or too strong or otherwise too unbalanced to be playable. I want to make mine a rogue!
--
A Shimmerling Alate is an independent Shimmerling (https://www.realmshelps.net/monsters/block/Swarm,_Shimmerling) born to propogate a new swarm. They are considered royalty among their feeble-minded fey fellows. A Shimmerling Alate possesses the intellectual capacity to go out on their own, to secure a new home & locate a mate with whom to safely reproduce.
Shimmerling Alates resemble miniscule, slender elves of roughly two inches in height. Their hair is nearly white, but is faintly tinted with any color. Their skin constantly swirls with ever-changing colors. Their skin may involuntarily turn to a solid color to indicate a strong emotion; they may also choose to turn a solid color temporarily. Shimmerling Alates have four crystal-clear gossamer wings that resemeble cut glass & split light like prisms.
When outside of a swarm, Shimmerling Alates tend to wear clothing and use gear. Shimmerling Alates can treat flower petals and plant leaves to make them as durable and long-lasting as cloth, and this provides most of their clothing.
They may be male or female, and tend to refer to themselves as Prince or Princess. They are usually named after flowers or plants, but males are sometimes named after dangerous insects.
Fey Type
-Low-Light Vision
Fine Size
+8 to Attack and AC
+16 to Hide
-16 to Grapple
Space/Reach 1/2 / 0
A Fine creature must enter Small or larger creature's space to make a melee or touch attack; this provokes an Attack of Opportunity.
-6 Str, +2 Dex, -4 Con, +2 Cha
Shimmerling Alates get a +2 racial Dodge bonus when flying.
Shimmerling Alates get a +4 racial bonus to Reflex saves.
Shimmerling Alates get a +10 racial bonus to Hide checks when hiding amongst flowers.
Weapon Proficiencies: Shimmerling Alates are proficient with the Rapier and Longbow.
As naturally-born nobility, Shimmerling Alates get a +4 racial bonus to Diplomacy checks when not advocating violence.
Because of their tendency to change color with their emotions, Shimmerling Alates get a -2 to Bluff checks against creatures who can both see them and perceive color.
Lightbringer: (Su)
Shimmerling Alates are immune to light-based blindness and dazzle effects, and are treated as one level higher when determining the effects of any light-based spells or effects they cast (including spell-like and supernatural abilities).
Shimmerling Alates can make their bodies glow. Doing so grants a +2 circumstance bonus to Charisma-related checks against sighted creatures, but imposes a -20 penalty to Hide checks. They may activate or suppress this affect at will.
Shimmerling Alates can create a Light effect, centered on themselves, at will. They may activate or suppress this affect at will.
For a number of rounds per day equal to her Hit Dice, a Shimmerling Alate may create a Daylight spell centered on herself. The rounds need not be consecutive. Activating this effect is a Swift action, suppressing it is a Free Action.
Once per day, a Shimmerling Alate can cast Color Spray or Dancing Lights (spheres of light only) as a supernatural ability. Once she has done so, she cannot use any of her other Lightbringer abilities until she has had a long rest.
Exception: When casting Dancing Lights, the Shimmerling Alate can still cause her body to glow, and she gets a +10 bonus to Disguise checks to pretend to be a mere sphere of light. She loses this ability as well when the effect ends.
Any saves against these effects are Charisma based.
Swarm leader: (Su)
As a full-round action, a Shimmerling Alate can join a Shimmerling Swarm. TheShimmerling Swarm's Intelligence score increases by her Intelligence bonus, and its swarm attack does an additional 1d6 damage. She does not control the swarm. She takes 1 point of damage any time the Shimmerling Swarm takes any damage. She may disengage from the Shimmerling Swarm as another Full-Round Action.
Poison Immunity: Shimmerling Alates are immune to any poison derived from flowers. They often dress themselves in toxic blossoms to prevent creatures from eating them, or at least punish those that do.
Languages:
Shimmerling Alates automatically speak Sylvan, Shimmerling Color Language, and Shimmerling Blink Language.
Shimmerling Color Language is a silent, visual language expressed through the Shimmerling changing the color of their skin. Non-Shimmerlings can learn to understand this language, but cannot replicate it. This language cannot be written.
Shimmerling Blink Language is a silent, visual language that involves the Shimmerling rapidly turning its glow (or, for longer distances its Light ability), on and off. This languages carries much further than the Shimmerling Color Language, though it is a little less sophisticated in its ability to express detailed concepts. Non-Shimmerlings can learn this language, and can replicate it with a bullseye lantern or similar device. It is written in dots and dashes.
Bonus languages: Shimmerling Alates can select bonus languages from non-secret languages commonly spoken in the area in which they were born.
Level Adjustment: Zero
--
Anything to add or take away would be helpful. I decided not to include rules for a female Alate giving birth to a swarm for probably a few good reasons; besides, she'd be a Queen after that.
I might like to add room for a Feat or something. Weapon Finesse?
As always any input help is appreciated!
I ran this through the Pathfinder race builder and got it ostensibly to a 10, and then I added a bunch of stuff to it because that's just who I am folks.
Please take a look at this and tell me if it is too weak or too strong or otherwise too unbalanced to be playable. I want to make mine a rogue!
--
A Shimmerling Alate is an independent Shimmerling (https://www.realmshelps.net/monsters/block/Swarm,_Shimmerling) born to propogate a new swarm. They are considered royalty among their feeble-minded fey fellows. A Shimmerling Alate possesses the intellectual capacity to go out on their own, to secure a new home & locate a mate with whom to safely reproduce.
Shimmerling Alates resemble miniscule, slender elves of roughly two inches in height. Their hair is nearly white, but is faintly tinted with any color. Their skin constantly swirls with ever-changing colors. Their skin may involuntarily turn to a solid color to indicate a strong emotion; they may also choose to turn a solid color temporarily. Shimmerling Alates have four crystal-clear gossamer wings that resemeble cut glass & split light like prisms.
When outside of a swarm, Shimmerling Alates tend to wear clothing and use gear. Shimmerling Alates can treat flower petals and plant leaves to make them as durable and long-lasting as cloth, and this provides most of their clothing.
They may be male or female, and tend to refer to themselves as Prince or Princess. They are usually named after flowers or plants, but males are sometimes named after dangerous insects.
Fey Type
-Low-Light Vision
Fine Size
+8 to Attack and AC
+16 to Hide
-16 to Grapple
Space/Reach 1/2 / 0
A Fine creature must enter Small or larger creature's space to make a melee or touch attack; this provokes an Attack of Opportunity.
-6 Str, +2 Dex, -4 Con, +2 Cha
Shimmerling Alates get a +2 racial Dodge bonus when flying.
Shimmerling Alates get a +4 racial bonus to Reflex saves.
Shimmerling Alates get a +10 racial bonus to Hide checks when hiding amongst flowers.
Weapon Proficiencies: Shimmerling Alates are proficient with the Rapier and Longbow.
As naturally-born nobility, Shimmerling Alates get a +4 racial bonus to Diplomacy checks when not advocating violence.
Because of their tendency to change color with their emotions, Shimmerling Alates get a -2 to Bluff checks against creatures who can both see them and perceive color.
Lightbringer: (Su)
Shimmerling Alates are immune to light-based blindness and dazzle effects, and are treated as one level higher when determining the effects of any light-based spells or effects they cast (including spell-like and supernatural abilities).
Shimmerling Alates can make their bodies glow. Doing so grants a +2 circumstance bonus to Charisma-related checks against sighted creatures, but imposes a -20 penalty to Hide checks. They may activate or suppress this affect at will.
Shimmerling Alates can create a Light effect, centered on themselves, at will. They may activate or suppress this affect at will.
For a number of rounds per day equal to her Hit Dice, a Shimmerling Alate may create a Daylight spell centered on herself. The rounds need not be consecutive. Activating this effect is a Swift action, suppressing it is a Free Action.
Once per day, a Shimmerling Alate can cast Color Spray or Dancing Lights (spheres of light only) as a supernatural ability. Once she has done so, she cannot use any of her other Lightbringer abilities until she has had a long rest.
Exception: When casting Dancing Lights, the Shimmerling Alate can still cause her body to glow, and she gets a +10 bonus to Disguise checks to pretend to be a mere sphere of light. She loses this ability as well when the effect ends.
Any saves against these effects are Charisma based.
Swarm leader: (Su)
As a full-round action, a Shimmerling Alate can join a Shimmerling Swarm. TheShimmerling Swarm's Intelligence score increases by her Intelligence bonus, and its swarm attack does an additional 1d6 damage. She does not control the swarm. She takes 1 point of damage any time the Shimmerling Swarm takes any damage. She may disengage from the Shimmerling Swarm as another Full-Round Action.
Poison Immunity: Shimmerling Alates are immune to any poison derived from flowers. They often dress themselves in toxic blossoms to prevent creatures from eating them, or at least punish those that do.
Languages:
Shimmerling Alates automatically speak Sylvan, Shimmerling Color Language, and Shimmerling Blink Language.
Shimmerling Color Language is a silent, visual language expressed through the Shimmerling changing the color of their skin. Non-Shimmerlings can learn to understand this language, but cannot replicate it. This language cannot be written.
Shimmerling Blink Language is a silent, visual language that involves the Shimmerling rapidly turning its glow (or, for longer distances its Light ability), on and off. This languages carries much further than the Shimmerling Color Language, though it is a little less sophisticated in its ability to express detailed concepts. Non-Shimmerlings can learn this language, and can replicate it with a bullseye lantern or similar device. It is written in dots and dashes.
Bonus languages: Shimmerling Alates can select bonus languages from non-secret languages commonly spoken in the area in which they were born.
Level Adjustment: Zero
--
Anything to add or take away would be helpful. I decided not to include rules for a female Alate giving birth to a swarm for probably a few good reasons; besides, she'd be a Queen after that.
I might like to add room for a Feat or something. Weapon Finesse?
As always any input help is appreciated!