Creating an Illithid class

[MammonAzrael]

Hey, I just whipped this up as a suggestion in the recruitment thread, and I thought I'd see what you all thought of it.

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Illithid Base Racial Features

Ability Score Adjustment: +2 Int

Aberration Type: Illithids are aberrations. Thus, they are vulnerable to spells and effects that work on creatures of the aberration type but immune to effects that target other types. For example, an illithid would be subject to the extra damage from an aberration bane sword but immune to hold person, since that spell affects only humanoids.

Size: Illithids are medium size.

Speed: Illithids base land speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision (Ex): An illithid has darkvision to a 60-foot range

Natural Weapons: 4 tentacles, 1d4 each

Improved Grab (Ex): As the Mind Flayer entry on page 187 of the MM.

Special Qualities: Telepathy 100'

Automatic languages: Common, Undercommon. Bonus Languages:Abyssal, Aquan, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Infernal, Terran.

Favored Class: Wizard. A multiclass illithid's wizard class does not count when determining whether an experience point penalty applies.

Hit Die: d8

Illithid Racial Class Features

Class Skills: Bluff, Concentration, Hide, Intimidate, Knowledge(any), Listen, Move Silently, Spot
Skill points at 1st level: (2 + Int) x 4.
Skill points at each additional level: 2 + Int.

Extract (Ex): As the Mind Flayer entry on page 187 of the MM.

Natural Armor: At 3rd level, the illithid gains natural armor of +1. At 7th level it's natural armor increases to +2. At 11th level it's natural armor increases to +3.

Psionics (Sp):
At 3rd level, the illithid may use Detect Thoughts (caster level equals illithid's hit dice) at will.
At 3rd level, the illithid may use Levitate (caster level equals illithid's hit dice) at will.
At 5th level, the illithid may use Suggestion (caster level equals illithid's hit dice) at will.
At 7th level, the illithid may use Charm Monster (caster level equals illithid's hit dice) at will.
At 13th level, the illithid may use Plane Shift (caster level equals illithid's hit dice) at will.

Spell Resistance (Su): At 5th level, the illithid gains spell resistance equal to 8 + the character's hit dice. At 9th level, it's spell resistance increases to 12 + the character's hit dice. At 15th level, it's spell resistance increases to 17 + the character's hit dice.

Mind Blast (Sp): As the Mind Flayer entry on page 187 of the MM.

I think that's everything. Lemmie know if I missed something. I took the cue from this Savage Progression article. As for those level that don't offer anything, I took my cue from the Draconomicon, and how it handles dragons as PCs. You can check out the how they did it on page 142. I hope you guys like it!

[Bag_of_Holding]

There's already an Illithid monster class in Savage Species. Its basic racial traits are: +2 Int, 30ft. speed, darkvision 60ft., Language: Uncommon and Favoured Class: Mind Flayer. It gains 2 tentacles at 1st level, telepathy 10ft. at 2nd level etc.

Comparing the two, your illithid class looks a bit overpowered in the lower levels.

[SoD]

Looks good to me (not that I'm an expert on balance, no ranks and a dex penalty ), but I know there's also one to be found in Savage Specices. I don't have time to compare them, but that could be helpful. I'd be interested to see which one of those two players and DMs prefur.

Edit: Doh! Ninja'd!

[MammonAzrael]

Blast, all that work, and I've been beaten! I suppose now I'm gonna have to check Savage Species. Thanks.

[Kaerou]

Comparing the two, your illithid class looks a bit overpowered in the lower levels.

I would bet on a greataxe wielding barbarian of equivalent levels in the low levels in a fight or a wizard in the higher levels anyday.

[Person_Man]

There's a ton of Illithid material in Lords of Madness.

Also, I think this thread belongs in the Homebrew section.