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velvetkit
Acolyte
2 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Nov 2007 : 22:29:54
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Ok, I've been trying to find information on this for a while, for a character idea I have...
how would you go about creating a planetouched character whose outsider ancestry is the avatar of a deity? for example, a drow who has an avatar of Eilistraee as one of her ancestors
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Matthus
Senior Scribe
Germany
393 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 09:08:05
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There is no cannon rule, but I would think you should read for example “The Glass Prison” from Monte Cook or the “Twilight War” series as far as it is released. There you will find the stories from sons of powerful tanaris or demon lords – maybe you’ll find something you’ll like.
General I would think, it depends how thin the blood became – as to say how many generations are between the avatar and the child – look for example in the description of Planetouched in MM II.
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velvetkit
Acolyte
2 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 14:18:26
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| well, the example is actually the character I want to make, I'm just wondering how to figure out what to give the character as far as abilities and whatnot. I don't want her to be any more powerful than typical planetouched, I just want to more appropriately reflect her particular ancestry |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 19:02:58
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Well, there is a certain aspect of this idea that striked me as odd:
Planetouched are beings that have celestrial/elemental/demonic blood in their lineage, but is very far removed from the original 'father/mother'. The outsider's blood runs not very heavily through their veins. However they still possess minor enherited abilities due to it.
THis might actually be the case for children of gods, but certainly not of those that are direct off-string from them. They would be 'half-gods' in a way and therefore much more powerful than the planetoughed.
You would most certainly have to differenciate between those. However, if the lineage is very far removed you might create a 'touched' creature with powers similar to those of planetouched.
On a sidenote: the computer game Baldur's Gate II - 'Thron of Bhaal' features such a story as main plot (see wikipedia for rough details). |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36971 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 20:54:57
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| I would take an existing type of planetouched, and modify it to suit your purposes. Maybe switch out one minor ability for something more closely related to the divine ancestor. I'd recommend using the appropriate "Initiate of" feat, if one is available for that deity. |
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Sian
Senior Scribe
Denmark
596 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 21:53:38
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| in fact ... in my opinion i would much rather see planetouched as a +1 template instead of a race of their own ... i mean .. Aasimar is a human with Celestial blood ... but we have no chance of saying how a lets say a sun elf with celestial blood would be stated even though its basicly the same thing just with another 'base race' |
what happened to the queen? she's much more hysterical than usual
She's a women, it happens once a month |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 07:58:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Sian
in fact ... in my opinion i would much rather see planetouched as a +1 template instead of a race of their own ... i mean .. Aasimar is a human with Celestial blood ... but we have no chance of saying how a lets say a sun elf with celestial blood would be stated even though its basicly the same thing just with another 'base race'
Maybe there are no elven planetouched as the elvenblood has such strange behavior when it comes to 'interracial' relations. After all, when it comes to mating of elves of different type (e.g. wood and wild) their child would be either true wood OR true wild.
This could count for celestrials as well, either entirely celestrial or entirely elf....
THat's of course not more than a thought here, but I like your innitial idea. I never thought about this before actually. |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Matthus
Senior Scribe
Germany
393 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 12:50:48
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quote:
Originally posted by velvetkit
well, the example is actually the character I want to make, I'm just wondering how to figure out what to give the character as far as abilities and whatnot. I don't want her to be any more powerful than typical planetouched, I just want to more appropriately reflect her particular ancestry
To compare the planetouched from memory:
The Tiefling
Ability Score Adjustments: +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence -2 Charisma
Outsider Type: Tieflings are native outsiders, so they are vulnerable to spells and effects that work on creatures of the outsider type but immune to effects that target other types. For example, a tiefling would be subject to the extra damage from an outsider bane sword but immune to hold person, since that spell affects only humanoids.
Speed: Tiefling base land speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision (Ex): A tiefling has darkvision to a 60-foot range.
Lesser Darkness (Sp): Once per day, the tiefling may use an effect similar to darkness (caster level equals tiefling's character level), except that the radius is 5 feet. This ability is the equivalent of a 1st-level spell.
Skill Bonuses: A tiefling has a +2 racial bonus on Bluff and Hide checks.
Favored Class: Rogue.
resistances (cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5)
______________________________________________________________________
Descendent of Elistraee: (you should think on a appropriate name  )
Ability Score Adjustments: - 2 Int, +2 WIS, + 2 CHA
Outsider Type: As above
Speed: ... base land speed is 40 feet
Darkvision (EX): 60-foot
Moonbeam(SP): once per day, the ... may use an effect similar to:
Movable beam of light that penetrates darkness and forces lycanthropes to change shape.
Skill Bonuses: A .... has a +2 racial bonus on perform [dance] and jump.
Favored Class: Bard
resistances: (Why not) sonic 5, acid 5, negative energy 5
So this was just a first and fast try - hope this helps 
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Edited by - Matthus on 13 Nov 2007 16:01:22 |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2007 : 20:47:42
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Mmmh, pondering about your take on it, Matthus, I would take it on a little differently. After all, she is off-spring from a drow goddess and therefore would have at least a few drow traits if not all. However, we are looking to create a new race here and not just a template (which would be more appropriate though, IMO). I was inspired by the 'Celadrin', a race of planetouched decended from the union of elven worshippers with Hanali Celanil which was introduced in Dragon magazine #350.
Descendent of Elistraee might be called Ivae'a'nodel* (meaning 'Light of the moon' or 'moonlight') or Hini'hinue* (meaning Children of Song) or A'mael'a'nodel* (meaning 'Beloved of the Moon') by elves. If they are even known to exist to humans they might call them e.g. 'Children of the Moon Maiden', 'Song-Sisters', or also 'Moon-Drow' or 'Song-Drow'. However, I doubt that it is known to human scholars that such planetouched creatures even exist at all, mistaken them to be normal Drow if ever encountered. To the abilities:
- Ability Score Adjustments: -2 CON, +2 WIS, + 2 CHA
- Outsider Type: ... are native outsiders.
- Speed: ... base land speed is 30 feet.
- Drow Blood: For all special abilites and effects, ... are considered a drow. For example, they can use drow weapons and magic items with racially specific drow powers as if they were drow.
- Resistances: fire 10
- Immunities. ... are immune to sleep spells and effects.
- Darkvision (Ex): A ... has darkvision to a 120 foot range.
- Weapon proficiency: ... are automatically proficient with the favored weapon of their goddess-mother - the bastard sword.
- Skills: ... gain a racial bonus of +4 on Perform (dance) and +2 Listen Search and Spot checks.
- Melodic Voice: The voice of ... is so capitvating that she recieves a +1 to Diplomacy made to influence the attitude of NPCs and animals and magical beasts (wild empathy). This bonus rises to +2 on 5th, +3 on 10th, +4 on 15th and +5 on 20th level.
- Spell-like Abilities (Sp): 1/day: fearie fire, dancing lights, Moon Lust (Dragon #315, p. 30).
- Automatic Languages: Celestrial, Undercommon, Elven. Bonus languages: Common, Draconic, Drow Sign Language, Goblin, Orc, Sylvan.
- Favored Class: Bard
Level adjustment: +1
(You might want to consider also an additional +2 to INT, 'Light Blindness' and 'Spell resistance' like a drow, raising the Level Adjustment to +2).
Ergdusch
Edit note: *The names were worked out according to the elven language Lexicon by Sean K. Reynolds in Dragon #279 and an online elven dictionary (compare here), as unfortunately the words 'sister' and 'beloved' were not included in the article.
Also noteworthy is the 'Silverhair Knight' PrC introduced in the article 'Sin eaters of Eilistraee', Dragon #315, p. 28.
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"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
Edited by - Ergdusch on 15 Nov 2007 09:50:03 |
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Matthus
Senior Scribe
Germany
393 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2007 : 07:54:16
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Just a splendid work Ergdush – nothing to add from me – only that my first shot was from memory and I obvious lack some experience points in this .
But I will use your proposal myself in my next campaign as I like your idea  . |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2007 : 12:11:34
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Thanks for the commendation, Matthus. However, it really is not much of my work, but rather mostly taken from the Celadrin-race discription in Dragn magazine #350. You only have to know where to find such lore, 'tis all!
BTW, I edited my previous note by adding a +2 Int bonus to the info in brackets as Drow also recieve this boost naturally as well and I felt it was appropriate to give it to a 'Child of the Moon Maiden' as well...
Also, I will provide for you here the Moon Lust spell discription (see also Dragon Magazine #315, p. 31):
Moon Lust
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind affecting]
Level: Clr 1
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft + 10 ft/level)
Target: 1 living creature
Duration: 1 round /level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell resistance: Yes
This spell instills in the target an obsessive fascination with the moon. If the target fails its save it fixates on the moon and is considered fascinated (DMG p. 300-301) for the duration of the spell.
If the moon is not visible at the time of casting and the target fails its save, it grows worried and distracted and is not fascinated. However, the creature instead takes a -1 penalty on all attack rolls and skill checks for the duraton of the spell.
Sightless creatures are not affected by this spell.
Focus: A silver ingot worth 5 gp.
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"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
Edited by - Ergdusch on 14 Nov 2007 12:30:13 |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 09:39:33
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Inspired by your question velvetkit, I created this race of planetouched. Critics are much asked for, especially advise as to the origin of such a race and game balance issues.
RACE OF PLANETOUCHED - HINI'HINUE
Hini'hinue are a race of planetouched decended from the union of worshipers of Elistraee and her avatars during special moon feasts and celebrations. The term Hini'hinue derives from the rituals of their creation, in which dance and song are very prominent aspects. It means ‘Children of Song’. Most Hini'hinue encountered away from their homes are Bards or embrace the Prestige class of ‘Silverhair Knight’ (Dragon magazine #315).
ECOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Most Hini'hinue live among the settlements of Elistraee-worshipping drow on the surface or the underdark, although some wander the world in order to further the cause of the Dark Maiden before settling down among other drow. They speak Celestial, Elven and Undercommon. Those who travel outside their temples learn the Common Tongue as well.
Usually Hini'hinue however, prefer to live among other surface drow or elves with prominent temples to Elistraee. They worship the Dark Maiden and ravel in dance and song to their goddess.
Environment: Hini'hinue usually live in temperate forests of their elven kin or in natural caves close to the surface.
Alignment: Like most full-blooded drow they embrace the aspect of chaos, but they enjoy the gentle and peaceful aspect of their mother over the evil of most of their kin, therefore always being chaotic good.
Typical physical Appearance: Hini'hinue resemble drow in nearly all aspects. However, their hair is the colour of silver rather than white. They prefer to dress in light, practical cloths as most fitting to the task at hand. Rarely do they put on armor, except when a battle is expected.
IN THE REALMS
As descendents of Elistraee they are a rare sight in Faerun indeed. Most Hini'hinue trace their bloodline back to the time even before the crown wars when the worship of Elistraee was much more prominent. However, after the Decent of the Drow the worship of the Dark Maiden was more and more neglected and over time the origins of the Hini’hinue became less obvious.
By surface elves Hini'hinue are sometimes also called Ivae'a'nodel, meaning 'Light of the moon' or 'moonlight' or A'mael'a'nodel, meaning 'Beloved of the Moon'.
Drow call them Dalharen’d’evel meaning ‘Children of the Moon’. However, depending on the exact pronunciation the term can also mean ‘the spying children’.
If human scholars even known they exist they might call them 'Children of the Dark Maiden', 'Song-Sisters', or also 'Moon-Drow' or 'Song-Drow'. However, it is doubtful that any human knows of the existence of such planetouched creatures, mistaking them to be normal Drow if ever encountered.
Racial abilities:
• Ability Score Adjustments: -2 CON, +2 WIS, + 2 CHA, +2 INT
• Outsider Type: Hini’hinue are native outsiders.
• Drow Blood: For all special abilites and effects, Hini’hinue are considered a drow. For example, they can use drow weapons and magic items with racially specific drow powers as if they were drow.
• Speed: Hini’hinue base land speed is 30 feet.
• Immunities: Hini’hinue are immune to sleep spells and effects.
• Spell-like Abilities (Sp): 1/day: fearie fire, dancing lights, Moon Lust (Dragon #315, p. 31). These abilites are cast as sorcerers of the Hini'hinue’s character level.
• Resistances: fire 10
• Darkvision (Ex): A Hini’hinue has darkvision to a 120 foot range.
• Weapon proficiency: Hini’hinue are automatically proficient with the favored weapon of their goddess-mother - the bastard sword.
• Light Blindness (Ex): Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds a Hini'a'hinue for 1 round. In addition, Hini'hinue suffer a -1 circumstance penalty on all attack rolls, saves, and checks while operating in bright light.
• Spell Resistance: Hini'hinue have a spell resistance of 11 + class level.
• Skills: Hini’hinue gain a racial bonus of +4 on Perform (dance) and +2 Listen Search and Spot checks.
• Melodic Voice: The voice of Hini’hinue is so capitvating that she recieves a +1 to Diplomacy made to influence the attitude of NPCs and animals and magical beasts (wild empathy). This bonus rises to +2 on 5th, +3 on 10th, +4 on 15th and +5 on 20th level.
• Automatic Languages: Celestrial, Undercommon, Elven. Bonus languages: Common, Draconic, Drow Sign Language, Goblin, Orc, Sylvan.
• Favored Class: Bard
• Level adjustment +2: Hini'hinue are more powerful and gain levels more slowly than most of the other common races of Faerun. See the Powerful Races sidebar (FRCS p. 21) for more details.
Help me hone this race of planetouched, fellow sages.
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"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
Edited by - Ergdusch on 15 Nov 2007 11:51:11 |
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Penknight
Senior Scribe
USA
538 Posts |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 17:23:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Penknight
Just a question... are there other canon references to deities mating with humans besides Bhaal?
Mystra for the Seven Sisters even though she technically "possessed" their mother.
There's probably some more during the ToT's. Lliira, I think it was Lliira, had relations with her priestess. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Sian
Senior Scribe
Denmark
596 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 17:25:53
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| how ... that wouldn't really surprice me ... neither if you said that Sharess did the same trick [:P9] |
what happened to the queen? she's much more hysterical than usual
She's a women, it happens once a month |
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Aravine
Senior Scribe
USA
608 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 17:32:50
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| Actually I beleive aasimars can be desendants of deities without any modification. i am going by memory here , but I beleive the aasimar and teiflings are more common in Mulharand because the gods were known to be prolific with mortals. thats why aasimar sometimes have an affinity to certain animals, just like the slave gods are sometimes portrayed as. |
The brave don't live forever,the cautious don't live at all |
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Aravine
Senior Scribe
USA
608 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 17:47:02
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and I suppose you could add an additional +1 to the drow level adjustment to make it a aasimar type creature. although the drow already have darkvision so...hmm. you could give them low-light vision? and Ergdusch, elf blood is a tricky thing but I remember a race Fey'ri, they are planetouched so I see no reason why any of the base creatures can't be.
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The brave don't live forever,the cautious don't live at all |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2007 : 02:00:08
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Florin Falconhand had relations with Mielikki.
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"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2007 : 08:05:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
[There's probably some more during the ToT's. Lliira, I think it was Lliira, had relations with her priestess.
Let me guess: There are hardly any offspring from this particual mating!?
quote:
Originally posted by Aravine
and I suppose you could add an additional +1 to the drow level adjustment to make it a aasimar type creature.
Are you talking about a level adjustment of +3 in total?!? And addding the aasimar abilities on top of those already listed. I believe that would be a little too much...
quote:
although the drow already have darkvision so...hmm. you could give them low-light vision? and Ergdusch, elf blood is a tricky thing but I remember a race Fey'ri, they are planetouched so I see no reason why any of the base creatures can't be.
I considered to keep them close to the original drow racial abilites. Therefore, they do have darkvision over lowlight vision and instead of 'Elfblood' like the Fey'ri the have the 'Drow blood ability', which is actually almost identical. |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2007 : 15:44:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
Let me guess: There are hardly any offspring from this particual mating!?
Well.... you never know, gods can cause people to get with child. They are gods after all and they have powers to do that..... :) |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2007 : 23:11:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
Lliira, I think it was Lliira, had relations with her priestess.
It was Lliira and it was during the Time of Troubles. 'Tis noted in Faiths & Pantheons.
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Edited by - The Sage on 16 Nov 2007 23:12:51 |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2007 : 01:09:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
Let me guess: There are hardly any offspring from this particual mating!?
Well.... you never know, gods can cause people to get with child. They are gods after all and they have powers to do that..... :)
Ohoh, yes, of course - the pragnent virgin! Sounds familiar to me! |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Aravine
Senior Scribe
USA
608 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2007 : 17:09:37
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| only in D&D... or the Bible,but not in that way...*shivers* |
The brave don't live forever,the cautious don't live at all |
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nbnmare
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2007 : 18:36:55
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The favored soul class from Complete Divine is also a good way to suggest divine ancestry. You could also create a set of new Heritage feats that reflect the portfolio of the character's ancestral deity.
quote:
Originally posted by Sian
in fact ... in my opinion i would much rather see planetouched as a +1 template instead of a race of their own ... i mean .. Aasimar is a human with Celestial blood ... but we have no chance of saying how a lets say a sun elf with celestial blood would be stated even though its basicly the same thing just with another 'base race'
Actually, issue #350 of Dragon Magazine featured the celadrin, planetouched gold elves descended from an eldarin. The same issue also features the azerblood (shield dwarves with azer ancestry), d'hinn (lightfood halflings with djinn ancestry), and worghests (goblins with barghest ancestry).
Even if you don't want to use those particular races, they and other such races (e.g. the fey'ri and tanarukks) are a great guide for creating your own demi-human and monstrous humanoid planetouched races.
I'm personally quite fascinated with the concept of planetouched monstrous humanoids; some ideas I've been tinkering with include the cevrityr (satyr with cervidal ancestry), the leomic (wemic with leonal ancestry), the oghour (ogre with ghour ancestry), and the gnarr (gnoll with marrash ancestry). |
Edited by - nbnmare on 28 Nov 2007 18:48:19 |
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on planetouched and divine avatars
