[Vion] Races of the Realms (3.5, P.E.A.C.H.)
Vion Racial Information
The following are the races I am currently working on for a campaign setting I have been writing for a while now.
They are 3.5, but the racial ability bonuses are slightly different, and that is to be expected.
Things to think about while reading; each post contains the racial information for one material plane’s worth of races. Basically, the setting has three material planes, instead of one. So, the races in each post should be balanced based on each other.
I am sort of intending these races to be a little bit stronger than normal, although obviously not too much stronger.
Fluff Thread (For reference).
[Vion] The Luminous Refuge
The Luminous Refuge
Zaletah
Racial Traits
Zaletah
- +2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom, -2 Strength, -2 Constitution. The Zaletah are fast and graceful, and their perception is better than most, but their hollow bones, and smaller frames mean that they are weak in battle, and take poisons and diseases harder than most.
- Medium. As medium creatures, the Zaletah take no penalty, and gain no bonus based on size alone.
- 30 ft. base land speed. 40 ft. Glide speed.
- Zaletah gain a +2 bonus to all Spot and Survival checks; they have sharp eyes, and can see and smell tracks and survive in nature better than most.
- +4 to all Diplomacy checks with Fey. -2 penalty to any Diplomacy check made against a non-Zaletah humanoid race.
- +2 bonus to all Knowledge (Nature) checks.
- Zaletah can treat the Archbow and Gesh Spear as martial weapons rather than exotic ones.
- Zaletah take a -2 penalty to all checks and rolls while touching an item made or steel or iron. Cold iron makes this penalty become -3.
- Automatic Languages: Zaletah. Bonus Languages: Sylvan, Gorazgor, Taroh, and Luminous Refuge Common. The Zaletah automatically know their own language. They share a language root with Sylvan, which makes learning it much, much easier than other languages, and come frequently in contact with the Gorazgor and Taroh, who are more than willing to teach them their own languages, as well as Common.
- Favored Class: Ranger or Druid. Zaletah are well suited to the life of a ranger. They live as hunters naturally, and take to hunting with a passion. They also are able Druids, working to protect nature and the vast forests that they reside in with the help of their magic. They must choose which class at first level, and cannot change it after that.
Taroh
Racial Traits
Taroh
- +2 Intelligence, +2 Strength, -2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma. The Taroh are wily and strong, but their reactions are slow, and they have a hard time persuading others.
- Medium. As medium creatures, the Taroh take no penalty, and gain no bonus based on size alone (see Powerful Build).
- 20 ft. base land speed
- The Taroh gain a +3 bonus to Knowledge (Religion), Spellcraft, and Heal checks. The Taroh are naturally oriented to Knowledge of religion, religion being so important in their culture, but they are also naturally aligned to knowing of spells, because of the considerable mystical side of their race. They are dedicated healers as well, using the plants of the tribal grounds to heal patients all over the Luminous Refuge.
- The Taroh take a -4 penalty to all checks and rolls when the moon does not appear in the night’s sky.
- Powerful Build: Whenever a Taroh is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the Taroh is treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to him. A Taroh is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature’s special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. A Taroh can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category.
- Automatic Languages: Taroh, Luminous Refuge Common. Bonus Languages: Gorazgor, Zaletah, Icaron. Although the Taroh disagree with the Icaron god, they are still willing to do trade with the Icaron, often spiting the hateful humans or cursing them in hushed tones, while the Icaron can’t hear. They also have the highest contact with the Zaletah, being long time allies against the Icaron.
- Favored Class: Priest or Warblade. The Taroh Priests are especially connected to the moon, and also to healing and protection. The Taroh Warblades are ruthlessly efficient fighters, and known to protect their tribes to the death. They must choose which at first level, and cannot change it after that.
Gorazgor
Racial Traits
Gorazgor
- +2 Constition, +2 Wisdom, -2 Intelligence, -2 Strength. The Gorazgor are hardy and highly perceptive, but their minds are slower than most, and their muscles tend to be less developed than other races.
- Medium. As medium creatures, the Gorazgor take no penalty, and gain no bonus based on size alone.
- 30 foot base land speed. 15 foot climb speed. The Gorazgor are used to traveling on foot as well as climbing in the trees of their home.
- The Gorazgor gain a +4 bonus to all Survival checks while in jungle, warm forest or rain forest areas. They have spent much time in the jungles of their home, and are excellent at surviving there.
- The Gorazgor gain a +2 Jump, Tumble, and Balance skill checks. The Gorazgor are used to swinging through the trees of their home, and have the grace of an acrobat.
- The Gorazgor gain the Track feat as a bonus feat.
- Automatic Languages: Gorazgor, Luminous Refuge Common. Bonus Languages: Taroh, Icaron. The Gorazgor rarely if ever encounter the Zaletah, their respective forests being across the great deserts of Icaron from each other.
- Favored Class: Priest or Swordsage. The Gorazgor are excellent Priests, usually focusing on worship of the god of their culture, Orioch, and his pantheon of deities. Gorazgor Swordsages focus usually on Diamond Mind, Setting Sun, or Shadow Blade, becoming excellent ambushers in the dark jungles of their home. They must choose which at first level, and cannot change it after that.
Icaron
Racial Traits
Icaron
- +2 Strength, +2 Charisma, -2 Wisdom, -2 Intelligence. The Icaron are strong, and have a strong personality to boot, but their minds, their senses, and their logic are somewhat less so developed.
- Medium. As medium creatures, the Icaron take no penalty, and gain no bonus based on size alone.
- 30 ft. base land speed.
- +2 bonus to Diplomacy, Bluff, and Intimidate checks. The Icaron are said to have silver tongues, and use them to the best of their ability.
- Bonus feat. The Icaron, like the other humans, are, although less so than what one would consider “regular” humans, are very flexible.
- The Icaron take a -3 penalty to all checks and rolls under the light of the full moon, or on the night of the full moon.
- Automatic Languages: Icaron, Luminous Refuge Common. Bonus Languages: Gorazgor, and Taroh. Although the Icaron view the Taroh god as an abomination, they are still willing to trade with the Taroh, mostly because the Taroh hide their religion very, very well.
- Favored Class: Priest or Crusader. The Icaron are excellent Priests, having an affinity with several of the Priest domains. In addition, they are excellent crusaders, given the martial focus of the Icaron empire, and the time most young Icaron spend in the armies thereof. They must choose which at first level, and cannot change it after that.
Re: [Vion] Races of the Realms (3.5, P.E.A.C.H.)
So, questions I have for the reader:
- Which races are mechanically superior than others?
- Which races are mechanically inferior, compared to others?
- What would you add to certain races?
- What features do you think are too powerful on certain races? (I'm looking at you, Korde)
- Do the races stack up well to each other (in terms of in-plane comparisons)? Why or why not?
Thanks for reading all of this, if you did. If you didn't, thanks for at least looking. :smallsmile:
Re: [Vion] Races of the Realms (3.5, P.E.A.C.H.)
The Sa'Thok could use low light vision or some other small buff. Other than that, your Kolossan races are relatively well balanced.
The Gozragor and Icaron are better than the Taroh and Zaletah. I don't know which way you want to adjust the balance, so I will refrain from making comments.
The vavantiel are small, but their land speed is greater than any other race on Xap, in fact, the Xanie are slower than average. I'd say reduce it to 30 feet. On that note, the Korde are most certainly not overpowered, I'd say they could be a bit under, although all the balancing would have to promote non-martial classes. The Xanie could also use some more abilities to better reflect their nature as crystalline beings.
My 2 cents. hope it helps.
