The strangest gourmets in 4e! [4e, Race, Peach]

[MammonAzrael]

Popopo

The Popopo are a curious race of small humanoids. Rarely reaching over a meter in height, the appear to be primarily a giant ball with hands and feet. They are generally a very peaceable race, and are very welcoming and trusting of others. Their unusual physiology makes them extremely resilient and as such they tend to turn the other cheek most of the time. They are usually white, yellow, or pink in color, though darker colorings, such as blue or purple have been known to show up.

When they are forced into action they can be surprisingly dangerous foes. Their bodies can contain enormous volume, leading some to believe they are little more than walking stomachs. They use this to their advantage in combat, swallowing their opponents and holding them. These swallowed enemies are sometimes used as weapons, spit back out at other fighters. But by far their most unusual quality is their ability to absorb some of the power of their swallowed foe, gaining special attacks and qualities.

A Popopo will commonly be a Paladin or Warlord, but Clerics are fairly common as well.

Racial Traits

Spoiler

Average Height: 3' 0" - 3' 6"
Average Weight: 35-45 lbs.

Ability Scores: +2 Constitution, +2 Charisma
Size: Small
Speed: 5 squares
Vision: Normal

Languages: Common
Skill Bonuses: +2 Endurance, +2 Insight
Lighter than Air: A popopo gets a + 5 racial bonus to all Athletics checks for jumping. Furthermore, they are always treated as if they had a running start.
Cushioned Body: A popopo takes half damage from falling and always lands on his feet.
Malleable Form: A popopo may squeeze without penalty.
Absorb: You can use Absorb as an At-Will power.
Inhale: You can use Inhale as an At-Will power.

Absorb Popopo racial power
The popopo gains abilities of the creature it swallowed.
At-Will
Move Action | Personal
Effect: The creature you swallowed is spit out into a square adjacent to you, prone. You gain the subtype(s) of the swallowed creature, except mount and swarm. You also gain one of the swallowed creature's At-Will powers. You cannot use the Inhale racial power. You lose this power when you have taken damage equal to your healing surge value. You may dismiss this effect as a minor action.

Inhale Popopo racial power
The popopo attempts to suck in and swallow a creature your size or smaller.
At-Will
Standard Action | Ranged 2
Targets: One creature
Attack: Constitution +2 vs. Fortitude
Increase to +4 bonus at 11th level and to +6 bonus at 21st level.
Hit: The target is swallowed and restrained (no save) until the start of the popopo’s next turn. The swallowed creature can make melee basic attacks only, and only with one-handed or natural weapons. If the popopo dies, any creature trapped in the gullet can escape as a move action, ending that action in a square formerly occupied by the popopo.
Sustain Standard: You can sustain this power indefinitely. If you do not sustain it, you spit out the creature into a square adjacent to you, prone.
Special: You may only have one creature swallowed at a time. You may only swallow a creature your size or smaller.

Racial Feats

Spoiler

Heroic Tier

Spoiler

Cushioned Body
Prerequisites: Popopo
Benefit: You never take damage from falling.

Exhalation
Prerequisites: Popopo
Benefit: You can use Exhale power.

Exhale Popopo racial power
The popopo spits out the creature it has swallowed with surprising force.
At-Will
Move Action | Ranged 5
Targets: One creature
Attack: Dexterity +2 vs. Reflex
Increase to +4 bonus at 11th level and to +6 bonus at 21st level.
Hit: 1d6 + Constitution modifier damage.
Special: You must have a creature swallowed with Inhale to use this ability. You spit that creature out and it lands in a square adjacent to the target and takes 1d6 + Constitution modifier damage and is prone.

Powerful Lungs
Prerequisites: Popopo
Benefit: Your Inhale racial power gains a +1 feat bonus to it's range.

Restrictive Gullet
Prerequisites: Popopo, 15 Con
Benefit: A creature you have swallowed can no longer make basic attacks.

Swallowed Adaptation
Prerequisites: Popopo
Benefit: You gain the burrow, climb, or swim movement of the creature you have used Absorb with.

Paragon Tier

Spoiler

Expanded Stomach
Prerequisits: Popopo, Con 17
Benefit: When using the Inhale racial power you can swallow a creature 1 size larger than you or smaller.

Greater Absorption
Prerequisites: Popopo
Benefit: When you use the Absorb power you also gain one of the swallowed creature's encounter powers.

Epic Tier

Spoiler

Morphic Quality
Prerequisites: Popopo
Benefit: Choose Air, Earth, Fire, Plant, Ooze, Undead, or Water subtype. You gain that subtype.
Special: You may take this feat multiple times, choosing a different subtype each time.

Stomach of Holding
Prerequisits: Popopo, Expanded Stomach
Benefit: When using the Inhale racial power you can swallow a creature 2 sizes larger than you or smaller.

Magic Items

Spoiler

Parasol Level 4+
This fun, bright parasol helps slow your decent and protect you from attacks.
Lvl 4 +1 Lvl 19 +4
Lvl 9 +2 Lvl 24 +5
Lvl 14 +3 Lvl 29 +6
Weapon: Mace, Spear, and Staff
Enhancement: Attack rolls and damage rolls
Critical: +1d6 damage per plus
Property: You don't take damage from falling and you may fall at half speed.
Property: You gain a shield bonus to your AC and Reflex defense as equal to half the enhancement bonus, rounded up.

Star Rod Level 13+
A bright star tops this rod.
Lvl 13 +3 Lvl 23 +5
Lvl 18 +4 Lvl 28 +6
Weapon: Mace, Spear, and Staff
Enhancement: Attack rolls and damage rolls
Critical: +1d6 radiant damage per plus
Property: This weapon functions as a rod implement, adding its enhancement bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls for all powers that use the rod implement.
Power (Daily | Radiant): Standard Action. The weapon shoots out a radiant star. Make an attack: Ranged 10; Constitution or Charisma vs. Reflex (apply a bonus to the attack roll equal to the weapon's enhancement bonus); on a hit, the target takes 2[W] + Charisma modifier radiant damage and the target is pushed back a number of squares equal to half the weapon's enhancement bonus.
Level 23 or 28: 4[W] + Charisma modifier radiant damage to the target, and the number of squares the target is pushed back is equal to the weapon's enhancement bonus.

Warp Star Level 18+
This large, star-shaped platform can transport several people to many predetermined locations from anywhere in the world.
Lvl 18 85,000 Lvl 28 2,125,000
Wonderous Item
Power (Daily): Minor Action. You must be standing on the Warp Star to activate it. When you activate the Warp Star it teleports itself and everything on it to a permanent teleportation circle you specify on the same plane. The Warp Star can hold up to a 2 by 2 square of creatures and goods.
Level 28: The permanent teleportation circle specified can be on any plane.

Winged Cape Level 10+
A protective cape that can turn into gliding wings.
Lvl 10 +2 Lvl 25 +5
Lvl 15 +3 Lvl 30 +6
Lvl 20 +4
Item Slot: Neck
Enhancement: Fortitude, Reflex, and Will
Power (Encounter): Free Action. The cape transforms into a pair of scalloped wings. You gain a fly speed of 8 for a number of rounds equal to the item's enhancement bonus. If you are still in the air at the end of this ability you gracefully float to the ground, taking no falling damage.

EDITS:

Spoiler

• Changed the way Popopo steal abilities (removed feats, added Absorb as a racial power).
• Changed Inhale, Expanded Stomach, and Stomach of Holding to the based or the Popopo's current size.
• Added the Star Rod, Warp Star, and Winged Cape items
• Added the Greater Absorption, Restrictive Gullet, and Swallowed Adaptation feats

Pervious method of ability theft which give abilites that closer emulate the ones gained in the video games:

Spoiler

Heroic Tier Feats

Spoiler

Absorb
Prerequisites: Popopo
Benefit: Whenever you have swallowed a creature with a subtype, you gain that subtype as long as the creature is swallowed, except swarm.

Paragon Tier Feats

Spoiler

Draining Aura
Prerequisites: Popopo, Absorb
Benefit: You can use the Draining Aura power.

Draining Aura Popopo racial power
The air around you take on a chill, lifeless sensation as you grow more robust.
Encounter | Necrotic, Stance
Move Action | Personal
Effect: You gain an aura 3. Any enemy within the aura at the start of it's turn takes necrotic damage equal to your Charisma modifier and you gain that many temporary hit points equal to your Constitution modifier.
Special: You may only use this power if you have the undead subtybe.

Flame Dash
Prerequisites: Popopo, Absorb
Benefit: You can use the Flame Dash power.

Flame Dash Popopo racial power
Your body ignites in a blazing inferno and you shoot forward.
Encounter | Fire
Move Action | Melee
Targets: See attack description
Attack: You move four squares in a straight line. You must make a Charisma vs. Reflex attack against each creature who's square you move through.
Hit: 4d8 + Charisma modifier fire damage to each target.
Special: You may only use this power if you have the fire subtybe. You do not provoke opportunity attacks for moving through enemies squares. You cannot end this attack in a square occupied by an opponent.

Frightful Presence
Prerequisites: Popopo, Absorb
Benefit: You can use the Frightful Presence power.

Frightful Presence Popopo racial power
Your very presence sends your enemies into a panic.
Encounter | Fear
Move Action | Close burst 5
Target: All enemies in burst
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: The target is stunned until the end of the popopo's next turn. Aftereffect: The target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls (save ends).
Special: You may only use this power it you have the dragon subtype.

Ice Shield
Prerequisites: Popopo, Absorb
Benefit: You can use the Ice Shield power.

Ice Shield Popopo racial power
You are surrounded by an icy shield, freezing all who attack you with chilling blasts.
Encounter | Cold, Stance
Move Action | Personal
Effect: Any creature that attacks you takes 1d10 + Charisma modifier damage and is immobilized until the end of your next turn.
Special: You may only use this power if you have the Water subtype.

Needle Burst
Prerequisites: Popopo, Absorb
Benefit: You can use the Needle Burst power.

Needle Burst Popopo racial power
You burst into a deadly ball of needles, piercing all creatures around you.
Encounter
Move Action | Close burst 1
Target: Each creature in the burst
Attack: Constitution vs. AC
Hit: 5d8 + Constitution modifier to each target
Special: You may only use this power if you have the plant subtype.

Noxious Ooze
Prerequisites: Popopo, Absorb
Benefit: You can use the Noxious Ooze power.

Noxious Ooze Popopo racial power
You hurl a venomous glob of sticky goo at the enemy.
Encounter | Poison, Zone
Move Action | Area Burst 2
Target: Each creature in burst
Attack: Charisma vs. Fortitude
Hit: 3d4 + Charisma modifier poison damage.
Effect: The burst creates a zone of poisonous sludge. Creatures that enter the zone or start their turns there take ongoing poison damage equal to your Charisma modifier and are slowed (save ends both).
Sustain Minor: The zone persists.
Special: You may only use this power if you have the Ooze subtype.

Spark Beam
Prerequisites: Popopo, Absorb
Benefit: You can use the Spark Beam power.

Spark Beam Popopo racial power
You shoot a deadly line of sparks out in a wave in front of you.
Encounter | Lightning
Move Action | Close blast 3
Target: All enemies in the blast
Attack: Constitution +3 vs. Reflex
Hit: 6d6 + Constitution modifier Lighting damage to each target.
Miss: Half damage.
Special: You may only use this power if you have the Air subtype.

Stone Form
Prerequisites: Popopo, Absorb
Benefits: You can use the Stone Form power.

Stone Form Popopo racial power
You turn into a large rounded boulder.
Encounter | Polymorph
Move Action | Personal
Effect: You become Petrified and gain Regeneration equal to your Constitution modifier. You become unpetrified and lose the regeneration once you are at full hit points.
Special: You may only use this power if you have the earth subtype. You may end this effect at any time during your turn, even though you may not normally take actions while petrified.

Water Jet
Prerequisites: Popopo, Absorb
Benefits: You can use the Water Jet power.

Water Jet Popopo racial power
You spit a high-powered stream of water at the enemy, blasting them backwards.
Encounter
Move Action | Ranged 10
Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Reflex
Hit: 2d12 + Charisma modifier damage and the target is pushed back a number of squares equal to your Constitution modifier.
Special: You may only use this power if you have the Water subtype.

Whirlwind
Prerequisites: Popopo, Absorb
Benefit: You can use the Whirlwind power.

Whirlwind Popopo racial power
You rapidly spin in a circle, kicking up a small whirlwind that bowls your enemies over.
Encounter
Move Action | Close burst 1
Target: Each creature in burst
Attack: Constitution +3 vs. AC
Hit: 3d8 + Constitution modifier damage.
Effect: Make a secondary attack against each target in range.
Secondary Attack: Constitution +3 vs Fortitude
Hit: The target is knocked prone.
Special: You may only use this power if you have the Air subtype.

[Mando Knight]

Originally Posted by MammonAzrael

Thanks to Mando Knight and his Sonic-based race for inspiration!

I'm an Inspiration!

That's a large number of feats just to make a Kirby, though...

[Dublock]

I think inhale should be changed to one creature one size category or less then you. There is a few times when Kirby is bigger, you get to use it against larger enemies.

[MammonAzrael]

Originally Posted by Mando Knight

I'm an Inspiration!

That's a large number of feats just to make a Kirby, though...

Indeed!

And the way I figure it, Kirby is a pretty high level Popopo, who has devoted most of his feats to racial feats. Of course, I'm sure there are other ways of representing Kirby's ability theft.

Dublock: I was thinking about making Inhale based on the Popopo's size, it shouldn't be a difficult fix.

[KKL]

...Oh dear.

This is equally broken and ridiculously awesome.

Scratch broken. But still, awesome.

[Shadow_Elf]

How about this?

Power Sap
"Kirby steals the abilities of any foe he has swallowed"
At-Will Standard Action
Requirement: You must have an enemy in your stomach by using the Inhale Power to use this ability.
Effect: You gain the subtype(s) of the creature, except swarm or mount. You can also make use of the creature's Basic Attack. You cannot use Inhale while manifesting a creature in this fashion. You can dismiss this effect as a minor action.

And then give them a slew of racial feats that make this better.

I.e., you gain one of the target's movement modes
You gain a resistance equal to the target's highest resistance.
You can make use of any of the creature's powers, but you calculate your own attack bonus and can still only use them with the same frequency as the original user.
The way you calculate Attack: Highest Modifier + 1/2 Level
You gain a +X proficiency bonus to attacks you have stolen from enemies.

[MammonAzrael]

I was thinking about something like that, but I have a couple concerns about it. One, it'll involve a lot more book keeping, and typically the basic attacks of monsters are the least defining or recognizable. And I'd have to modify Inhale a bit to use the aquired abilities, since I currently have it set up as a sustain standard.

I'll play with the idea a bit, and see what I come up with.

[Shadow_Elf]

Originally Posted by MammonAzrael

I was thinking about something like that, but I have a couple concerns about it. One, it'll involve a lot more book keeping, and typically the basic attacks of monsters are the least defining or recognizable. And I'd have to modify Inhale a bit to use the aquired abilities, since I currently have it set up as a sustain standard.

I'll play with the idea a bit, and see what I come up with.

The thing is, he can't keep guys in his mouth if he steals their power. So he takes the power, then spits them out .

[MammonAzrael]

The thing is, as written, if you don't sustain Inhale at the beginning of your turn you spit the creature out, losing the ability to use it's attacks. So I'd have to change it a bit.

...wait, the way you've written it, the popopo would retain these effect indefinitely. Is that roughly what you were aiming for?

Hmm...I might be able to do something with this....

[Shadow_Elf]

Originally Posted by MammonAzrael

The thing is, as written, if you don't sustain Inhale at the beginning of your turn you spit the creature out, losing the ability to use it's attacks. So I'd have to change it a bit.

...wait, the way you've written it, the popopo would retain these effect indefinitely. Is that roughly what you were aiming for?

Hmm...I might be able to do something with this....

Yeah. Well, Kirby can, so why not?

Also, maybe if he takes more than his healing surge value in damage from one attack, he loses any powers he has, or if he is bloodied.

[Tuataralad]

This is pretty cool. I think maybe you should add more maic items, maybe like a warpstar type thing or a star wand, but besides that, nice job.

[Pirate_King]

Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf

How about this?

Power Sap
"Kirby steals the abilities of any foe he has swallowed"
At-Will Standard Action
Requirement: You must have an enemy in your stomach by using the Inhale Power to use this ability.
Effect: You gain the subtype(s) of the creature, except swarm or mount. You can also make use of the creature's Basic Attack. You cannot use Inhale while manifesting a creature in this fashion. You can dismiss this effect as a minor action.

And then give them a slew of racial feats that make this better.

I.e., you gain one of the target's movement modes
You gain a resistance equal to the target's highest resistance.
You can make use of any of the creature's powers, but you calculate your own attack bonus and can still only use them with the same frequency as the original user.
The way you calculate Attack: Highest Modifier + 1/2 Level
You gain a +X proficiency bonus to attacks you have stolen from enemies.

Kirby's copy ability could be as simple as "Gains one of the inhaled target's at-will powers in place of inhale until the end of the encounter/takes x damage"

[Vadin]

Originally Posted by MammonAzrael

Hmm...I might be able to do something with this....

And have you, perchance, done something with it? Because it was a pretty cool idea.

[MammonAzrael]

Sorry I haven't updated these guys, I've been crazy busy! Anyway, here's some new stuff, and a big change to the ability theft.

Hopefully I'll be able to find some time to do up the mounts!

[Siberys]

I'd leave the previous power-feats available. Else Morphic Quality seems kinda useless...

[Shadow_Elf]

Havent checked this out in awhile, but it looks very good now. I'm itching to find an excuse to try it our .

[Vadin]

Heads up! I slightly altered these guys and am using them in Lords of Creation: Chains of the Aeon and calling them munoks. Way to make something totally awesome! Thanks!