We have seen a couple of threads about new (or "old") monsters, but as I talked to my players they asked me about PC races. I consider the core races from SRD granted, but will there be new ones, too?
I would certainly hope we'll be seeing some Pathfinder-specific races. :)
hehe, yeah and the test group choosing to join the kobolds instead of stopping them :D
It was a pretty wild take on goblins.
Perhaps we will learn how come elves live so long.. yet have bad health.. and stay at home for a century..
Maaan, save the woods, cause theres like all theese weeird mushrooms.. m'kay..
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hehe, yeah and the test group choosing to join the kobolds instead of stopping them :D
It was a pretty wild take on goblins.Perhaps we will learn how come elves live so long.. yet have bad health.. and stay at home for a century..
Maaan, save the woods, cause theres like all theese weeird mushrooms.. m'kay..
(lol)
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Perhaps we will learn how come elves live so long.. yet have bad health.. and stay at home for a century..
Maaan, save the woods, cause theres like all theese weeird mushrooms.. m'kay..
I've long been convinced that most elves are on something. I mean have you really -looked- at them? Tree hugging, distorted sense of time and advanced knowledge of herbalism. And they -don't sleep-.
But maybe it's just me.
Creative Director
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We have seen a couple of threads about new (or "old") monsters, but as I talked to my players they asked me about PC races. I consider the core races from SRD granted, but will there be new ones, too?
At least at the start, with Rise of the Runelords, we'll be assuming that most PCs races are the standard: human, half-elf, halfling, elf, gnome, dwarf, and half-orc. Our adventures will reflect this; in civilization, these races will be the most common (for Varisia, probably in the order I just listed above, but maybe not... it'll certainly vary from region to region).
That said, there's nothing At All to prevent you from using different races for PCs in your game, especially if you're planning on running Rise of the Runelords in your home game or another published campaign setting. And as cool as the goblins are, having a PC goblin in the first Runelords Adventure would be awkward, since the people of Sandpoint hate and fear goblins (and with good reason).
Or, given the treatment goblins just got, a similar re-imagining of the core races. I mean seriously - with Goblins like that, what're they gonna do with Elves and Dwarves?
I can't wait.
I just thought I'd second this: I'd love to see a fresh look at the core races. No mechanical chances, of course, just like the Goblins, but the same kind of unique twist.
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I just thought I'd second this: I'd love to see a fresh look at the core races. No mechanical chances, of course, just like the Goblins, but the same kind of unique twist.
I'd love to see that with elves--so that they're no longer the sad caricature that they've become in so many peoples games. I hate having to kick peoples' preconceived notions about elves in the face all by myself whenever I present them in a game as either a DM or a player.
I just thought I'd second this: I'd love to see a fresh look at the core races. No mechanical chances, of course, just like the Goblins, but the same kind of unique twist.I'd love to see that with elves--so that they're no longer the sad caricature that they've become in so many peoples games. I hate having to kick peoples' preconceived notions about elves in the face all by myself whenever I present them in a game as either a DM or a player.
I really like WoW's blood elves.
RE elves: I see no problem with the classic LotR high-fantasy elf. But I love tragedy and grit, so I'm hoping this new setting at does feature a new take on the elven race, in whole or in part.
Back in August 2006, Erik Mona posted something on his website about a new campaign he was working on. Regarding elves, he wrote:
Probably my favorite of the demihumans, so I'm strongly considering including them. In my view for an elf to be an elf there's got to be a sense of tragedy about him, so my elves will be somewhat haunted and melancholy, yet capable of genuine warmth and affection. Their early interactions with humanity soured them on us and they withdrew to someplace else. They've now returned over the course of the last few centuries, and are starting to reclaim old land and fallen castles. (emphasis added)
Food for thought.
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Will we see a blog of the little changes to the core races soon? My players are asking for it. (I don't want to sound too blunt, but I am just a bit upset to tell them that there is no more information on gnomes, dwarves and halflings in Varisia, yet.)
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Pathfinder is going to be all OGL, so I don't see that the mechanics of the SRD races will change at all. The only difference will be flavor.
But I'm not 'in the know', so I could be wrong. But until we get the player's guide, that is how I would go forward.
You are not wrong. We're not changing the mechanics of the core races or standard classes or feats or any of that. They're gonna taste different (ha ha ha, I made a "flavor" pun) but they'll still have the same great crunch (ha ha ha, I made a "crunch" pun). :D
Geez, I should go to bed. ;P
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Unfortunately Genasi aren't OGL (afaik) because they'd probably fit into how I'm seeing Varisia developing as well as Aasimar or Tieflings. Seeing as Sandpoint's a port town I could easily see a Water genasi living off the coast in a little underwater hut who comes in to trade Pearls with the locals.
Of course with Sin magic and Saintly Virtues being core themes in Varisia the scions of Angels and Demons/Devils wouldn't be an uncommon sight, perhaps apprearing every other generation or so in certain bloodlines throughout the kingdom (?is Varisia a Kingdom?).
-- Vrock Lobster!
I have mentioned it in another thread: I am planning to run a small prologue for my players. So far I already have quite the picture of the encounters in my head, but the final confrontation...
I wanted to make all the encounters 100% srd and couldn't think of a cool human BBEG, yet. So I took a look in the MM and searched it for intelligent CR 3 creatures. I found the derro. Mad half-dwarves! As the goddess of Madness will play a role in the RotRAP perhaps not the badest choice, on the other hand perhaps a bit too much madness in one campaign. What do you think? Do the derro have the RotRAP-feel?
Good news! I start to like those mustache wearing half-dwarf madmen.
Wait... there was this issue of Dungeon, ah right 89, my very first one! It had this adventure called Headless in it, written by a certain Mr. Jacobs. The BBEG was actually a derro, I think. And there was one in Into the Wormcrawl Fissure, too. Wasn't there? Again the module was written by Mr. Jacobs. Wasn't it? Said Mr. Jacobs is the Editor-in-Chief of Pathfinder. Isn't he?
Perhaps we will really see some derros in RotRAP... Won't we?
Headless is a fun adventure - the Deadgate kept popping up in my OA/L5R campaign.
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Creative Director
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In fact... there was a derro in the first adventure for a short moment... but I changed him to something else for various reasons. He might still change back into a derro... but there's a pretty good chance a derro will show up somewhere along the way.
And yes. I am a big fan of the derros. They're awesome in every way that normal dwarfs aren't.
I'd like to see something original done with the back story to Gnomes. They seem to be the red-headed stepchildren of the core races (no offense to real red-headed stepchildren intended). I've never liked how they were the poorer cousins to Dwarves in 1E that somehow morphed into pseudo-steampunk tinkerers as imagined in FR. I also preferred the Illusionist over Bard as the preferred racial class for Gnomes, a bias that probably comes from an old 1E Illusionist/Thief I played.
I've always imagined them as more closely related to fey creatures myself (somewhat like Forest Gnomes are now). Anyone else like Gnomes, or am I the lonely advocate?
This may sound a little odd, but I kind of like imagining gnomes as reclusive...or even "in decline"...in the manner that the elves of the Forgotten Realms are depicted. That makes them rarer. It also gives you a greater excuse to tie them to the fey realm. And, as a result, I think that makes them more "magical" (though in a different way than the magics pursued by men and elves).
I also think going that route makes gnomes more dangerous and unpredictable as an overall race. You would be a little unsure of your standing with them, whenever you crossed paths. Would they scurry away and hide? Lash out at you as interlopers into the faerie realm? Or approach you in a friendly fashion and help you along your way? I'd like to think all of those are possible depending on which clan of gnomes you encountered.
So yeah, I do think of them more in terms of fey than "distilled dwarves" or "steampunk alchemists." Their favored class (whether Bard or Illusionist) would still tie back to their mischievous and mercurial nature. To me, gnomes are just a little more stable than pixies, sprites, and other fey (in terms of cultural outlook)...which makes them more of a standard PC race...but only marginally so.
I also imagine their major cities and culture to be hidden away...cloaked in the faerie-filled forests, but in a different way than how elves set themselves apart. Whereas elves live aboveground, gnomes go under...but never as far into the dark tunnels as a dwarf would. And gnomes know the forest intrinsically, chattering with all manner of woodland creatures, from squirrels and birds to moles and weasels.
Just my two-cents,
--Neil
I don't want to hijack this thread, but does anyone know where I can find more information on derro? Yesterday I bought the ecology compilation and there wasn't one listed to have ever been printed. So where to look?
Thanks in advance! :)
"Legacies of the Suel Imperium," Dragon Magazine 241; November 1997.
Aureus, you could always read the Monster Manual (page 49) entry on Derro for starters, as well.
BTW, WotC has a search engine for all their published monsters. CLICK HERE
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BTW, WotC has a search engine for all their published monsters. CLICK HERE
...that's an almost ridiculous number of monsters (2568???).
...that's an almost ridiculous number of monsters (2568???).
...and we must use them all!!!
Aureus, you could always read the Monster Manual (page 49) entry on Derro for starters, as well.
Thanks a lot! ;)
No really dragon #241 sounds great, thanks.
So those Runelords (Suel) have bred the derro! I knew it was them!
Well, at least one major city in my world has non human races as allies and has them on a reservation of sorts; they pay taxes and have thier own government representative in the city council; have police patrols and whatnot and are just as crooked or pure as anyone else; pcs are always a bit shocked and some pcs have an attack on sight mentality that gets an adjustment when they find out they are breaking the law and may have just created an interacial accident; hehe can be good adventuring fun. Almost every non human race has something to offer the varied human societies even if it is doing the ugly or dangerous jobs nobody else wants to do that keeps a city going. I can just see it; "look Elsie, a goblin invasion!" "nah, Betty, they just be the Goblin street cleaners and the Kobold sewer workers guilds having a tussle over who owns what trash, its trash day; pour some tea and lets watch, if you like we can put that old desk out there and see if that heats things up."
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Contributor
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I've always imagined them as more closely related to fey creatures myself (somewhat like Forest Gnomes are now). Anyone else like Gnomes, or am I the lonely advocate?
You are not alone. If I were feeling more ambitious (or if I wasn't so busy) I'd go through and link to all the threads in which I express my deep-seated love of gnomes.
And to make you even happier, I think the current plan is to make them somehow connected with the fey. :)
This may sound a little odd, but I kind of like imagining gnomes as reclusive...or even "in decline"...in the manner that the elves of the Forgotten Realms are depicted. That makes them rarer. It also gives you a greater excuse to tie them to the fey realm. And, as a result, I think that makes them more "magical" (though in a different way than the magics pursued by men and elves).
This is aligned with our line of thinking as it currently stands.
I also think going that route makes gnomes more dangerous and unpredictable as an overall race. You would be a little unsure of your standing with them, whenever you crossed paths. Would they scurry away and hide? Lash out at you as interlopers into the faerie realm? Or approach you in a friendly fashion and help you along your way? I'd like to think all of those are possible depending on which clan of gnomes you encountered.
Scurry and hide? Not likely. Bash your shins with a stick then give you a pie and send you on your way? Much more likely. Think tamed wild animals: generally safe to be around but with the potential to lash out and murderize at a moment's notice.
To me, gnomes are just a little more stable than pixies, sprites, and other fey (in terms of cultural outlook)...which makes them more of a standard PC race...but only marginally so.
Get... out... of... my... brain!!!
I also imagine their major cities and culture to be hidden away...
I'm not sure gnomes have "major cities," but your other points here are valid.
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So we've gotten a small preview of what to expect of gnomes. I like the direction they're heading...I still am on the fence as to whether I'd ever want to play one. They appear to be taken more seriously and to have a better backstory than previous versions of gnomes.
What about halflings? Has there been any word on this? Anyone at paizo willing to provide some brief insight? Please tell me they won't be merely comic relief anymore.
(Savage. Cannibal. Halflings. Mean little bastards. That's all I want for Christmas.)
Oh yes! Make them halflings mean(er). They come after their forefather Crimson, don't they?
This may sound a little odd, but I kind of like imagining gnomes as reclusive...or even "in decline"...in the manner that the elves of the Forgotten Realms are depicted. That makes them rarer. It also gives you a greater excuse to tie them to the fey realm. And, as a result, I think that makes them more "magical" (though in a different way than the magics pursued by men and elves).This is aligned with our line of thinking as it currently stands.
Cool. Very cool.
Would they scurry away and hide? Lash out at you as interlopers into the faerie realm? Or approach you in a friendly fashion and help you along your way? I'd like to think all of those are possible depending on which clan of gnomes you encountered.Scurry and hide? Not likely. Bash your shins with a stick then give you a pie and send you on your way? Much more likely. Think tamed wild animals: generally safe to be around but with the potential to lash out and murderize at a moment's notice.
Hmmm...feral little beasties...
But perhaps I didn't properly explain the reason for why they might scurry away and hide. It's so they can spy on you, observe your intentions, gauge your weaknesses, and then exploit them. I mean, gnomes shouldn't be characterized as dummies. They are physically weaker than a lot of other races. And, though their magic is strong, it's mostly based on illusion, trickery, and misdirection. So they may engage in a bit of "psychological warfare" in that respect while staying hidden. Then, once they've got you on edge, they break out the sticks, bash your shins, and drive you off with a well-placed pie... ;-)
To me, gnomes are just a little more stable than pixies, sprites, and other fey (in terms of cultural outlook)...which makes them more of a standard PC race...but only marginally so.Get... out... of... my... brain!!!
Never! It's my intention to eventually write and submit something for Pathfinder. And, as long as I can keep getting inside everyone's head, I should be in tune with the direction you guys want to take the campaign world and the APs.
Now, if someone (*ahem*) would just put together some submission guidelines... ;-)
--Neil
Just to add a different feel to it, I'm considering throwing in some other races. Kenku are surprisingly appropriate for player characters; I believe they're +2 Dex, -2 Str with some miscellaneous bonuses, making fine rogues and spellcasters. You can use this to remove elves entirely, leaving only their half-elven progeny and a host of abandoned settlements for men to war over.
Another campaign of mine, I didn't like half-orcs so I created a +2 Str race of construct-like stone elementals who could consume rare minerals and ore to enhance their ability scores and natural abilities. You could literally eat all your treasure and end up this hulking ogre-like creature. Half-orcs don't exist; orcs are purely evil, unwilling to have peaceful relations with other races, and when they raid human villages they are unwilling to leave any women alive to bear their offspring.
Dwarves, I left in because they're awesome. Gnomes had to stay in order to keep people from playing kobolds.
Kenku? Kenku?!?!
No one here likes kenku!
;)
Kenku? Kenku?!?!
No one here likes kenku!
;)
Ask James Jacobs. :)
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Alright, so we got a little preview in the latest blog entry about the three distinct human ethnicities.
Will these different ethnicities have any different stats? Or are they default/OGL humans mechanically?
(BTW, I really like the descriptions and "flavor" of the three groups. Pathfinder only continues to impress.)
Will these different ethnicities have any different stats?
What I would like to see is different favored classes for the different ethnicities. Not like the other races though, where the favored class is restricted to just one class, but I think there should be some restrictions to add flavor. For example, Varisians could have bard, druid, ranger, rogue, and sorcerer as favored classes.
What I would like to see is different favored classes for the different ethnicities.
I use something similar to this in my home campaign, though I don't list a half-dozen classes as "favored." It seems to be a contradiction. If the PCS used a similar system, I would approve. I'd mimic the 3e Oriental Adventures / Rokugan favored class rules. Each family of each clan in Rokugan has a favored class, and a bonus class skill.
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RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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What I would like to see is different favored classes for the different ethnicities. Not like the other races though, where the favored class is restricted to just one class, but I think there should be some restrictions to add flavor. For example, Varisians could have bard, druid, ranger, rogue, and sorcerer as favored classes.
Yeah, this would be interesting. I'm not hoping for a "one ethnicity gets +2 to Dexterity, another gets +2 to Strength" kind of thing. By "stats" I mean how, if at all, are they different mechanically?
A human is a human is a human, both in our world and... in... um... our world...
Any chance of regional feats...in...um...our world...?
--Neil