So I am working on a few ideas for Obsidian Apocalypse and one of them is new/updating of races for the setting. I am planning to update the Raijin and the Uzamati races for the setting, plus I am working on the Promethean race, which are “created beings” consisting of ideas like Frankenstein’s Monsters to the clockwork mechanical bodies with the brain in the jar. So what horror based/influenced races would you like to see created for Obsidian Apocalypse?
You've got most of the classics covered but
what about Creature from the Black Lagoon
or rather, what happened to the oceans when doom came to the world?
Morlocks would be another neat thing to look at, what nasties bubble up from the underdark when the Sun goes out?
So I am working on a few ideas for Obsidian Apocalypse and one of them is new/updating of races for the setting. I am planning to update the Raijin and the Uzamati races for the setting, plus I am working on the Promethean race, which are “created beings” consisting of ideas like Frankenstein’s Monsters to the clockwork mechanical bodies with the brain in the jar. So what horror based/influenced races would you like to see created for Obsidian Apocalypse?
I like the idea of promethans but I would make them into multiple different races.
While the Khymer sort of cover it, body snatchers could be cool. Something that clones the forms of others, either all at once or in pieces.
Maybe some hive-mind style children of the corn, with psychic powers and creepy child looks.
Something in the Lovecraftian vein akin to mind flatters could be cool, especially if it were reasonably subtle. Something with sort of a generations removed starspawn feel. Psychic, with slightly off anatomy.
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Since you have the "breaking apart of space"-component covered, what about a race that can phase through space/time, being slightly asynchronous. Would also make for a great PrC/racial paragon-class/Time Thief-support. And THINGS could haunt them...
Thinking about it, feels more like a racial template à la Raijin...
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You've got most of the classics covered but
what about Creature from the Black Lagoon
or rather, what happened to the oceans when doom came to the world?
I have though of the few bits of remaining oceans are kind of like the dark water in the old 1980s cartoon, Pirates of Dark Water, so Gillman from the Creature from the Black Lagoon could be possible.
I so loved that show, wish they had done more with it
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Prometheans is an idea that hasn't been implemented yet in d20 and would be fascinating.
This is what I have come up with so far with the first rough development of what I would like t see from both of the Promethean versions. I of course used the race builder rules and kept this race to 12 RP. Let me hear your feedback and enjoy!
Promethean – 12 RP Total
Half-Undead (5 RP)
Half-undead races are strange or unholy fusions of the living and the undead. Players interested in playing a half-undead race might also consider the dhampir, the progeny of a vampire and a human. A half-undead race has the following features:
• Half-undead have the darkvision 60 feet racial trait.
• Half-undead gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against disease and mind-affecting effects.
• Half-undead take no penalties from energy-draining effects, though they can still be killed if they accrue more negative levels than they have Hit Dice. After 24 hours, any negative levels they've gained are removed without any additional saving throws.
• Half-undead creatures are harmed by positive energy and healed by negative energy. A half-undead creature with the fast healing special quality still benefits from that quality.
Normal Speed (0 RP): The race has a base speed of 30 feet.
Standard Ability Score Modifier (0 RP): Modifiers: Members of this race gain a +2 bonus to one physical ability score, a +2 bonus to one mental ability score, and a –2 penalty to any other ability score.
Standard Language (0 RP): Members of this race start with Common plus their racial language (if any). Furthermore, choose up to seven languages (except for Druidic or other secret languages). Members of this race with high Intelligence scores can choose from any of these additional languages.
Carrion Sense (1 RP): Benefit: Members of this race have a natural ability to sniff out carrion. This functions like the scent ability, but only for corpses and badly wounded creatures (creatures with 25% or fewer hit points).
Ferocity (4 RP): Benefit: Members of this race gain the following extraordinary ability: If the hit points of a member of this race fall below 0 but it is not yet dead, it can continue to fight. If it does, it is staggered, and loses 1 hit point each round. It still dies when its hit points reach a negative amount equal to its Constitution score.
Frenzy (2 RP): Benefit: Once per day, whenever a member of this race takes damage, it flies into a frenzy for 1 minute, gaining a +2 racial bonus to Constitution and Strength, but a –2 penalty to AC.
Promethean (Clockwork) – 12 RP Total
Half-Construct (7 RP)
A half-construct race is a group of creatures that are artificially enhanced or have parts replaced by constructed mechanisms, be they magical or mechanical. A half-construct race has the following features:
• Half-constructs gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against disease, mind-affecting effects, poison, and effects that cause either exhaustion or fatigue.
• Half-constructs cannot be raised or resurrected.
• Half-constructs do not breathe, eat, or sleep, unless they want to gain some beneficial effect from one of these activities. This means that a half-construct can drink potions to benefit from their effects and can sleep in order to regain spells, but neither of these activities is required for the construct to survive or stay in good health.
Slow Speed (–1 RP): The race has a base speed of 20 feet. If the race is Medium, its members' speed is never modified by armor or encumbrance.
Standard Ability Score Modifier (0 RP): Modifiers: Members of this race gain a +2 bonus to one physical ability score, a +2 bonus to one mental ability score, and a –2 penalty to any other ability score.
Standard Language (0 RP): Members of this race start with Common plus their racial language (if any). Furthermore, choose up to seven languages (except for Druidic or other secret languages). Members of this race with high Intelligence scores can choose from any of these additional languages.
Deathless Spirit (3 RP): Benefit: Members of this race gain resistance 5 against negative energy damage. They do not lose hit points when they gain a negative level, and they gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against death effects, energy drain, negative energy, and spells or spell-like abilities of the necromancy school.
Spell Resistance, Greater (3 RP): Benefit: Members of this race gain spell resistance equal to 11 + their character level.
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I have though of the few bits of remaining oceans are kind of like the dark water in the old 1980s cartoon, Pirates of Dark WaterYou've got most of the classics covered but
what about Creature from the Black Lagoon
or rather, what happened to the oceans when doom came to the world?
Squeeee!
so Gillman from the Creature from the Black Lagoon could be possible.
Gillman are one of existing PC races in Pathfinder already. Do you intend to use them for the role mentioned or make completely new race of aquatic humanoid fishes/amphibians/reptiles?
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If you are going to horror influences, maybe something connected to some of the darker imaginings of Faerie? Or drawing upon things like the mythos around entities such as the Slenderman, alien Grays, etc?
Squeeee!I have though of the few bits of remaining oceans are kind of like the dark water in the old 1980s cartoon, Pirates of Dark WaterYou've got most of the classics covered but
what about Creature from the Black Lagoon
or rather, what happened to the oceans when doom came to the world?
I KNEW I liked this man!
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If you are going to horror influences, maybe something connected to some of the darker imaginings of Faerie? Or drawing upon things like the mythos around entities such as the Slenderman, alien Grays, etc?
I am a fan of the Sandman concepts from WOTC's Dark Matter. I might have to open up my copy out and get some crazy ideas from it. Conspiracy horror elements in a fantasy setting could be very interesting.
If you are going to horror influences, maybe something connected to some of the darker imaginings of Faerie? Or drawing upon things like the mythos around entities such as the Slenderman, alien Grays, etc?I am a fan of the Sandman concepts from WOTC's Dark Matter. I might have to open up my copy out and get some crazy ideas from it. Conspiracy horror elements in a fantasy setting could be very interesting.
My memory is rusty... Which sandmen were in DarkMatter? Flesh-eating desert monsters? Or were those in Call Of Cthulhu?
I recall bit more of DarkMatter's ekimmu and explanation of Big Foot/Yeti and similar giant humanoids.
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My memory is rusty... Which sandmen were in DarkMatter? Flesh-eating desert monsters? Or were those in Call Of Cthulhu?
Nanite infused humanoids who were damaged when immersed in conductive liquids. You can thank Wolfgang Baur for that.
My memory is rusty... Which sandmen were in DarkMatter? Flesh-eating desert monsters? Or were those in Call Of Cthulhu?Nanite infused humanoids who were damaged when immersed in conductive liquids. You can thank Wolfgang Baur for that.
That rings a bell but its ages since I saw Dark Matter. Were they actually the nanites themselves infecting humans (and possibly other creatures) to create sandmen?
I wish I had a set of my own Alternity books. That was a great game with two great settings.
While the Khymer sort of cover it, body snatchers could be cool. Something that clones the forms of others, either all at once or in pieces.
Maybe some hive-mind style children of the corn, with psychic powers and creepy child looks.
Something along the lines of Tak from Desolation/The Regulators, or a body-riding shedim-like concept could fit a similar, "something unnatural subverting natural life," concept.
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GOOD NEWS! I just got a email from the amazing Rich Redman notifying me that he is now working on the revamp and update of the Raijin and the Uzamati to Obsidian Apocalypse. So I can expect to see some very interesting changes and addition to this two races in the very new future. I guess I will need to get some new artwork.
Maybe some hive-mind style children of the corn, with psychic powers and creepy child looks.
If you're not sold on the creepy child trope, what about a creepy hivemind based on the Barbies cult from John Varley's novelette, "The Barbie Murders" (Spoilers!)... only they're psionic, and use flesh(re)crafters instead of surgery?
Edit: Ooooh, used copies are cheap!
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OK more good news! I just have assigned a writer to doing the Prometheans (Flesh and clockwork) so I can expect to start seeing some cool stuff that you can take a look at and rip enjoy.
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Just in case you were waiting to see some of the cool artork that I promised on this project, Take a Look!!! Enjoy!
That is awesome! Thanks!
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We just got some more fantastic artwork to check out. More to come...
That is a seriously killer piece of art. Or art of a serious killer.
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OK here is an second attempt by Lance Red of the Promethean Clockwork which has become more of a steam bot with a brain in a jar. What do you think of this?
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OK here is an second attempt by Lance Red of the Promethean Clockwork which has become more of a steam bot with a brain in a jar. What do you think of this?
I would keep the first image as promethean (the one with one clockwork with a brain in glass head and the stitched-flesh female other) and keep the new one for a monster or improved promethean - maybe racial archetype/PrC that allows clockwork to rebuild and expand its body?
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OK here is an second attempt by Lance Red of the Promethean Clockwork which has become more of a steam bot with a brain in a jar. What do you think of this?I would keep the first image as promethean (the one with one clockwork with a brain in glass head and the stitched-flesh female other) and keep the new one for a monster or improved promethean - maybe racial archetype/PrC that allows clockwork to rebuild and expand its body?
I sense that you might be seeing your suggestions VERY soon in print.
So here are some rough draft ideas for the Promethean clockwork. Which idea do you like the best?
#1 and #4. More a fan of the bulkier builds. #1 is my favorite, but the groin is a little thin/vulnerable looking.
Props to the concept artist.
3, 4 (if it did without the riveting), and the lower half of 2.
These look terrific.
#2 and #3 (to a lesser extent #4). I like the more humanoid forms, plus prefer solidity of joints.
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I love it. That is all. ;)
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Since we are waiting on artwork to come in, I thought I might share a little recently turned feat for the upcoming revision of the Uzamati for Obsidian Apocalypse. Enjoy!
Necromantic Phasing [Uzamati]
You relax your hold on the form that allows you to blend in with the other races of Abaddon and become slightly insubstantial.
Prerequisite: Uzamati
Benefits: You can use this ability for a number of rounds equal to your character level plus the modifier from your chosen Mental ability score. Entering or exiting this state is a swift action.
• You take ½ damage (50%) from corporeal sources of damage such as weapons, spells, and effects. Positive energy damage ignores this effect.
• You can enter or pass through solid objects, but must remain adjacent to the object’s exterior, and so cannot pass entirely through an object whose space is larger than your own. You can sense the presence of creatures or objects within a square adjacent to your current location, but enemies have total concealment (50% miss chance) from you. In order to see beyond the object you are in and attack normally, you must emerge. You have total cover while inside an object, but when you attack a creature outside the object you only have cover, so a creature outside with a readied action could strike at you as you attack. You cannot pass through a force effect.
• If you hit with a touch attack or unarmed strike, you deal one point of Negative Energy damage. The damage from this ability cannot heal you or any other creature that Negative Energy heals.
• Your insubstantial feet and equipment make less noise as you move around. Anyone trying to use a Perception check to hear you takes a -2 penalty.
• While phased out, you can take a +2 bonus on any Knowledge check. This represents you using the knowledge of the inhabitants of the planar crack to supplement your own. A Knowledge check taken with this bonus requires a full round action.
• Using this ability on a plane that has strong Negative energy makes you vulnerable to all damage.
So what do you think of this Uzamati feat?
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LOVE it! I'm especially pleased by the lack of skull/death motif. That isn't bad, but wasn't as awesome in my opinion. This? This looks gorgeous.
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Yes. Very nice artwork. I agree the loss of the skull motif is not missed. This looks like a noble's ceremonial armor, only the noble has lost his/her…body, and is therefore compensating with some nice… prosthesis.
What's your favorite kind of horror campaign setting?
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I am not certain if they are WotC IP, but what about genasi in Obsidian Apocalypse setting?
I would have to check about that but I never have thought of a post-apocalyptic version of Planescape. I might to have to think about that one. I know the next race we are going to work on is inspired by the seven deadly sin and cenobites from Hellraiser. Good times for all.
Pathfinder already has genasi equivalent of ifrits, oreads, sylphs and undines.
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With all the undead on Abbadon, what if there was a creature that fed off of undead? Perhaps something inspired by the Reapers from Blade II?
I have to say I like this idea, which means I have to start thinking of some cool ideas based on this. What do you call a thing that preys on the undead?
Necrost
Mortemris
Vimortem
Soulless
Slightly less serious:
Tsahg