How can I go about making a Cervitaur (Medium sized deer centaurs)?


Homebrew and House Rules


I was reminded of cervitaurs today as I was browsing around and I thought they would make a cool alternative to the large, bulky centaur. Someone made essentially what I'm looking for, but for 3.5e, so I thought I could use the race builder to port it over.

Until I saw that according to the ARG, quadruped requires size large, and there is no ability scores modifier that gives a +2 & -2 to one score type, and a -2 to a score of the other type (not too bothered by that part). Since the last topic on this was 3 years ago, I was hoping some new information might have come out that can assist me.

So any ideas, or should I just ignore the large requirement for quadruped and halve it's bonuses?


This probably would be more at home in the Homebrew section. That said, since it is homebrew (and I would assume part of a campaign you're running), you can kinda make up the rules a little.

Personally, I'm not sure why a cervitaur would be Medium, at least not one that has a human-sized torso. Deer themselves aren't that much smaller than small-breed horses, after all. If it's about the penalties to Medium creatures or the ability to wield weapons, you can just give them a racial bonus to Dex to make up for the penalty that their size applies and an ability that treats them as a size category smaller to determine what weapons they can use.

As far as following the ARG, I wouldn't sweat the balance TOO much. As long as it's balanced for the game world (and approved by your GM, assuming that isn't you) it should be fine. Do keep in mind that the race isn't existing in a vacuum though; keep the race points of the other PC races in the campaign in mind when picking out the abilities and such for your cervitaur race.


Well, as a wemic specialist, I have kept my eyes open on the topic of quadruped taurs. For deertaurs and antelopetaurs, for inspiration I suggest you google "Hybsil." That was a 1E and 2E D&D monster, medium or small in size, and you may find some interesting stuff in that.

As for the crunchy bits, you should be okay with the Race Builder. That ruleset fails hard for large size quadrupeds, because the rules make you overpay for large size assuming that you will gain reach (as you would were you a biped). But quadrupeds, even large ones, still only have 5 ft reach, so paying the race builder tax on large size PCs is way way too rude.

But we're talking medium or small size characters, so the only real crunchy effects are that you should be using the "undersized weapons" racial characteristic, you pay more for armor as a quadruped, you can carry more, and you get a stability bonus on your CMD vs certain combat maneuvers.

Have fun!


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Use the Race Builder centaur as the base, replace Flexible (+2 Str, +2 Wis) with Flexible (+2 Dex, +2 Wis), remove Advanced Strength, add Natural Attack (Gore) and Powerful Charge (Gore). Still Large size, but flavor as lighter and less bulky.


I like Dragonchess' suggestion, though it's worth noting that for some reason the race builder version of the centaur (and drider on the same note) lack undersized weapons for some reason.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
swoosh wrote:
I like Dragonchess' suggestion, though it's worth noting that for some reason the race builder version of the centaur (and drider on the same note) lack undersized weapons for some reason.

They do have it. It is part of the Quadruped racial trait.

Quote:
Quadruped (2 RP): Prerequisites: Any type except humanoid, Large size, normal speed; Benefit: Members of this race possess four legs and two arms, granting them a +4 racial bonus to CMD against trip attempts and a +10 foot bonus to their base speed. In addition, members of this race use weapons and armor as if they were Medium (instead of Large). Special: The number of legs can be increased by 2 for each additional 1 RP spent. Each such increase grants an additional +4 racial bonus to CMD against trip attempts, but no other bonus.


Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

The d20pfsrd site has this 3rd party creature.


(I am running a Runelords campaign, so i might make a cervitaur npc later if the region is right, or it'll be for the next campaign as potentially a player race.)

My issue with quadruped requiring large is that a lot of halls are only 1 square wide, so i don't see a centuar (who takes a 2x2) fitting into these spaces at all. I had not really noted that quadrupeds use weapons a size smaller than they are, but after checking the damage dice on d20pfsrd, this doesn't look like much of an issue, the differences seem negligible.

Thank you for the stat recommendation Dragonchess, and thank you David for the 3PP race. it looks helpful.


Centerpoint108 wrote:

(I am running a Runelords campaign, so i might make a cervitaur npc later if the region is right, or it'll be for the next campaign as potentially a player race.)

My issue with quadruped requiring large is that a lot of halls are only 1 square wide, so i don't see a centuar (who takes a 2x2) fitting into these spaces at all. I had not really noted that quadrupeds use weapons a size smaller than they are, but after checking the damage dice on d20pfsrd, this doesn't look like much of an issue, the differences seem negligible.

Thank you for the stat recommendation Dragonchess, and thank you David for the 3PP race. it looks helpful.

The squeezing rules allow a large creature to move through 5' hallways.

Quote:

Squeezing: In some cases, you may have to squeeze into or through an area that isn't as wide as the space you take up. You can squeeze through or into a space that is at least half as wide as your normal space. Each move into or through a narrow space counts as if it were 2 squares, and while squeezed in a narrow space, you take a –4 penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty to AC.

When a Large creature (which normally takes up 4 squares) squeezes into a space that's 1 square wide, the creature's miniature figure occupies 2 squares, centered on the line between the 2 squares. For a bigger creature, center the creature likewise in the area it squeezes into.

A creature can squeeze past a creature while moving but it can't end its movement in an occupied square.

To squeeze through or into a space less than half your space's width, you must use the Escape Artist skill. You can't attack while using Escape Artist to squeeze through or into a narrow space, you take a –4 penalty to AC, and you lose any Dexterity bonus to AC.

So they can fit, they just take penalties.

Dark Archive

David knott 242 wrote:
The d20pfsrd site has this 3rd party creature.

Honestly, if I could find a DM willing to let me play this race, I take it in a heartbeat.

It always frustrated me how "expensive", in Race Points anyway, Centaurs are in Pathfinder... especially when one takes into consideration their large size would case them problems when transversing certain areas and going into buildings, as well as the fact that they can't climb ladders and would likely have at least some difficulty with stairs.

Also the Advanced Stats setup is annoying, so as to balance Centaurs out with other races I probably toss those and go with the +X, +X, -X... Which would bring the Race Point cost down to 14. Additional stat bonuses could simply be gained by way of racial class levels.


Dreamscarred Press made the Bloodforged book, which has the Decataur, which may be close to what you want.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Homebrew and House Rules / How can I go about making a Cervitaur (Medium sized deer centaurs)? All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in Homebrew and House Rules