So one of my player is a huge fan of H.P. Lovecraft and he had the idea to play a character that is insane and talks to the things beyond the stars (a combo of the great old ones and me the DM) and he said that he'd love a race that fits the lovecraftian style of inhuman barely comprehensible starspawn...and I can't find anything that really fits what he wants so I would like some help either finding one (third party is fine if it's well balanced) or building one...I'm not great at building races but I will look around the builder later when I have time to put together something at least. I'm aiming for about as powerful as the core races. Thanks everyone
There's actually the Yaddithian race, just released in Bestiary 6, which comes directly from H.P. himself, and tons of Lovecraftian character options, including the Elder Mythos Cultist, a cleric archetype all about worshiping the Great Old Ones, and the Dreamed Secrets feat (which I just found and wow it's cool), about learning secret spells beyond mortal ken.
By RAW, you can also use Monstrous Physique II to assume the form of the Great Old One Yig, and it's quite a powerful option at that.
For maximum Lovecraftiness, homebrew a version of the Yaddithian that swaps the Int boost for Cha, play a CN Elder Mythos Cultist that worships Yig, and take Dreaming Secrets to, starting at level 11, be able to take the form of his god.
EDIT: Note, I do not want to turn this thread about whether or not a polymorph spell can turn you into a demigod-like creature. There's enough of those out there.
Oh wow those are cool. And dude that feat is crazy (get it?)
I'm still up for more suggestions of course but those are great thanks.
It raises the question of why the other party members would adventure with him if he's a thing from outerspace that's insane. I personally feel like his concept would work better if he was an unassuming race rather than one obviously alien.
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A Deep One Hybrid would be a good possibility. He could even gain spells from an Elder Deep One.
As for the Monstrous Physique II part, apparently a spell component pouch contains parts of every known and unknown creature in the universe, even the unique ones... I'd ask for a DC42 Knowledge (Nature) check too. (Yes, nature. It's a monstrous humanoid.)
There is a cambion race in Shadows over Vathak, that fits, although it is humanoid. Kinda like a tiefling except spawned by the Old Ones (cheaper version with just the stats here).
It's not quite out yet, but there will be new PC races for Lovecraftian adventurers in Sandy Petersen's Cthulhu Mythos for Pathfinder
James Jacobs was on the development team for that book!
Not exactly a race from the Lovecraft Mythos, but the Astomoi race might look and feel alien enough to scratch that itch your player has.
The Deep One Hybrid has a nasty drawback: a severe risk of wisdom drain in the party is more than 10 miles from the sea for any length of time.
Thanks guys I'll check this stuff out.
@Cyrad: while I personally agree that the concept would work better that way, my player really wants to be a walking tiny old one so I'm looking for a way to fit his concept
I'm also a Lovecraft freak.
Rather than just steal wholesale, there are some good "Lovecraft-esque" items in the basic books.
- Sorcerer with Aberrant bloodline: The bloodline powers alone make for good material. For example, I made one of these, and described the "acid ray" as a hollow retractable second tongue which squirted the acid out. The reaching touch-spell delivery power was a series of flailing retractable tendrils that sprung out of my armpits. So the character was effectively a Wilbur Whateley style character - the descendant of a nameless abomination from the less sane corners of the astral plane.
- Cultist of Hastur: There are entries in bestiary 4 for some of the Great Old Ones, like Hastur, which describe the domains available to their clerics (and Inquisitors?).
- Ghouls are in HP Lovecraft's mythos. Here are some ideas...
- The design of the Witch (and arguably the Oracle) fit well with a Lovecraftian theme. Especially if the Witch has the Patrons of Insanity or Stars.
- Look at the Aquatic bloodline for Sorcerer... it's pretty much a step by step for Deep One transformation