Hey folks!
I only returned to D&D last year after a decade long absence. I only started playing again about three monthes ago (don't ask. lol) I only started reading Dragon three monthes ago, and I only joined the site this morning. So I hope you'll go easy on me.
I've been thinking about creating a new PC race. The more ideas I get, the more complex they get, and then I start thinking about maybe I should be creating more than one race instead. But now I'm thinking I can do both. Is it possible to have one race composed of two subraces. Look different, have different stats, but still be the same people?
I also want to create a new god to be their patron, and give him/her (haven't picked yet) a new domain. I'm not going to say that I plan to be revolutionary, but I do hope this could be a fun new choice for players. Give me as any advice you can think of, you all sound more knowledgable about these things than I am.
Thanks! :D
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Sure, with the d20 system nearly everything is possible.
Look at the elves and their subraces. They share common traits but each subrace has their unique abilities too.
I don't know how familiar you are with the rules by now, but i would recommend to take an existing race and modify it until it suits your needs. For someone new to these rules this would be a good way to create something new without getting in danger of creating something totally un-balanced.
There are plenty of useful ressources that may help you with that, such as the DMG or Monte Cook's Dungeon Craft articles in the pages of Dungeon.
Somewhere i stumbled across guidelines for creating new gods and integrating them into a pantheon, but i don't really know where exactly, at the moment. It could've been in 'Deities and Demigods' or 'Faiths and Pantheons' (for the FR setting).
Surely someone else on these boards is able to help you out.
And, by the way, welcome on board...;)
Drow are not only an elf subrace, but they give different stat bonuses and favored classes to the males and females. So I'd say it's definitely possible.
-Amber S.
Yeah, I was thinking about the elves myself as I typed that. I thought about a race divided into castes and each caste has developed differently in accordance with the role they play. (ie. Larger & stronger for warrior castes, slighter but smarter for priest castes, etc.) Of course, I'd want to have them still able to interbreed, and share traits that can be drawn back to their common ancestory.
I haven't started writing yet, as this weekend is a busy one, but I have this burning desire to start telling everyone what I think, and start asking for input. But, you don't get paid for giving away your ideas online. lol Of course this isn't about the money, but monetary rewards are always a nice bonus to being published and sharing your ideas with others. ;)
Somewhere i stumbled across guidelines for creating new gods and integrating them into a pantheon, but i don't really know where exactly, at the moment.
hmmmm im almost 100% sure u can find it in deities and demigods (i cant spell sry).....ifu cant get the book then id b happy 2 summerise it for u...welcome 2 the board
Sure, it is quite possible to have two different subraces within one single race. On a cultural and a biological level such an idea might be very similar to the Caste System. Ants and bees use this system. Drones and Workers are still Bees, but techically speaking they are very different from each other in both form and function. You just need to decide what race you want and also how they will interact with each other. Why are they different, what funtions are they to perform for their given societies or race? Keep these and other important questions in mind as you try to create the race. Furthermore, Dragon's interesting new Familiar Winning Races, the Dm's Handbook, and of course the Player's Handbook's Races section might become indespensible in creating your own race. Look at what others have done, maybe take a close look at the monster manual and see what different abilities are given to what. Make certain to try the race out and establish it in a balanced way.
Sounds like a lot huh? But with the new D20 system and the plethora of tools at your disposal it is actually quite an easy task. In my campaign I have various different races, some very similar to what you are talking about. Elves for instance, in both my campaign and the main game are a very good example. You have Wood Elves, Drow, Aquatic Elves, Gray Elves, you get the point. Through time and practice these Elves have gained very different perspectives on the world based on both their environment and their societies. Not to mention their personal worship.
Their is an interesting article in the issue Humour and Hellspawn (still back orderable I do believe) which talks about environmental variant templates you can apply to a race. Mayhap that will help you create your race. Anyway, your possibilities are endless, and I do wish you the best in your creative endeavors, maybe when you are done you will submit it to Dragon and the rest of us may revel in your glory.
I just remembered that there are also abilities that are socially based. I forgot to talk about them, but I'll just put a short blurb here. Humans gain an extra feat because of their willingness to learn and their diverse ways, and dwarves gain a +4 against giants due to training against them, these sort of bonuses which represent training or a willingness to learn are social factors, and you can pepper your races with them as well. Just another thing you can work with. Hope you well.