Generally speaking, given the racial boosts all around, the gnoll's +1 LA is likely gone, so that's something.
That said, it would be fun to have an optional rule of "instinct," where the player allows his/her character to be slowly more influenced by the new form. In this case, I'd allow something akin to a "retraining" in the race's base classes, of something to the tune of 1k per level retrained. Not all levels would have to be retrained: this could be a player/DM option. However, the more levels that are retrained, the more the new race's traits come to the forefront.
Gnolls in G, no idea, but actual hyenas are fairly awesome. I've always seen gnoll society as complex, with a matriarchial and hereditary system in play, and more than the "slavering beasts."
Here's something I bet you didn't know: when a female hyena has a pup, that pup's ranking is based on his or her mother's standing. That's because the mother, towards the end of the pregnancy, releases a load of hormones onto the pup that creates some psychological changes.
There's also the fact that these pups are more sheltered, receive better food. Pups of the matriarch are physically bigger than their cousins. So succession could easily be hereditary in a gnoll society, if you wanted to use this basis.
There's a reason for straying from the generic "slavering beast." Too many "savage races" have the "beastial Ug wham wham" mentality to them.
It gets boring. "If I've seen one Ug, I've seen all of them."
I dont remember if it was from an adventure or just my DM's imagination, but there was a pack of near-feral druids that stayed in wild shape who would practice ritualistic cannibalism and devour the old/sick and then reincarnate them.
Ooh, this is such a great idea for a horror story/adventure...
And Ot but I wonder: if agang of clerical/druidic killers was sacrificing people to their god(s) and then using Raise Dead or Reincarnate to restore them to life afterwards, would theyh still be considered guilty of committing murder? I mean, yes, they killed someone, but they made them better afterwards...
I'd like to see a Golarion specific reincarnation list, in addition, I think it should be alignment based...just my thoughts
I'm running a very heavily sin-influenced campaign, and I was thinking of making Ressurection be sin-based. I already had a lustful PC return as a half-elf, which given the elf's worship of Claistria would be somewhat consistent.
some ideas so far:
Wrath: half-orc, orc, ??
Lust: half-elf, elf, satyr
Greed: dwarf, ??, ??
Envy: ??
Pride: Humans?
Sloth: Ogres?
Gluttony: halfling, ??
Any help would be appreciated :D
You could use half-elves or half-orcs for Envy as well, if you worked on the basis of "they envy both their parent races and want to be wholly one or the other, not in between."
That's the best I can do right now, anwyay.
wrath = half-orc
greed = human (for power)
pride = dwarf
envy = half-elf
lust = gnome (for pretty things)
sloth = elf (sit around for centuries)
gluttony = halfling
wrath = half-orc
greed = human (for power)
pride = dwarf
envy = half-elf
lust = gnome (for pretty things)
sloth = elf (sit around for centuries)
gluttony = halfling
I would have said elves=lust, for calistria and general non-sexual love of fine things aswell.
Lust, for life!
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Ok, First question was how does Golarion feel about gnolls. I went to one of my favorite books for the pathfinder setting Classic Monsters revisited. In there the Gnoll is mentioned. I will paraphrase the "Gnolls in golarion" section Most gnolls of Avistan live underground or in the more unsavory regions of Razmiran, river kingdoms, Kyonin and Galt. Osirion looks to be the only place with outright hunting parties for them. the PC would be in big trouble heading there. Otherwise they do not roam very much besides. the Jungle and deserts of Garund. They are a slaving race. Not very good at it, but they usually have 1 slave per gnoll that is more likely human or dwarf. So, depending how far the stories of Gnoll raiding parties move. You may have trouble, and you may not. The traveling with humans who are vouching for him will be the best thing. Also as someone said go to magnimar, and get your "GOOD" gnoll card.
Question 2 about HD and LA. You do not get the HD with the spell. the HD is showing that you have lived as that monster from the beginning. Showing you have endured adolesence in that body. It just does not feel right to give someone the HD anyway. Especially since BAB, save, and Hit Points do not change. Which they would if you got HD. Adding in the extraplanar is a good idea. It does say uses the natural surroundings would be fun to have the spark of that plane in the character. Could also be fun to have him "dismissed" back there. Which is why your PC's should keep there mouths shut about each other dying if they can.
Well, Reincarnate saves you 4,000 gp over Raise Dead.
You gets whats you pay fer, baby.
If you're too cheap to pony up the extra cash, don't complain. I assume the party didn't roll with a 12th level Cleric, or Raise Dead would have been used.
If your only divine caster is a Druid, sometimes you have to put up with a little extra body hair. In our Age of Worms campaign, one of the PCs died and was reincarnated from Human to Human (we only have a Druid). What a rip-off! (Easy for me to say, it wasn't my character).
Really, if my gnome wizard died and came back as a gnoll, that would be sweet. It would have zero impact on my abilities as a wizard and improve my physical stats. Strength was my dump stat, so it would be funny to go from a 6 to 12 while more than doubling in height, gaining over 250 pounds, getting extra hit points, and +1 natural AC. (The new 30-foot move wouldn't come up often because I cast overland flight every morning so that the hobgoblin barbarian would stop threatening to stuff me in his bag of holding because I was too slow...)
For a 12th level monk, the bonuses from becoming a gnoll are all gravy (in combat, at least). +4 STR, +2 CON, +1 natural AC. A 12th level Monk probably already has items that permanently buff these stats, or routinely buffs the stats before combat. Now the buffs are stacking onto even better base stats. Whee!
There may be some difficulties from the new body, but I don't think they would be insurmountable. The benefits outweigh the cost.
As others have pointed out, gnolls aren't very common in Varisia, so there will be little motivation for the residents of most towns and cities to be instantly hostile. Also, the party might be even higher level by the time they get anywhere near civilization again. And they will be heroes of at least some renown.
So be sure to brush your fur every day and you will be fine.
As others have pointed out, gnolls aren't very common in Varisia, so there will be little motivation for the residents of most towns and cities to be instantly hostile.
But werewolves are. And a man-hyena will probably be mistaken for a man-wolf. Most peasants will see slobbering jaws, and run away screaming.
I would have said elves=lust, for calistria and general non-sexual love of fine things aswell.
Lust, for life!
Yeah, elf's definitely fall in the lust category. Given the traditional flexibility of humans, they would be an ption for all sins as well. Additionally, I don't have a problem with some crossover in sins. Dwarf's are greedy and proud, Elves are lustful and Proud.
Let me see what I can come up with:
wrath: half-orc, orc,
greed: dwarf, gnome
pride: dwarf, elf
envy: half-elf, half-orc
lust: elf, half-elf
sloth: halfling, gnome
gluttony: halfling
I'm not sure about gnomes. I gave them greed cause I needed to put them somewhere, and sloth because if they don't focus on a single thing they start wasting away. They "have" to be industrious, just to survive.
Checking out Monsters Revisited:
Feral, savage, and bloodthirsty, gnolls represent the
brutal, unforgiving aspects of nature. Discordantly,
they also represent the laziest aspects of nature.
Clearly, they fall under sloth and wrath.
Looking at the other entries in the book, and trying to keep things in chek by avoiding most HD issues
goblins: says they're cowards, which makes it hard for me to peg. Probably envious?
bugbears: No idea under what to place them under
hobgoblin: pride (they seem very much full of themselves) and envy (leading to all that backstabbing between leaders)
kobolds: No idea what to place them under. Pride? or Envy?
ogrekin: Lust and Sloth
orc: wrath and wrath?
So the list is filling up nicely, but I'm open to further input and changes from those i defined
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Is there any religious philosophy applied to reincarnation in Golarion? It's a substantial debate here in the real world: do you just snuff out when you die, do you go somewhere else, do you return and if so, as what?
This spell is ridiculous as written, since it steps all over the feet of divine providence: "Yeah, so what if you're a faithful cleric of Abadar. My nature god says you come back as a goblin!"
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Is there any religious philosophy applied to reincarnation in Golarion? It's a substantial debate here in the real world: do you just snuff out when you die, do you go somewhere else, do you return and if so, as what?
This spell is ridiculous as written, since it steps all over the feet of divine providence: "Yeah, so what if you're a faithful cleric of Abadar. My nature god says you come back as a goblin!"
From a theological viewpoint - in a setting where you can slay gods or take over their domains, etc., one diety being able to step all over another's providence doesn't seem to big a deal.
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Alright, but why is reincarnation the purview of nature gods? What about the druidic faith makes the progress of the soul unique? Do all druids reincarnate when they die? Do the nature gods reincarnate their own followers with the same whim outlined in the spell? One week the High Druid of Shamalama, the next week a bugbear bride?
By being cheaper is reincarnation implicitly inferior? What does the spell say about the people of Golarion who believe that reincarnation is a spiritual journey? That they just come from regions where diamonds, and better forms of rebirth, are more rare?
But werewolves are. And a man-hyena will probably be mistaken for a man-wolf. Most peasants will see slobbering jaws, and run away screaming.
As others have pointed out, gnolls aren't very common in Varisia, so there will be little motivation for the residents of most towns and cities to be instantly hostile.
That's a good point. So in addition to daily brusing of the fur, good oral hygeine is also essential. Perhaps a bib would be a good investment.
But any area that is being threatened by werewolves (like Darkmoon Vale) is unlikely to be 100% safe for the undisguised PC.
The hat of disuise is still a viable option. And being 12th level is a great insurance policy against many hazards, including pitchfork wielding angry mobs or trigger happy town guards (deflect, deflect, deflect the hastily fire crossbow bolt!)
Also, the OP's player posted some ways back and mentioned something about a vampiric template and already being a worshiper of Lamashtu with a tattoo to that effect on her cheek. So yeah, she blends. [/sarcasm]
Alright, but why is reincarnation the purview of nature gods? What about the druidic faith makes the progress of the soul unique? Do all druids reincarnate when they die? Do the nature gods reincarnate their own followers with the same whim outlined in the spell? One week the High Druid of Shamalama, the next week a bugbear bride?
I think you're putting the wrong "spin" on it. A Druid would say: "Dude, don't get all caught up in the whole human body good, demi-human body bad vibe. We don't judge, we're Neutral baby, it's just how we roll."
Since the "High Druid" is a stud who doesn't age, he probably doesn't die too often. If he did die, and someone was around to reincarnate him as a Bugbear, I don't think he would be anyone's "bride" if he didn't want to be. And since he can shapechange into a Huge animal or a freaking Elemantal, I don't think anyone will pay much attention to the extra fur.
To the Druids, there is nothing wrong with dropping someones soul into a random body from a different species, because "it's all organic & 100% natural, baby".
By being cheaper is reincarnation implicitly inferior? What does the spell say about the people of Golarion who believe that reincarnation is a spiritual journey? That they just come from regions where diamonds, and better forms of rebirth, are more rare?
Just because it's cheaper doesn't mean it's inferior. It's just different because it's a lower level spell with less costly components.
For whatever reason, Reincarnating a soul into a new body is less "costly" than repairing and reanimating the original body in terms of magical power. The trade-off is the possible inconvenience of a new type of body with some different stats. To some extent, that's a game balance / design decision that you could argue harken's back to Gygaxian "torture the player" impulses.
I don't know of any cultures in Golarion that are specifically written up as believing that reincarnation is a "spiritual journey" that is better than raise dead. I would immagine that any culture that favors druids as their divine casters is going to see more reincarnations than raises and resurrections. These cultures are going to be a little more "wild" and more likely to just roll with folks coming back furry or hooved or whatever. But bringing folks back from the dead is going to be a rare event in any culture.
I don't know. It sounds like an adventure hook. Like when the disguised/transformed gnolls in town (and you know there are going to be some of them) invite him to the Lamashtu Prayer Breakfast.
If you want to change your race later, use the rituals in Savage Species. Or get a wand with the reversed Blessing of Lamashtu that turns monstrous humanoids into regular humanoids and keep zapping yourself with it until it sticks.
Well... looking at the idea by region, these are my thoughts.
In Korvosa, he should have the biggest problems because the societal alignment there is not inherently good, and in addition, has a tradition of racism towards non-Chelish types, let alone toward non-human humanoids.
Riddleport might be problematic, because life and death are cheap there, and if a gnoll gets killed in the street, nobody's going to complain. That said, I'd tend to use Riddleport as a wretched hive of scum and villainy where anything goes as long as the cash still flows. If a hobgoblin sea-captain docks up at port, providing his coin is good, he's a paying customer. I find it useful to have places where the "enemy races" can interact and trade with the bastions of human civilisation as semi-neutral zones, particularly if there isn't an actual active war. Otherwise, I'm not wholey sure where they're spending their human-minted gold. Not sure that's how it is by "canon," but that's how I'd run it.
In Magnimar, I'd imagine a lot of due process, a lot of holding at checkpoints, interviews, and vouching for identity and good character. With alignment detection spells, legal knowledge of the existence of the reincarnation spell, and the fact he can demonstrate he's a temple trained monk, I'd suggest he could finally get a legal pass denoting him as a safe gnoll.
It's also worth noting, I don't think gnolls or hyenas are actually native to Varisia, so he may be almost as much of a curiousity as a threat. I won't go far as to suggest everyone'll go "DOGGY!" when they see him, (well, maybe the golems,) but they might not have the reflexive reaction of fear that comes from viewing gnolls raids as a real and valid danger.
Or he could go to Kaer Maga, where nobody gives a rat's patootie what you are so long as you don't go charging through the streets cutting down random citizens.
Rise. RISE! RRRRIIIIIIIIISSSSSEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
Whoa...Cappa...did you...get a haircut or something?
When I stop and think about it, its a fair question. Unless you're willing to play a social pariah, an outcast, is there much reason to press on?If the new gnoll invests in a Hat of Disguise, he can go into town much more easily.
I have seen so many pc's do this. And Gm's easily letting them. I think it is a cop out. Just me though.
Being vouched for by locals heros helps. Hat of Disguise helps more. Being well groomed and wearing a pink dress stops mobs flat.
Being vouched for by locals heros helps. Hat of Disguise helps more. Being well groomed and wearing a pink dress stops mobs flat.
Actually, any sort of accepted garb or uniform will generally do the trick so long as it's the garb of a positive or innocuous profession.
A gnoll dressed in loud flamboyant clothing carrying a lute? I didn't know that gnolls had bards, or at least that their bards were like our bards. A gnoll dressed like Louis XIV? Sweet Desna! How is he going to get that pancake makeup out of his fur? Nice boots though.
You'd also think that, if you intend to Roleplay at all, that even if the people in a town react fearfully to your PC gnoll when they first show up, that after he's been around for a while they'll get used to him. They might not like him, but they won't be inclined to break out the torches and pitchforks (especially if he helped save people and/or hangs out with a bunch of well-armed and powerful adventurers). "Oh, him? That's just ol' Sharpfang, the crazy gnoll. He says he used to be a human until he got hisself raised from the dead or some such thing, but we all just think he's touched. But he's safe enough for a gnoll."