I apologize in advance if this is in the wrong forum, since I have created nothing yet.
I recently watched Avatar, and ended up considering how awesome the Na'Vi would be as a D&D race (though as Medium creatures, for reasons of accessibility to PCs). That said, races are NOT my forte, and I have never ever created a monster (which I'd like to do for their mounts). I have some basic ideas, which I'm just going to C/P from a Word Doc I started, but that's about it. I'd also like to come up with a different name, even if the inspiration will be fairly obvious one way or the other.
Basic Ideas:
Medium-size, +2 Dex, +2 Wis, -2 Cha (Possibly Str)
Agile Athletics – Use Dex instead of Str for Climb and Swim
Mind Meld – Specific Animals Only (Need to stat said animals-possibly magical beasts instead) – Opposed Charisma checks to establish initial meld (maybe Will save instead), +4 to all Handle Animal checks, can push as free action
Humanoid with extraplanar and racial subtype (need name) [Perhaps no extraplanar, material plane ones are smaller, more D&D friendly, with original extraplanar ancestors being built more like those in movie]
Collective Consciousness – Can Commune with racial relics for bonus on Knowledge checks
I think they qualify for large size (look at the size of the arrow shaft and daggers. definitively on a different scale than medium). I'm not sure about a penalty to STR. It looks to me that their STR is above human standard.
As for DEX, I wouldn't give them a strait bonus (but no penalty either). Instead, I'd give them racial skill bonuses. Their tail would act for much of that actually.
[edit] I think this is a case where a race is good at climbing/swimming/athletics because they are strong. Yes, they are agile, but its their physical strength and endurance that makes them good jumpers and climbers. They have a superb balance as well, which is primarily coming from the fact that they have a long and heavy (as opposed to hairy) tail, which allow them to control their center of gravity much more than we can)
Their head turns farther than humans too (kind of like an owl). They have large eyes. This would qualify for a racial bonus to perception as well.
They seem to be nocturnal, but their world gives off a lot of low luminescent light at night. Low light vision would be appropriate still.
The movie mentions that their bones are strengthened with naturally occurring carbon-fiber. I'd include that somehow (bonus to CON?).
[edit] A bonus to CON would also explain their superhuman cardio endurance...
Also, while they come from another world than Earth, they would still be prime (from the prime material plane) so I don't think the extraplanar subtype is necessary.
I am certain they qualify for Large size, but I wish to shrink them down for PC accessibility reasons. Large characters present some issues for PCs, and I'd like them to be able to see actual use in play.
They're strength in the movie is above human standards because they are Large creatures, and also because we have trouble remembering that their homeland in the movie is a light-gravity world.
Think of how they used their weapons, they way they fought in close-combat. Their power blows came from using their bows as two-handed staves (one of the reasons I'm not sure on a Str penalty), while the majority of their fighting style was pure speed, dagger-fighters pretty much. They move more like anthropomorphic cats than humans (though the tails certainly add to that).
The Perception bonus makes sense (I believe all of their senses worked exceptionally well actually). There are a few bonuses that make sense, but I don't want to overdo it, as I'd lover to see access to this race for PCs.
@Starglim: Powerful Build with a penalty to Str seems very, very strange to me.
It might be better to think of your race as 'inspired by the Na'vi' and, in that vein, identify what qualities you want to express.
Essentially, the Na'vi are anthro cats, at least in the ways likely to impact D&D. There have been cat races in previous editions, like the Tabaxi.
So, from that point of view, I think your first post sounds like a decent and balanced write-up. I'd suggest a penalty to Intelligence rather than Charisma; the Na'vi are very social, and Int seems tied to 'civilization foo,' a common penalty for savage races.
Extending off of your Mind-meld idea:
True Companion
Na'vi can form a true bond with an animal. This functions as the druid animal companion; a Na'vi druid who selects Animal Companion gains an additional +2 Dex and Con for her companion.
Stat out the basilisk. Aim low; the ability to have a flying mount is HUGE in D&D, so the stats are going to look paltry.
It is possible that tribe that just rode horses could have a horse as their true companion.
I thought Na'vi were a cross between elves and mercanes, myself.
They should definately have bonusses to DEX and CON. As was said in the movie their fibery bone structure makes them hard to kill. And as was visible they were pretty graceful when going through the trees.
Also I think +2 WIS would be in order, since they seemed a lot more perceptive and observant of their environment in every way. To balance it give them -2 to INT and CHA, since they live in a primitive environment and have little to no interest in relationships with other races.
They should definately have bonusses to DEX and CON. As was said in the movie their fibery bone structure makes them hard to kill. And as was visible they were pretty graceful when going through the trees.
Also I think +2 WIS would be in order, since they seemed a lot more perceptive and observant of their environment in every way. To balance it give them -2 to INT and CHA, since they live in a primitive environment and have little to no interest in relationships with other races.
While I agree, I'd rather stick within the established rules for PC races, and I feel Dex is more important to what they are then Con. I also have an issue with the whole concept of primitive=Int penalty. If that had been the case, the human race would've been extinct years ago. Creation and use of tools is Int, not Wis. While most primitive people may not be smarter than other races, I don't necessarily believe they're dumber either.
Int doesn't mean intelligence. ;)
Arguably, 'intelligence' covers a lot of stuff that other stats deal with, like Wis and Cha.
Look at what Int affects:
Appraise : more of an urban skill, really
Craft : the Na'vi make a few basic tools, like bows, but other than that, they seem to rely more on their senses and body
Knowledge skills : the Na'vi's ability to talk to their spirits, if anything, may make them less naturally gifted at knowledge skills. At the very least, other than the oral lore of their people, they aren't bookish sorts.
Linguistics : doesn't seem to be a big feature
Bonus languages : ditto linguistics
Bonus skill points : Nice, and with rounded abilities, this might be useful
Wizardry : Na'vi do not seem the sort who would do the spellbook thing
Compare to Wisdom, which is a keen perception and ability to understand the world around them.
Compare to Charisma, the ability to work together, understand one another, and interact socially.
I think Int is the odd man out.
Their preferred classes should be Druid, Ranger, Barbarian, Monk and Sorcerer. Just my two cents.
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FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUu
Sorry, sorry, But I feel the Rage overtaking me. It is a Good Pain.
D&D already has Medium-sized Na'Vi. They're Called Elves. Use the Wood elf flavor, but up the native-american-ripoff aspect.
I don't use Elven subraces outside of drow. The whole 'There's an elf for that' idea of D&D annoys me. And it doesn't come close to the Mind Meld they have with their specific creatures.
Regarding Cha and Int, I'm still leaning towards Cha for a penalty. They may interact well with one another, but not so much with everyone else, which suggests a Cha penalty. I'll probably have more to say later, but I don't have access to all my stuff at the moment.
I apologize if I come across as argumentative, but I'm just trying to show my thoughts on things.
Lacking the ability to teleport in and jack into your skull to force you, that's fine. ;)
And, hey, the Na'vi seemed perfectly willing to interact and socialize with humans. I mean, they sent their children to that school, had a friendly relationship with Grace, etc.
It's only after the humans swooped in and started strip mining, and repeated failures of diplomacy, that the Na'vi started protecting their lands.
And, hey, the other tribes seemed perfectly willing to treat with the Turok mokmok bakOOOK. Er, demon chicken rider. Granted, there's a situational bonus, but still.
Thread-jack alert:
So did anyone else feel the movie was over-rated? Not visually, but story-wise. Visually, to me, it was off the charts, but story-wise I felt it was predictable and used much over-used stereotypes and overblown caricatures instead of more believable characters. Not only was the writing bland but the acting wasn't terribly impressive either, especially that of Sigourney Weaver. Overall the movie was certainly a visual delight, and full of ideas to rip off for my campaign world, but not much real story there. Maybe it was just me.
Back to the thread now!
Jreyst: I had very very very low expectations for the story, and ended up pleasantly surprised.
For some reason, certain of the overused tropes just didn't bother me. Maybe I'm worn down from decades of being annoyed by them, or maybe the movie was so charming I was willing to move past them.
I actually liked the acting, though my love of Sigourney Weaver may blind myself to any faults.
My favorite, however, was the colonel, and I came out thinking 'he's not really a bad guy, even though he's a bastard and The Bad Guy.' I was pleased to find that the actor had said 'I didn't play this guy as a villain.'
I LOVED the colonel.
While I don't agree with the Na'vi = Elf (I still wouldn't give them a DEX bonus), I do think that your adaptation of the race tends to be very similar to the already existing elven races and cat-people races.
I think you have an opportunity to make something different and new (as much as a new race has to offer). There has been large-size PC races before, and I don't see why it should be that much of a big deal (pardon the pun).
The agile giant race is one of the few archetype that has not been overly done (as far as I know). So roll with it!
'findel
While I agree, I'd rather stick within the established rules for PC races, and I feel Dex is more important to what they are then Con. I also have an issue with the whole concept of primitive=Int penalty. If that had been the case, the human race would've been extinct years ago. Creation and use of tools is Int, not Wis. While most primitive people may not be smarter than other races, I don't necessarily believe they're dumber either.They should definately have bonusses to DEX and CON. As was said in the movie their fibery bone structure makes them hard to kill. And as was visible they were pretty graceful when going through the trees.
Also I think +2 WIS would be in order, since they seemed a lot more perceptive and observant of their environment in every way. To balance it give them -2 to INT and CHA, since they live in a primitive environment and have little to no interest in relationships with other races.
-2 Intelligence doesn't mean you're dumb as a rock. It still makes for an average far above that of animals.
But if youre going to leave out the constitution bonus the intelligence penalty becomes negligible and unnecessary. It's just the most justifiable penalty i could find aside from charisma.
I think you have an opportunity to make something different and new (as much as a new race has to offer). There has been large-size PC races before, and I don't see why it should be that much of a big deal (pardon the pun).
The problem is, I don't think I've ever seen a non-LAed Large PC race. Granted, I haven't strayed much outside of WotC (too many groups that are afraid of 3PPs) except for Dreamscarred Press, but I can only run with what I've seen. I was under the impression that anything with Reach was an automatic LA, and the Na'Vi definitely qualify for reach.
I want something the PCs can conceivably play right from the start. That, and with their mounts being as important to their culture as they are, I'd like to avoid making it so their mounts need to be Huge, since that makes them a rather large obstacle (no pun intended) in a game.
@Treeshades: I know it doesn't mean you're dumb as a rock, but I still don't like it. And breaking down William's list regarding Int related things, I have a whole different take on them.
Appraise : Used to determine the value of mounts also, meaning the Na'Vi are probably experts at this one
Craft : I can run with William's interpretation for Craft, but I don't see a bow as a simple tool to be honest
Knowledge skills : To me, the ability to communicate like that means the Na'Vi likely have fairly decent knowledge, often in numerous areas. They can learn from their ancestors. I doubt they only know these things when they're communing.
Linguistics and Bonus Languages: Considering this is for D&D design, we don't really have a good basis for this one way or the other; the Na'Vi in the movie were the only humanoid race on the planet, meaning there weren't languages for them to learn
Bonus skill points: Considering the majority of these guys are probably rangers or barbarians, they probably have a love for skill points (just the skill points they put into how they get around would add up)
Wizardry : This one is also hard to cool, though William's thoughts on it amuse me simply because of the comparison to elves, who are THE race for wizardry.
I know it doesn't mean you're dumb as a rock, but I still don't like it. And breaking down William's list regarding Int related things, I have a whole different take on them.
Appraise : Used to determine the value of mounts also, meaning the Na'Vi are probably experts at this one
Craft : I can run with William's interpretation for Craft, but I don't see a bow as a simple tool to be honest
Knowledge skills : To me, the ability to communicate like that means the Na'Vi likely have fairly decent knowledge, often in numerous areas. They can learn from their ancestors. I doubt they only know these things when they're communing.
Linguistics and Bonus Languages: Considering this is for D&D design, we don't really have a good basis for this one way or the other; the Na'Vi in the movie were the only humanoid race on the planet, meaning there weren't languages for them to learn
Bonus skill points: Considering the majority of these guys are probably rangers or barbarians, they probably have a love for skill points (just the skill points they put into how they get around would add up)
Wizardry : This one is also hard to cool,...
I too think the INT penalty fits best. True, bow-making isn't stupid simple, but in comparison to other crafts (some involving high levels of metallurgy or engineering), its a rather simple one.
Socially speaking, delving in the ancestral memory of the race would keep them 'on par' with other races, but I can see individuals relying on their wisdom (and wisdom-related-skills) much more than INT. That wouldn't make them dummer than another race, simply more primitive in lifestyle (which according to the movie, they are).
At any case, I think a penalty in WIS is out of question, and a penalty to CHA would gimp them at being bards and sorcerers for which I think the race fits best (or better than wizard at any case).
As for the large size and huge mounts, not every Na'vi has a mount. They need to train significantly before they are deemed ready. Jake Sully's training has been kind of a fast-fowarded montage made for the sake of the story, but 'normal' Na'vi must train all of their childhood and possibly a good part of their adulthood before they can pass the test and become hunter. In game terms, it may take quite a few levels before they can reach this.
By the time they are permitted their huge mounts (which could be obtained only thought the druid or ranger class), it may not have such a big impact on the game anymore.
As for the large size and huge mounts, not every Na'vi has a mount. They need to train significantly before they are deemed ready. Jake Sully's training has been kind of a fast-fowarded montage made for the sake of the story, but 'normal' Na'vi must train all of their childhood and possibly a good part of their adulthood before they can pass the test and become hunter. In game terms, it may take quite a few levels before they can reach this.
By the time they are permitted their huge mounts (which could be obtained only thought the druid or ranger class), it may not have such a big impact on the game anymore.
I don't think it's actually that far into their adult lives. Jake Sully manage it in three months (though he was a marine first). If they were training for it through childhood, it may not be that far into their adult lives. (And they appeared to have a rather sizeable percentage of their numbers as warriors.)
And I'm not worried about the power levels of a huge mount (which need ways to exist outside of animal companions, though not as powerful) so much as the ability to use it. It's hard enough to be able to use a mounted character with a Large mount. A Huge mount would never get to see use.
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Dont know if this is balanceed or not but here is my take on them & a name:
Physical Description: Both genders of Car’vi stand between 6 and 7 feet tall, with powerful builds and blueish skin hues. They have a long tail which allows greater balance than most humanoids. They also have long hair which is linked to their nervous system allowing melding of minds with each other, animals and nature.
+2 Wisdom, +2 Constitution, –2 Intelligence: Car’vi are tough, both in body and mind, but they generally have a naivety to modern society.
Medium: Car’vi are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Normal Speed: Car’vi have a base speed of 30 feet.
Low-Light Vision: Car’vi have large eyes and can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light. See Chapter 7.
True Bond: Car’vi make a stronger bond with animal companions and familiars through a mind link which has a limited range. Animal companions receive a +2 bonus to wisdom and Dexterity while their master is riding them or within reach. Familiars gain the same while their master is within reach. Carvi may also use the senses of their companion or familiar while linked
Catlike agility: Car’vi receive a +2 racial bonus on Acrobatics and Climb skill checks.
Collective Consciousness: Car’vi can link with each other and nature. While linked with each other they share each other’s knowledge skills and make aid other at double the bonus. While linked with nature they make Knowlege nature checks with a +2 bonus.
Weapon Familiarity: Car’vi are proficient with longbows (including composite longbows), maces, shortbows (including composite shortbows), and spears
Languages: Car’vi begin play speaking Common and Car’vi. Car’vi with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, and Sylvan.
I still reckon that if you are dropping them from 8' tall then you may as well just call it a blue elf.
Keep them Large.
if you are playing a weird tribal blue quasi-elf dude, being 8' tall and having a huge mount will be the LEAST of your worries.
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+2 Str +4 Dex -2 Int
-Medium Size
-40 ft movement in light or no armor
30 ft in medium or heavy armor
-Low Light vision
-Powerful Build: The physical stature of your race lets you
function in many ways as if you were one size category
larger. Whenever you are subject to a size modifier
or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as
during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip
attempts), you are treated as one size larger if doing
so is advantageous to you. You are also considered to
be one size larger when determining whether a creature’s
special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or
swallow whole) can affect you. You can use weapons
designed for a creature one size larger without penalty.
However, your space and reach remain those of a creature
of medium size. The benefits of this racial trait stack
with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change
the subject’s size category.
-Mountain Movement: Because you practically live
on the ledges and cliffs of the most forbidding mountains most of your life,
you are particularly adept at negotiating mountain
hazards. You can make standing long jumps and
high jumps as if you they running long jumps and high
jumps. This is why you gain a +4 to Climb and Acrobatics checks (when Jumping)
Racial skills-
+2 Handle animals
+4 on Climb and Acrobatics
they also get a +2 to Wild empathy checks
Weapon Proficiency- You are proficient with Short Bows and Long Bows
Favored Class Druid or ranger
(this is the build that im playing with in my friends new game< ill have a pteradon companion)
My issue with the Huge mounts has nothing to do with roleplaying consequences. Hell, that's half the fun of playing an odd race. It's the gameplay practicality. As is, Large mounts often cannot be used. Huge mounts would almost never be able to be used. I suppose I could stat out the mounts and allow them specifically as mounts for the Na'Vi while having them Large-size. (Mount equivalent of Powerful Build?)
Also, I'm still not certain on how to handle Large without giving an LA, or whatever the Pathfinder equivalent would be.
@Ceefood: I'd rather the Mind Meld ability be useable regardless of class, though I could see granting additional bonuses when used with a bonded companion. Of course, I also hadn't really entertained the idea of making it work on creatures other than those presented in Avatar (with the possibility of creating a few more).
It's the gameplay practicality. As is, Large mounts often cannot be used. Huge mounts would almost never be able to be used. I suppose I could stat out the mounts and allow them specifically as mounts for the Na'Vi while having them Large-size. (Mount equivalent of Powerful Build?)
Thats the problem in a lot of cases though; Paladins dont always have space for their steed in a a lot of instances either... but then the Na'vi weren't totally focused on mounted combat - they were fine dismounted. Large or Huge becomes kinda moot.
If you want them in game, don't get to wrapped up on LA, as these guys also have a few things bringing them back down - such as a lack of literacy, and also the whole notion of armour - they don't wear the stuff.
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I think I might have liked the Na'vi better when they were called Voadkyn.
Okay. I'm kidding. I always thought Voadkyn looked stupid, but there's definitely a resemblance.
@Shifty: The issues with getting Large mounts in places are painfully exaggerated. Take a peek at the squeezing rules, not to mention the Large creatures you likely fight that need places they can get around in. Stepping the size to Huge makes a significant difference in what can be done with a mount.
Also, while they were technically fine unmounted, the bonding with their mounts was a huge part of their culture (especially the flying mounts), and it's the part that fascinates me the most, so I don't want to just toss it aside as an afterthought.
@Sneaksy Dragon: Why powerful build? They were using weapons sized for their Large bodies in the movie. If they're shrunk to Medium, they should be using Medium weapons.
@Shifty: The issues with getting Large mounts in places are painfully exaggerated. Take a peek at the squeezing rules, not to mention the Large creatures you likely fight that need places they can get around in. Stepping the size to Huge makes a significant difference in what can be done with a mount.
Sure I can accept that, its just that flying about on large/huge mounts is going to be significantly circumstantial anyhow - places like a dungeon will preclude your pterodactyl, and I suspect you weren't really going for the 'horse' :P
So it would be a race well suited to predominately outdoor/overland campaigns.
Actually, I did have the horse in mind also. I understand that flying mounts have unique limitations, but ground mounts are useable far more often. Unfortunately, I don't see a balanced way to run with both as viable combat mounts (so you can use the flying mount when circumstances allow).
Thread-jack alert:
** spoiler omitted **
Back to the thread now!
Very much so, I'm glad I didn't pay to see the movie. When I want to feel bad about being a human I'll just turn on the news.
On the other hand, at least Nightcrawler will have a place where he fits in, sorta.
The thing about the "mind meld" is that it seems to be a function of any plant or creature with a connection to Ey'wah (I may have spelled this wrong, but their earth mother tree thingy). It would ergo be a feature possessed by any creature of the subtype "Pandoran," so to speak.
So the question is--are you going to include Ey'wah, and all the other plants and animals, and all that the "Ey-wah network" entails? That's a lot of work. Not to say you shouldn't, but if you're trying to get an accurate feel for what that "meld" is all about, that's what you'll need to do.
But since you seem to be already noticeably altering them for your own purposes, essentially making a new race simply inspired by the Na'Vi, then I would, in your shoes, forget about the complexities of Ey'wah and all that and simply give them Wild Empathy as a racial trait.
Here, I'll give it a go...
Blue Cat-Tree-Monkey-Person
Size: Medium
Racial Adjustments: +2 Dex, Wis, -2 Int. These people are agile and highly intuitive, but do not tend toward deep analysis or strategy
Keen Senses
Resiliency: The firm and adaptive bodies of these people give them a +2 to all Fortitude saves
At One With the Trees: These people gain a +4 to Climb and Acrobatics checks when in forest or jungle terrain, and they always have Climb and Acrobatics as class skills.
Weapon Familiarity: All Blue Cat-Tree-Monkey-People are proficient with longbows and short swords. (ETA: You could also make a "bowstaff" racial weapon, as it looks like they can use the weapons as melee weapons without penalty)
At One With the Living: Gains Wild Empathy as the Ranger ability.
Limbs Unbound: (A weakness to help balance out if too powerful) The long limbs of these creatures grant them many benefits, but it is difficult to outfit them with clothing and armor that is not somehow restrictive. The Armor Check Penalty for wearing Medium and Heavy armor doubles, and the Max Dex Bonus decreases by 2. If the Blue Cat-Tree-Monkey-Person has Fighter levels, these penalties apply before adding the benefits of Armor Training (but Armor Training benefits still work).
Deathquaker:
Re: Limbs Unbound:
An alternative is to say that, despite being humanoid, they are 'exotic' for the purposes of armor pricing.
Somewhat less of a restriction, but one that doesn't open up more rules questions (like: 'what, an otyugh doesn't have any troubles in full plate?')
Deathquaker:
Re: Limbs Unbound:
An alternative is to say that, despite being humanoid, they are 'exotic' for the purposes of armor pricing.Somewhat less of a restriction, but one that doesn't open up more rules questions (like: 'what, an otyugh doesn't have any troubles in full plate?')
---Starts outfitting Otyughs in fullplate until Timmins walks into the room and flicks on the lights. Eyolf looks back towards the doorway and sighs... "I was just... but.. Oh come on..... FIIIINNNEEE." Eyolf stops attempting to suit up the Otyughs and returns to the Dungeon Master's side.
"I still say that it'd be easier to take out the next batch of adventurers if we gear them up." Pouts---
There was a hilarious moment when a friend suddenly realized Otyughs have Int 5, are neutral, and speak common.
We imagined:
PCs: "Foul beast, can you speak? Parlay?"
Otyugh: 'Yes!'
PCs: "Oh good! So, we'd like to..."
Otyugh: 'I like poop.'
PCs: "... er, ... wait, what?"
Otyugh: 'Do you have poop?'
I prefer -2 STR in relation to other creatures of the same size (if they have to be Medium, I'd also give them Powerful Build).Anyone else besides me see the problem with a str penalty creature getting the Powerful Build quality?
-Raises hand-
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@Sneaksy Dragon: Why powerful build? They were using weapons sized for their Large bodies in the movie. If they're shrunk to Medium, they should be using Medium weapons.
large size pcs are a hassle and most DMs wont allow it. make them 9 feet tall instead of 12ft tall and give them powerful build to represent there towering height. I would just use the killorians from races of wild if i just wanted a medium size widerness loving nonelf. and then they can still use large size mounts.
large size pcs are a hassle and most DMs wont allow it.
Umm any particular reason?
We've had them before, but they weren't common, didn't seem to do much apart from annoy the player really :p
There are two potential problems with Large PCs:
A Large Humanoid can take Enlarge Person and then you have a Huge character, with absurd weapon damage and bonuses.
The advantages of 'Large' are worth about +1 LA (or, in PF, CR). So then you either have LA or 'monstrous advancement' to deal with.
There aren't many things you can use to counterbalance this advantage without seriously hamstringing a character.
There aren't many things you can use to counterbalance this advantage without seriously hamstringing a character.
Weeeelll, they don't fit in inns, obtaining gear is a hassle, NPC's are more likely to have 'stop and stare' as a default reaction instead of talking, getting a mount is a nag (so to speak), they have issues fitting in a dungeon, they are kind of hard to hide, they are the most obvious target on a battlefield (and picked on)... whole lot of problems straight out of the can. In fact I can see an 8' blue guy with a tail who clearly just swung out of a tree getting a reaction penalty in civilised areas.
So I've always left it up to the player whether they want that drama or not - 'back in the day' they were even worse off as they also took a lot more damage (in general) for being Large, the LA is getting off lightly :)
Mind you, with all the disadvantages (as long as the DM doesn't handwave them) I wouldn't even LA the character - they are already choosing a hard road to go down. That's just me though.
** spoiler omitted **
What repulsive thing?
OT: I think Sigourney Weaver is awesome, including her buttocks, but if for some reason you don't like her solely because of her looks, she spends half the movie in a Na'vi body.
Well, things have been a little crazy, or I'd've been back earlier than this. I have a potential Large version of them here:
Large-size – -1 size penalty to attack rolls and AC, +1 to CMB and CMD, 10 ft. square/10 ft. reach
+2 Dex, +2 Con, +2 Wis, -2 Int, -2 Cha – Tough and quick, the Na’Vi grow up in the wild, and are noticeably out of place in a civilized world.
Agile Climber – Use Dex instead of Str for Climb checks, can use accelerated climb option without penalty.
Aerial Acclimation – The Na’Vi make their homes in tree-tops and high mountains. They are unaffected by thin air, and make all jumps as though they had a running start. If they actually get a running start, they receive a +4 on the Acrobatics check.
Community Consciousness – The Na’Vi do not go to the outer planes when they die, instead becoming part of a spiritual entity that is unique to their race. All Na’Vi are capable of communicating with this entity when in specific racial sites that are exceedingly well-guarded, often barring all outsiders from access. They gain a +2 bonus to any Knowledge checks made when doing so, though they still cannot make such checks untrained.
Mind Meld – The Na’Vi can connect with a select few creatures in the same manner used to communicate with their spiritual entity. This is a swift action, but immediately provokes an opposed Charisma check against the creature who the Na’Vi is attempting to meld with. Failure on the check means the creature gains no special benefits, and is likely to act aggressively towards the Na’Vi (though not necessarily outright violent, it will likely try to buck a rider, knock away hands that are trying to calm them, etc.). Success means the Na’Vi gains some ability to sense what the creature is sensing, and can communicate mentally with the creature. The creature gains a +2 morale bonus to Dex and Wis, and a +4 morale bonus to its Initiative. The Na’Vi gains a +4 circumstance bonus on all Handle Animal checks and can push it as a free action.
If the Na’Vi is bonded with the creature in some way (as a familiar, an animal companion, or something similar), the bonus to Dex and Wis increases to +4.
Lithe Build: Though they are Large creatures, the Na’Vi are thinly built and lightweight for their size. A Na’Vi may use a Large creature as a mount, and they take only half the normal penalties if they need to squeeze through an area, and do not use 2 squares of movement per one square when squeezing.
I'm still considering a more PC-friendly Medium version (as the culture and community consciousness/mind meld idea is far more important to what I want to do here than the exact replication of the race). I'm considering whether to design new monsters for the mind meld (something I've never done before), or simply making a template to be applied to existing creatures. Or simply make it work with all creatures, and change the general method of how it works (instead of 'plugging into' the creature).