|
I like this one! I think this custom race would not be balanced compared to standard races, so the bonuses would add up different (unlike some other suggested builds for them in this thread). I would not, however, go so far as adding any LA. If a GM allows custom races, let them not be crippled for the sake of having them be on the same level as a human or elf. They will already have a hard enough time if they go in a dungeon with a 7 foot ceiling.
+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 checksWeapon 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)
That version doesn't feel like the Na'Vi at all to me. Number one, they weren't that strong. They were Large and on a light gravity world. They did not have an increased Strength. Mountain movement I can agree with (although I think I'd still toss in the 'use Dex for climb' ability I gave them). I could see the higher than normal speed however, even in a Medium-sized version. Honestly, an exact replica of the race would probably be extraplanar, although creating that plane and its denizens could be quite the fun exercise in and of itself.
I still like the idea of a Medium-sized Na'Vi however. While I agree about not screwing PCs over because they want to play a race that's different, and acknowledge that many power differences between races become irrelevant around 5th level or so (though this is not always the case), I still believe some level of balance is required.
That version doesn't feel like the Na'Vi at all to me. Number one, they weren't that strong. They were Large and on a light gravity world. They did not have an increased Strength. Mountain movement I can agree with (although I think I'd still toss in the 'use Dex for climb' ability I gave them).
While I don't think this should be used for a PC racial template, Pandorapedia's site lists the Na'vi as "roughly four times the strength of the average human". Based on the carried weight per Str rating, that be a whole +8 to STR!
Also, given the reaction of objects in relation to gravity as shown in the movie (basketball, people walking/falling etc), Pandora's gravity doesn't looks that much lower than Earth's. Probably enough to cause slight muscle tone loss (and back problems back on Earth), but unlikely to be more than 5% or 10% at the most.
All that being said, I don't think that the Na'vi superior STR and size are less relevant than their DEX...
Honestly, an exact replica of the race would probably be extraplanar, although creating that plane and its denizens could be quite the fun exercise in and of itself.
Why so? While being from another planet, the are still part of the same plane. All planets are part of the prime material plane, unless that recently changed under Pathfinder.
Why so? While being from another planet, the are still part of the same plane. All planets are part of the prime material plane, unless that recently changed under Pathfinder.
Mainly because planet-hopping is not a normal part of a D&D game. Therefore, making something in a world that different indicates some other plane. Don't get me wrong, I understand and agree with your point, but I think it'd be easier for game purposes.
|
|
While I don't think this should be used for a PC racial template, Pandorapedia's site lists the Na'vi as "roughly four times the strength of the average human". Based on the carried weight per Str rating, that be a whole +8 to STR!
+4 to Str, with the Large size taking care of the rest.
Would it nbe worth considering writing them up as a CR 1 Large humanoid race with, say, 2 HD? Making them playable from the beginning of the game?
While I don't think this should be used for a PC racial template, Pandorapedia's site lists the Na'vi as "roughly four times the strength of the average human". Based on the carried weight per Str rating, that be a whole +8 to STR!+4 to Str, with the Large size taking care of the rest.
Would it nbe worth considering writing them up as a CR 1 Large humanoid race with, say, 2 HD? Making them playable from the beginning of the game?
Yes, I think it would but as MaverickWolf stated early on in the tread, making the Na'vi as close as possible as described on the big screen without a Level Adjustment would be difficult, hence his efforts to make it player-friendly.
My reflex always has been to stat the Na'vi as the movie portrays them, but in all fairness, the OP did express concerns toward availability as a balanced PC race. In 3.5, LA would cover that but Pathfinder seems to favour less powerful basic races and leave the bad ass races as bad ass monsters, a philosophy with which I agree to a large extent.
|
|
They would be more in line with how the dark elf races are superior to core races. They would be something left up to DM discretion. There is no way to "balance" them without them becoming something totally different.
One way to ease them in would be have them "grow into" their race. Start off with lower bonuses and gain the rest as they level up, similar to how the bloodlines worked in Unearthed Arcana.( I think that was the book)
|
I've seen the movie a number of times now, and I'm looking into trying to figure a way to do this. From what I've thought about so far (nothing down on paper, all speculation), it's going to take a lot of changes to make them PC friendly. One particular aspect that really caught my attention towards the end:
That doesn't really seem to lend to a nice conversion for a PC. I suppose it could be scaled down and those instances could be attributed to adrenaline, or even popping rage. But I digress...
Like I said, I'm thinking of a way to handle this with bonuses and penalties to make it friendly for the PC, however, it'll most certainly fall under houserules, to the point of almost looking at it like a Prestige Race. I'll post when I finish it up.
|
|
I've seen the movie a number of times now, and I'm looking into trying to figure a way to do this. From what I've thought about so far (nothing down on paper, all speculation), it's going to take a lot of changes to make them PC friendly. One particular aspect that really caught my attention towards the end:
** spoiler omitted **
That doesn't really seem to lend to a nice conversion for a PC. I suppose it could be scaled down and those instances could be attributed to adrenaline, or even popping rage. But I digress...
Like I said, I'm thinking of a way to handle this with bonuses and penalties to make it friendly for the PC, however, it'll most certainly fall under houserules, to the point of almost looking at it like a Prestige Race. I'll post when I finish it up.
They won't balance. They just are not on the same level as humans. Best to just stat them out for what they are.
|
|
They won't balance. They just are not on the same level as humans. Best to just stat them out for what they are.I've seen the movie a number of times now, and I'm looking into trying to figure a way to do this. From what I've thought about so far (nothing down on paper, all speculation), it's going to take a lot of changes to make them PC friendly. One particular aspect that really caught my attention towards the end:
** spoiler omitted **
That doesn't really seem to lend to a nice conversion for a PC. I suppose it could be scaled down and those instances could be attributed to adrenaline, or even popping rage. But I digress...
Like I said, I'm thinking of a way to handle this with bonuses and penalties to make it friendly for the PC, however, it'll most certainly fall under houserules, to the point of almost looking at it like a Prestige Race. I'll post when I finish it up.
The 'balancing act' I have in mind goes well beyond the stat block.
Why not, might as well go ahead and put in my take on the race.
CR 2 (Important, because it means beginning play as one is done alongside 2nd level characters, 3rd level if you have a class level. Then later one of those levels gets 'bought back' so to speak, so it will eventually act as a single level adjustment.)
Hit Dice: 2d8
Movement: 50 feet per round
Size: Large
Racial Abilities:Low Light Vision
Tree-dweller: The Navi are exceptionally acrobatic, a requirement of their home environment. As such, they can use their strength or dexterity for jump(acrobatics) or climb checks, whichever is higher. Further they are always treated as having a running start for purpose of jump checks.Innate Hunter: Na'vi are talented hunters enhanced with ancestral knowledge, with a +2 racial bonus on stealth, perception, Knowledge Nature (and can make checks in knowledge nature as if trained), and Survival.
Mind-Link: Na'vi are naturally bonded to their environment, and possess the animal empathy trait, treating their total hit dice as their level. Na'vi who take levels in a class that grants the ability gain a +3 in it (Mirroring the class skill concept)
Stat Adjustments:
+2 Strength
+4 Dexterity
+2 Constitution
+2 Wisdom
-2 IntelligenceThere, I believe that about does it, feel free to critique. (I know the OP is looking for base-race level, but this is still fairly accessible and I feel it's rather balanced, but I could be mistaken.)
Well, considering that the CR is equal to the HD, I'd say is pretty balanced, although I would add a -2 penalty to Charisma, as they do tend to be xenophobic... but I could be wrong. Furthermore, I would add a Natural Armor bonus of, say, +3 as they are quite resistant to injuries. If I may add one final thing, the Pathfinder edition of Noble Wild, a book about using animals as PCs, has a little rule that imposes a permanent negative level penalty to counter-balance the races' power. That could be useful here as well.
Aside from that it looks pretty good.
Anyone want to take a crack at statting out Native Americans from Pocahontas and Dances With Wolves.... or how about the fairy folk from Ferngully?
Anyone want to take a crack at statting out Native Americans from Pocahontas and Dances With Wolves.... or how about the fairy folk from Ferngully?
BIG LIPPED ALLIGATOR MOMENT
Anyone want to take a crack at statting out Native Americans from Pocahontas and Dances With Wolves.... or how about the fairy folk from Ferngully?
+1 Nicely done cartoon, though. I liked Roger Rabbit better in the genre...
.
I watched that movie.
Would say: Elves
Up size to: Large
Alternate Racial Traits:
Na'Vi Magic: Navi add +2 to Survival and Knowledge(Nature) skills, and these skills are always considered class skills. Navi with Wisdom of 11 or higher also gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/Day --Calm Animals, Hide from Animals, or Speak with Animals. The caster level for these effects is equal to the Navi level. The DC for these spells is equal to 10 + the spell's level + the Navi Wisdom Modifier. (This racial trait replaces the Elven Immunities and Elven Magic Traits)
Honestly, I'd take a look at Rite Publishing's "In The Company Of Giants" and use it to try and convert the Wood Giant from the Bestiary 2. First time I perused that critter, I thought, "paint that guy blue and it's a Na'Vi".