Half-Phoenix (Working title)
The concept behind this race is essentially a cross breed between a human and phoenix. I would rather not make it a template as I think that would make it far too powerful, as it is I am thinking that it probably needs a +1 (maybe +2) level modifier. I would like to know the opinion of my fellow gamers on this idea.
Monstrous Humanoid: A Half-Phoenix is a Monstrous Humanoid.
Medium Size: No bonuses or penalties based on size.
Normal Speed: Base speed of 30ft.
Fire Affinity: +2 caster level to spells with the [Fire] descriptor. -2 caster level to spells with the [Cold] descriptor, additionally a Half-Phoenix must make a caster level check to cast any spell with the [Cold] descriptor. (DC 20+Spell level)
Cold Weakness: A Half-Phoenix is exceptionally vulnerable to cold taking +50% damage from any Cold attack.
Self-Resurrection: While not as resilient as their progenitors a Half-Phoenix is exceptionally difficult to kill. A Half-Phoenix does not die until her negative hit points are twice her Con score, additionally whenever a Half-Phoenix has negative hit points she gains Fast Healing 1. This Fast Healing stacks with any other source.
Consumptive Immolation: When a Half-Phoenix does dies her body bursts into flames causing 1d6 damage per HD to everything in her space and everything adjacent (Reflex save for half damage, DC 15+Con for adjacent, DC 20+Con for everything within the Half-Phoenix's space)
Fire Resistance: A Half-Phoenix gains fire resistance equal 5. This resistance increases by +5 at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter.
Fiery Regeneration: Whenever a Half-Phoenix is the subject of any Fire effect she gains Fast Healing 1 for the duration of the effect (to a minimum of 1 round), this healing increases by 1 at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter. (Example, if subjected to a Fireball spell the Half-Phoenix gains Fast Healing until the end of her next turn, if the target of an effect with a duration she gains Fast Healing for the duration of the effect)
OR
Fiery Regeneration: A Half-Phoenix is healed for 1 HP for every 3 points of fire damage she would take. A Half-Phoenix gets no saving throw against fire effects.
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My first impression is that fiery regeneration might be too good.
Having the phoenix-blooded not take damage from mundane fire, and only gain healing from magical fire might make it a little less 'Oh, I have a boo-boo, I stick my hand on the torch until it goes away.'
I have some overly complicated notion about having to ready an action to absorb magical fire in this way, rather than it being 'always on,' but that would probably too much of a pain in the butt to put into a race ability write up. Simpler is better.
Minor caveat that if the phoenix-blooded is subject to an effect that requires him to make a Reflex save or 'Catch on Fire,' he should probably automatically make that save, since, to someone with fire resistance / immunity, 'catching on fire' is a cool advantage, and that's an unintended consequence. :)
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On the Self-Ressurection, perhaps limiting the fast healing to a number of rounds would be better? That would make them harder to kill, while still letting them know they could die.
When I first started playing D&D(only a few years ago actually, though it seems longer), I tried to make a Were-Phoenix, so I'd like to see how this turns out.
Consider the fact that what you end up with is a character that can heal itself to full after each combat quite easily by subjecting itself to fire. Buying a flaming dagger and just holding it in their mouth would do the trick, as the fire damage from the weapon would be 1-6, and even on a bad round for a level 1 character (a 6 point roll) the fast healing will compensate for the one point that got past the fire resist 5. That works with the "magical fire damage only" version that Set suggested, as well.
Likewise, I'm not seeing a ton of correlation between this race's abilities and the phoenix monster itself (nor do I want to speculate too heavily on how half-phoenixes were bred.. gargantuan birds + what, exactly?) - phoenixes don't regenerate from fire, they're simply immune to it. Likewise, they can self-resurrect once per YEAR, losing a level in the process. Its pretty steep stuff.
If you want to aim for a LA 0 half-phoenix half-human thing that has ties to the bestiary monster, you could go with something like...
Phoenix-Touched
Humanoid (augmented)
+2 Con, +2 Cha, -2 Wis
Fire Magic: +1 caster level when caster spells with the fire descriptor.
Child of Flame: A phoenix-touched character deals 1 extra point of fire damage with his or her unarmed strikes, or with melee weapon strikes when wielding a non-reach weapon made of metal.
From the Ashes: Once per day, when a phoenix-touched character is reduced to 0 hit points or below, he or she is returned to 1 hit point at the start of his or her next turn. This ability does not function if the phoenix-touched character is killed before the start of his or her next turn.
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In either case, I'd say the fast healing presents a possible issue when you actually use that race in a campaign. You typically want to shy away from characters that can return themselves to full capacity after an unlimited number of fights.
Just my two-cents.
You may want to take a look at the Phoelark from the Monster Manual 3, it has a LA of +5 but it's essentially a humanoid Phoenix type thing.
On the Self-Ressurection, perhaps limiting the fast healing to a number of rounds would be better? That would make them harder to kill, while still letting them know they could die.
Good point, perhaps making it a number of rounds equal to Con mod?
Consider the fact that what you end up with is a character that can heal itself to full after each combat quite easily by subjecting itself to fire. Buying a flaming dagger and just holding it in their mouth would do the trick, as the fire damage from the weapon would be 1-6, and even on a bad round for a level 1 character (a 6 point roll) the fast healing will compensate for the one point that got past the fire resist 5. That works with the "magical fire damage only" version that Set suggested, as well.
Likewise, I'm not seeing a ton of correlation between this race's abilities and the phoenix monster itself (nor do I want to speculate too heavily on how half-phoenixes were bred.. gargantuan birds + what, exactly?) - phoenixes don't regenerate from fire, they're simply immune to it. Likewise, they can self-resurrect once per YEAR, losing a level in the process. Its pretty steep stuff.
Well my logic from being healed by fire was that a phoenix has good regeneration and fire immunity and was trying to find a thematic way of giving them some kind of regen without it being too powerful, I seem to have failed in that respect :P As for the breeding I was actually thinking that it was cooperation between a group of Phoenix's and a group of wizards to produce humanoids who could represent their interests in humanoid courts.
If you want to aim for a LA 0 half-phoenix half-human thing that has ties to the bestiary monster, you could go with something like...
I was actually aiming for something close to the power scale of a Half-Dragon/Fiend/Celestial.