I'm working on a few Moreau races for a upcoming game.
Right now I'm focused on a Panda Moreau and Wolf Moreau race.
The Wolf Moreau are based on a build I did for 3.5 updated for Pathfinder:
Kogui:
+2 Strength, +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma: Kogui are inwardly focused and do not speak often thinking over what they do say for along time. Kogui prefer words with meaning over words of honey.
Medium: As medium creatures, Kogui have no special penalties or bonuses do to there size.
Swift Runner: Kogui have a base land speed of 30 feet. However when taking a double move action, charging, or running Kogui base land speed increase to 35 feet as long as they are wearing light armor or no armor. The long legs of the Kogui are most effective when running at full speed.
Low-light vision: A Kogui can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. She retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
Keen Senses: Kogui gain a +2 racial bonus on Perception Checks.
Social Observer: Kogui gain a + racial bonus on Sense Motive checks
-Keen Scent: Kogui gain the Scent Special Ability.
The Panda race I've got a little less fleshed out and I think need more work.
+2 Constitution, +2 Charisma, -2 Wisdom:
Medium
Normal Speed: Pandas have a base speed of 30 feet
Lucky Panda: +1 luck bonus on all saving throws
Royal Bearing: +2 racial bonus to Diplomacy checks
Well Versed: +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (Noble), Knowledge (Local), or Knowledge (History) of there choice.
Panda Magic: 1/day- Message, Ghost Sounds, Comprehend languages, Purify Food and Drink.
Keep in mind I want them to be balanced next to the standard races.
All you've really given the Panda are skill bonuses, which might be kind of weak compared to the other races, which all get cool abilities that are useful in combat encounters.
Maybe give them a +1 Natural Armor Bonus to represent their bouncy bellies instead of that Well-Versed ability.
Also, do I have your permission to play as a Kung-Fu Panda in my next campaign??
Panda: bonus to strength definitely. Get the cute little teddybear out of your mind. This should help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r06d6AbMwg
I once saw one of these things take some bamboo as thick as my wrist (that could easily have been used to make scaffolding for a fat man) and bite it in half like it was a pretzel.
Yeah I agree that the Panda is a little on the light side at the moment. I'm aware that Panda's are rather strong, but if I focus on that just about every race is going to have a Strength bonus rather than anything else. As well I'm planning to have a more general bear moreau to represent grizzle, brown and polar bears that will be +2 Str, +2 Con, -2 Dex.
Panda's have cultural connections to Luck and being Regal/Royal. Hence the skill bonuses.
I feel like a +1 to Natural Armor along with the bonus to saves might be a bit much though, and I'm not sure I want to pigeon hold every panda as being bouncy.
Lizard
+2 Any Ability Score
-30 ft Base land speed.
Darkvision
+1 Natural Armor
+2 Racial bonus on climb and stealth checks
+2 Racial Bonus on saves against charms and enchantments
Skin Shed: When ever a Lizard rests to regain hit points it regains one extra hit point per level.
I may up the healing ability some if people think it is called for, but I feel this one is about the correct power level.
Looks like d20 Future paved the way for folks to use a term with less stigma attached to it than "Furries", but without any change in flavour. No doubt much yiffing will ensue.
Given that Wisdom has always been used as the "instinct/cunning" mental stat, you might want to avoid giving anthropomorphic animals a penalty to it (opinions vary).
Any non-human race really should have pre-defined stat adjustments rather than player-choice, which is something that is meant for humans and races that are half human and generally integrated with humans. Since the real focus of AA characters is the animal part, they don't qualify (in my opinion).
Looks like d20 Future paved the way for folks to use a term with less stigma attached to it than "Furries", but without any change in flavour. No doubt much yiffing will ensue.
Yes very much so. I've always like Moreau and it has a good term source in fiction.
Given that Wisdom has always been used as the "instinct/cunning" mental stat, you might want to avoid giving anthropomorphic animals a penalty to it (opinions vary).
Generally I'd agree, but not for all animals. But Pandas are endangered partially cause they are too busy eating to reproduce. So Wisdom penalty.
Any non-human race really should have pre-defined stat adjustments rather than player-choice, which is something that is meant for humans and races that are half human and generally integrated with humans. Since the real focus of AA characters is the animal part, they don't qualify (in my opinion).
I'd likely normally agree with the that if I was not planning to more than triple the number of available races to players. Arguably I may reconsider giving it to the Lizards but at this point
Monkey
+2 Dex, +2 Wis, -2 Con
30 ft base land speed
Monkey Around: +2 Acrobatics and +2 Climb
Fling experts: +1 Racial bonus with thrown weapons
Master Throwers: Proficient with daggers and star-knives. Treat Bolas and Shurikin as martial weapons.
Healthy: +2 bonus on saving throws against disease.
Bouncy: Monkeys' gain Dodge as a bonus feat.
Are we talking about as in the Island of Dr. Moreau?
Its where the term comes from, but no not actually talking about the Island of Dr. Moreau. Moreau has been used in a number of place for beast men types, most notably D20 modern. I simply like it more than any other term I can come up with for animal people. Though perhaps now I'm thinking I would have gotten better views on this thread if I had titled it something different.
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I haven't played d20 Modern in years, but back in the day I made a moreau supplement (compiled, mostly, but with a bit of original content): Moreau Redux. You may find it useful (but I wouldn't be surprised if it reads clunky by today's standards).
Well its certainly geared twords d20 modern but it certainly has been worth a look in my opinion. I got a few ideas from it.
But Pandas are endangered partially cause they are too busy eating to reproduce.
Not to derail the thread, but that's a...decidedly odd...way to put it.
But back on topic: any thoughts on a dolphin/toothed-whale variant?
But Pandas are endangered partially cause they are too busy eating to reproduce.Not to derail the thread, but that's a...decidedly odd...way to put it.
Odd but true.
But back on topic: any thoughts on a dolphin/toothed-whale variant?
I honestly haven't yet. I've been thinking more about land animals than I had any sea creatures yet. I think I'd give them some huge bonus to holding there breath similar to what Star Wars saga did with aquatic races based on constitution. It seems like abilities could be drawn from whale songs and eco-location though I'm not sure what mechanics I would use for that, that would remain balanced.
Odd but true.
Not really. It's not as if those bears are making a deliberate decision to forage rather than mate, or can be at all expected to know that they're at risk.
I honestly haven't yet. I've been thinking more about land animals than I had any sea creatures yet. I think I'd give them some huge bonus to holding there breath similar to what Star Wars saga did with aquatic races based on constitution. It seems like abilities could be drawn from whale songs and eco-location though I'm not sure what mechanics I would use for that, that would remain balanced.
I've seen it handled with limited blindsight or blindsense before.