What about subtypes?


Advanced Race Guide Playtest


Types are bought using points, but what about subtypes? There is a lot of them, and, the way it's written, you could select any subtype freely. For instance, if someone wants to play an elemental (immune to lots of effects) there should be a cost. Will those subtypes be removed from what is available? I think the option should exist for a cost.

Senior Designer

Heladriell wrote:
Types are bought using points, but what about subtypes? There is a lot of them, and, the way it's written, you could select any subtype freely. For instance, if someone wants to play an elemental (immune to lots of effects) there should be a cost. Will those subtypes be removed from what is available? I think the option should exist for a cost.

The only subtypes in the system that you can choose freely are the various humanoid subtypes, which frankly should be free. Elemental subtypes live in other racial abilities.

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32

Heladriell wrote:
Types are bought using points, but what about subtypes? There is a lot of them, and, the way it's written, you could select any subtype freely. For instance, if someone wants to play an elemental (immune to lots of effects) there should be a cost. Will those subtypes be removed from what is available? I think the option should exist for a cost.

You would need to buy those abilities "al la carte." So, for example, to be a "Fire Subtype" you would need to buy the Immunity to Fire (4 RP) and Elemental Vulnerability to Cold (-2 RP). At that point, you could list your new race as Outsider (native, fire).

Darn, Ninja'd by the designer.

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32

Stephen Radney-MacFarland wrote:
Heladriell wrote:
Types are bought using points, but what about subtypes? There is a lot of them, and, the way it's written, you could select any subtype freely. For instance, if someone wants to play an elemental (immune to lots of effects) there should be a cost. Will those subtypes be removed from what is available? I think the option should exist for a cost.
The only subtypes in the system that you can choose freely are the various humanoid subtypes, which frankly should be free. Elemental subtypes live in other racial abilities.

Humanoid Subtypes are not quite free, you need to buy the appropriate vision in most cases. :)

Interresting Question:
The "Giant" subtype adds Intimidate and Perception as "class skills." Is there a way to do that in the Race Build rules?

Update
Use the "Stalker" racial ability (p 14) but swap out Stealth for Intimidate. This costs 1 RP

Senior Designer

Lord Fyre wrote:

Humanoid Subtypes are not quite free, you need to buy the appropriate vision in most cases. :)

Interresting Question:
The "Giant" subtype adds Intimidate and Perception as "class skills." Is there a way to do that in the Race Build rules?

Allow me to restate that. For purposes of the race builder they are free. Just like how racial types are different from monster type, racial subtypes also work slightly different. The giant subtype in the race builder does not low-light vision, nor those two skills as class skill, but it does allow you to take certain racial traits and abilities.

Similarly, not all creatures with the elf subtype don't all have low-light vision and all creatures with the goblinoid subtype don't all treat Stealth as a class skill. Taking a close look you’ll see this is even true in the monster types, but it is especially true in the race builder.

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32

Stephen Radney-MacFarland wrote:
Lord Fyre wrote:

Humanoid Subtypes are not quite free, you need to buy the appropriate vision in most cases. :)

Interresting Question:
The "Giant" subtype adds Intimidate and Perception as "class skills." Is there a way to do that in the Race Build rules?

Allow me to restate that. For purposes of the race builder they are free. Just like how racial types are different from monster type, racial subtypes also work slightly different. The giant subtype in the race builder does not low-light vision, nor those two skills as class skill, but it does allow you to take certain racial traits and abilities.

Similarly, not all creatures with the elf subtype don't all have low-light vision and all creatures with the goblinoid subtype don't all treat Stealth as a class skill. Taking a close look you’ll see this is even true in the monster types, but it is especially true in the race builder.

I see what you mean. :)


I too was confused by this, and think that subtypes should be listed, even if they are just examples

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