So I bought the bestiary 3 pdf the other day and flipped over to the catfolk. In their description, catfolk are hunter gatherers, which would seem to indicate they are closer to nature than other races, yet they possess a -2 penalty to wisdom. The situation with catfolk and druids/nature clerics is then rather similar to the situation with tieflings and sorcerers. Would it be unbalancing for them to have a racial trait like the tiefling's fiendish blood (but applied to clerics with the nature domain, druids, and rangers) or would it be better off as a character trait with a prerequisite of being a catfolk (thus using up a character trait and indicating the nature connection is more cultural than racial). So far it looks like strong arguments could be made to go in either direction, since there isn't a lot of information on the catfolk race outside the Bestiary 3 entry (although I'm bending more towards the character trait option at the moment). Anyone else have thoughts on the issue?
I don't see a problem with it, honestly. Tieflings have an ability that only works if they pick one of two bloodlines(three is you count Crossblooded). Does it mean a Catfolk is more like to focus on Wildshape more than spells? Maybe.
But, a racial ability called "Nature's Blessing" or something similar wouldn't be overpowered in my opinion. You'd just have to be fair to all the other Bestiary races like Tieflings and Catfolks by giving them an ability to bump up a Casting stat too. ;)
Additional Racial Trait:
Children of the Wild: A catfolk treats his wisdom score as two points higher for all druid and ranger spells and abilities. A catfolk cleric with the nature domain treats his wisdom score as two points higher for all cleric spells and abilities.
So I bought the bestiary 3 pdf the other day and flipped over to the catfolk. In their description, catfolk are hunter gatherers, which would seem to indicate they are closer to nature than other races, yet they possess a -2 penalty to wisdom. The situation with catfolk and druids/nature clerics is then rather similar to the situation with tieflings and sorcerers. Would it be unbalancing for them to have a racial trait like the tiefling's fiendish blood (but applied to clerics with the nature domain, druids, and rangers) or would it be better off as a character trait with a prerequisite of being a catfolk (thus using up a character trait and indicating the nature connection is more cultural than racial). So far it looks like strong arguments could be made to go in either direction, since there isn't a lot of information on the catfolk race outside the Bestiary 3 entry (although I'm bending more towards the character trait option at the moment). Anyone else have thoughts on the issue?
I just figured it's because Catfolk are easily distracted by balls of yarn and floating lights. Though honestly they could just be Oracles of Nature.