| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I was a little sad that the Advanced Race Guide didn't have a sorcerer bloodline for kitsunes, so I decided to put one together to test myself. I'm not quite happy with what I have; I think it is way too large and a few parts (such as the Star Ball bonded item) could be done better. However, it does use a lot of elements of the old kitsune legends that haven't appeared in pathfinder yet.
One of my goals when making this was to make it avalable for both kitsunes and human descendants of kitsunes while allowing both to become "nine tailed foxes" by level 20. I think I succeeded at that at least.
I think my one balance concern at the moment is the "Hidden Spells" ability that allows the sorcerer to start getting still+silent at a very early level (3rd), but I feel that this sort of ability is necessary for a kitsune who is trying to blend in with and manipulate a human population. :D
Anyway, here's the google document. Feel free to comment on any issues you find and I'm open to suggestions for improvement: Kitsune Sorcerer Bloodline
Oh, and if you're wondering where the inspiration for these abilities came from... Wikipedia
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Here's the current version if you don't feel like dealing with the document:
Kitsune Bloodline
Class Skill: Acrobatics
Bonus Spells: charm person (3rd), invisibility (5th), suggestion (7th), confusion (9th), dominate person (11th), suggestion, mass (13th), project image (15th), charm monster, mass (17th), shapechange (19th).
Bonus Feats: Agile Maneuvers, Deceitful, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (acrobatics), Skill Focus (disguise), Weapon Finesse.
Bloodline Arcana: You gain the kitsune and shapechanger subtypes. In addition, you gain fox-like traits and tail if you do not already have one. At fourth level and every two levels afterwards, you gain an additional tail representing your growing magical powers until you reach nine at 18th level. You count as a kitsune for the purposes of feat prerequisites and you gain the kitsune Change Shape ability, except instead of gaining a human form this ability allows you to appear as you would without your bloodline. If you already have the kitsune Change Shape ability, you can now activate it as a move action. Whenever you cast a spell that deals fire damage, that spell deals +1 point of damage per die rolled.
Bloodline Powers: The magic of the mischievous kitsunes burns in your blood, whether it be from having a kitsune ancestor or being a kitsune yourself.
Kitsune Star Ball (Su): At 1st level, you gain a kitsune star ball as an arcane bonded item. The star ball is a magical pearl that glows like faerie fire, shedding light as a candle. It functions as either a wand or staff for the purposes of its arcane bond and how it can be enchanted. If destroyed, the Star Ball can be recreated 1 week later through a special ritual that costs 200 gp per sorcerer level. The ritual takes 24 hours to complete. Otherwise, this ability functions the same as the arcane bloodline’s Arcane Bond ability.
Hidden Spells (Su): At 3rd level, you can can cast your spells without their somatic or verbal components, as if using the Still Spell and Silent Spell feats. Also, as long as you are carrying your bonded item, you do not receive penalties for casting without wielding it. Spells cast using this ability do not increase in spell level or casting time. You decide to use this ability at the time of casting. You can use this ability once per day at 3rd level, and one additional time per every two levels thereafter.
Fire Fox (Ex): At 9th level, you gain resist 5 against fire and a +1 dodge bonus. At 13th level, your energy resistance increases to 10 and dodge bonus increases to +2. At 17th level, your dodge bonus increases to +4.
Fox Possession (Su): At 15th level, you can merge your body with a creature to possess it. This ability is similar to a magic jar spell (with a caster level equal to your sorcerer level), except that it does not require a receptacle. To use this ability, you must be adjacent to the target. Your magical items cease to function while merged. The target can resist this ability with a successful Will save. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 your sorcerer level + your Charisma modifier. You can use this ability once per day.
True Ninetails (Ex): At 20th level, the fur of your natural form becomes either white or gold. You cease aging, and from this point forward you take no penalty to your physical ability scores from advanced age. If you are already taking such penalties, they are removed at this time. You also gain the ability to see and hear across vast distances at will. This ability functions as clairaudience/clairvoyance with a caster level equal to your sorcerer level, except that it has no range limit and allows you to both see and hear at the chosen location.
this is awesome, definately gonna try this out. its just so fluffy (pun intended)
this is awesome, definately gonna try this out. its just so fluffy (pun intended)
Hah, thanks! I'd love to know how it works out :D
I've thought of a few variations for the Bloodline Arcana that could be varied depending on the theme you want to go with.
- Fox fire: +1 bonus to fire damage (current)
- Stronger Natural Form: +1 bonus to the DC of spells cast while you are in your natural form. (suitable for campaigns where the kitsune would want to hide its natural form)
- Surprise Spells: +1 bonus to the DC of spells cast against opponents who are not aware of your natural form.
- Vampiric Fox: when an opponent fails a save against one of your damaging spells, you heal 1 hp per damage die of the spell (max = caster level).
Would you help me craft a Nymph bloodline?
Nymph bloodline? *Thinks*
I would suggest creating an archetype for the Fey bloodline. You'll probably want to replace Woodland Stride with a swim speed ability, and either Fleeting Glace or Fey Magic with a limited use gaze attack-like blinding ability. Maybe replace the Fey bloodline arcana to something nature summon based. Those are the main things I'd change at least.
This is really, really cool. A sub-bloodline for the Korean kumiho would be excellent too.
It probably wouldn't have a fox orb, and would be focused more on shifting and deception. Possibly some form of restoration from eating the livers of dead humanoids with enough hit dice.
This thread reminded me that I wrote up these feats when I saw what ARG had for kitsune, and had never gotten around to posting them. I like your bloodline, although the 20th-level ability should clarify that it means the kitsune form - as written, a human with this bloodline could read it as meaning that her human form gets golden fur and nine tails, since that's her natural form.
Hmm, I'm going to have to take a look at those feats :D
But yea, I actually did make it so that if a human takes this bloodline, he/she essentially becomes a half kitsune with a tail from level 1, but you gain the kitsune change shape ability to hide your tails at the same time. So yea, by level 20 a human would be running around with nine tails (but probably no fur on his/her body and still looking *mostly* human).
I did it party for consistency in case I added abilities that involved Change Shape, and also so that anyone who has this bloodline, like full kitsunes, would be trying to hide their natural form. Plus, it allows people to create characters who look like Ahri from League of Legends
This is really, really cool. A sub-bloodline for the Korean kumiho would be excellent too.
It probably wouldn't have a fox orb, and would be focused more on shifting and deception. Possibly some form of restoration from eating the livers of dead humanoids with enough hit dice.
Thanks :D
Hah, I hadn't thought of making one based on the Korean version of kitsunes, but that could be interesting.
a samsaren/hanuman bloodline along these lines would be awesome too
Alright, here's a modification of the bloodline based on the Kumiho. It changes more powers than most wildblooded bloodlines, but I think it works fairly well. Though, I admit that I didn't get creative with some of the powers, so I'm open to suggestions for improvement.
Kumiho
While most kitsunes tend towards harmless mischief, you find yourself drawn to your ancestors' darker and more bestial side.
Associated Bloodline: Kitsune
Bloodline Arcana
You gain the kitsune and shapechanger subtypes. In addition, you gain fox-like traits and tail if you do not already have one. At fourth level and every two levels afterwards, you gain an additional tail representing your growing magical powers until you reach nine at 18th level. You count as a kitsune for the purposes of feat prerequisites and you gain the kitsune Change Shape ability, except instead of gaining a human form this ability allows you to appear as you would without your bloodline. If you already have the kitsune Change Shape ability, you can now activate it as a move action. Whenever a target affected by one of your spells with the Mind Affecting descriptor makes a charisma check against you or rerolls his saving throw because you ordered him to do something against his nature, he must roll twice and take the lower result.
This ability replaces the Kitsune Bloodline Arcana.
Bloodline Powers: While most kitsunes and their descendants are called tricksters, your powers lead others to call you a monster.
Organ Eater (Su): At 1st level, you can gain sustenance from the organs of the recently dead. As a standard action, you can eat an organ from a creature that died within the past minute. The creature must be corporeal, must be at least the same size as you, and must have internal organs. This ability heals you 1d6 hit points and nourishes you as if you’d had a full meal. You may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.
This bloodline power replaces Kitsune Star Ball.
Demon Fox (Su): At 9th level, you gain resist 5 against cold and a +1 dodge bonus. At 13th level, your energy resistance increases to 10 and dodge bonus increases to +2. At 17th level, your dodge bonus increases to +4.
This bloodline power replaces Fire Fox.
Eternal Fox (Su): At 20th level, you cease aging, and from this point forward you take no penalty to your physical ability scores from advanced age. If you are already taking such penalties, they are removed at this time. In addition, you gain DR 10/cold iron.
This bloodline power replaces True Ninetails
Ahh, I see. I misread it as meaning that a human would gain a kitsune alternate form, and that the "as you would without your bloodline" caveat was to keep the player from picking a second human form on a technicality. Knowing your intention (you get a "semi-kitsune" natural form and an alternate of your original look) makes more sense - it feels a little odd for a character who multiclasses into it, but that's kind of unavoidable.
Hmmm, maybe I should see if I can make that description clearer.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Alright, last update for a while, I promise ;)
I put together an optional rule to make Kitsune disguises imperfect so that it is possible for people to catch a glimpse of their true natures. It makes things harder, but it is such a reoccurring theme in the Japanese legends that I feel it is pretty flavorful. I originally was planning to avoid doing this because of space issues, but after reading Benly's feats I knew I had to write this down somewhere ;)
I've put this and some other updates into my google doc.
Optional Rule: Imperfect Kitsune Disguises
While kitsunes are very skilled at hiding their true forms, the magical nature of their heritage and their tails makes it difficult to fully disguise themselves with magic. It is also common for the magic which hides their fur and tails to fail. Whenever the disguise check of a kitsune who is using his Change Shape ability or Fox Possession bloodline power is beaten, the observer notices a flaw in the kitsune’s disguise which makes his true nature obvious.
Due to the difficulties they have when trying to hide their true forms, kitsunes almost always try to remain fully clothed in order to aid their disguises. Otherwise, even a casual observer could notice a brief moment where the kitsune’s fur or tails reappear. In addition, an extreme mental shock (such as gaining the frightened condition) can cause them to partially revert to their true forms. Either situation, the kitsune loses the +10 bonus that Change Shape or Fox Possession normally grants to their disguise checks. If both situations happen at the same time, then the kitsune's true nature becomes visible to all observers.
I don't have Kitsune in my game, but I may have to put them in! These are too cool!
Ok, so, first things first: Great work! I really like the idea, and quite a bit of the execution you have here.
Inevitable [_)_)s: There are some things here I don't find, well, 'thematically appropriate' would be the closest approximation I could make to correct phrasing. Plus some rare balancing issues.
If you don't mind, I'll post my own little revision. No intention to upstage, or one-up, just my two cents.
:
: Acrobatics, or Perception, or Perform, or Know: Nature
: Charm Person(3rd), Invisibility(5th), Suggestion(7th), Confusion(9th), Dominate Person(11th), Cloak of Dreams*(13th), Waves of Ecstasy**(15th), Euphoric Tranquility***(17th), Meteor Swarm****(19th)
* = Can be replaced with Serenity or Symbol of Persuasion
** = Can be replaced with Insanity
*** = Can be replaced with Binding
**** = Can be replaced with Weird or Shapechange
: Spell Focus, Greater Spell Focus, Improved Initiative, Quicken Spell, Dodge, Combat Casting, Skill Focus (Knowledge: Arcana),(Knowledge: Nature), (Acrobatics), (Bluff), (Disguise), Spell Penetration, Persistent Spell, Iron Will.
: At 4th level and every two levels thereafter you manifest an additional tail to represent your growing magical power to a maximum of 9 at level 18. The DC of your Enchantment subtype spells are increased by 1.
, 1st (Su): At 1st level you gain a bonded item chosen from a magical pearl, a fan, or a magical tattoo, each of which on command glow as Faerie Fire, shedding light as a candle. These items function as a wand for the purposes of its arcane bond and how it can be enchanted. This functions in all other ways as Arcane Bond. If these items are ever destroyed, they may be recreated 1 week later at the cost of 200gp/Sorcerer level, with a ritual that takes 24 hours.
, 3rd (Su): At 3rd level you may cast your spells without either their somatic or verbal components. This functions in the same way as either the Still Spell or Silent Spell metamagic feats. You do not increase the spell slot required to cast an altered spell, but the cast time is increased accordingly. You may only apply one of the metamagic feats granted by this power at any given time.
, 9th (Ex): At 9th level you gain a +1 dodge bonus and +1 bonus damage on spells with the [Fire] descriptor, per die rolled.
These bonuses increases to +2 at level 13, and again at level 17 to +3.
(or)
, 9th (Ex): At 9th level you gain 5 resistance to the Fire energy type and +1 bonus damage on spells with the [Fire] descriptor, per die rolled.
These bonuses increases to 10 Fire resistance +2 damage per die rolled at level 13, and again at level 17 to 15 Fire resistance and +3 damage per die rolled.
, 15th (Su): At 15th level you gain the ability to change aspects of your form. You may grant yourself two claw attacks (1d4), darkvision (60ft), a fly, climb, or swim speed. These new movement types take the place of your walk/run speed, and using the worst maneuverability possible (Or -8 to climb and swim checks.) You may also use this ability to precisely mimick the features of one person you have encountered before. This grants a +10 circumstance bonus to fool others with your impersonation.
, 19th (Ex and Su): At 19th level you become the pinnacle of your race, a true ninetailed fox. Your fur becomes white or gold, and you cease aging. You no longer suffer penalties due to age. You also gain Dominate Monster and Clairaudience/Clairvoyance as spell-like abilities. The caster level for these abilities is equal to your Sorcerer level, and are useable twice a day each.
Yea, I agree that the bloodline in the form it was a year ago needed work. However, I guess my main disagreement with your changes is that you removed a few pretty thematic abilities that were based on kitsune lore: the star ball and the possession ability. I've never heard of kitsunes losing their powers due to losing a fan ;)
Fire Fox makes me think of the Web Browser. Maybe rename it to Fox Fire?
Fire Fox makes me think of the Web Browser. Maybe rename it to Fox Fire?
Yea, I've been pondering that. The thing is I wanted to go with "Fire Fox" since it describes a condition of the fox, while "Fox Fire" would imply a type of fire attack created by the fox.
If I come up with a new version, I may just replace that ability with something else.
|
This thread has given me some great ideas for my future home game Kitsune I make. Still not sure if it is going to be a bard or sorcerer.
And on the Foxfire/Firefox ability I think FoxFire is already a spell in some book is it not? Or maybe a status ailment/disease/poison that I am thinking of from somewhere else.
I approve of this thread.
That said, I wouldn't handle the Nine-Tailed Kitsune as a Sorcerer Bloodline, personally. Or as a feat.
I need to wait two more weeks before I know how I am going to design it, but my solution for the eternal question of, "How to make a Nine-Tailed Kitsune" is a bit more ... mythic.
>: )
I approve of this thread.
That said, I wouldn't handle the Nine-Tailed Kitsune as a Sorcerer Bloodline, personally. Or as a feat.
I need to wait two more weeks before I know how I am going to design it, but my solution for the eternal question of, "How to make a Nine-Tailed Kitsune" is a bit more ... mythic.
>: )
Personally, I like the idea of putting it into a bloodline because it means that sorcerers get the tails automatically... and others can get it via the eldritch heritage feat.
Well, that isn't quite how it works with this version... but in future versions I think I will 'move' the tails into one of the bloodline powers rather than being in the arcana. THAT WAY the eldritch heritage feat passes them along ;)
I approve of mythic kitsunes btw!
I think the bloodline arcana is a bit much and makes the kitsune as a race a bit redundant. Other than that I love it.
Yea, I am planning to tone that down whenever I get around to modifying this bloodline again. Haven't decided on quite what to put in as a replacement, but I just want it to be something other than a flat enchantment bonus.
This thread has given me some great ideas for my future home game Kitsune I make. Still not sure if it is going to be a bard or sorcerer.
And on the Foxfire/Firefox ability I think FoxFire is already a spell in some book is it not? Or maybe a status ailment/disease/poison that I am thinking of from somewhere else.
Yay :D
As for the foxfire thing, I just did a quick search and wasn't able to find anything published by Paizo for a FoxFire spell.
only thing I can think of is either a digimon or inuyasha reference, for fox fire.
only thing I can think of is either a digimon or inuyasha reference, for fox fire.
And notice that both of the creatures that used that attack were some manga/anime-ized variant of a kitsune ;)
But yea, I guess I should just simply come up with a FoxFire attack of some sort whether it is an ability or a spell.....
It's me again! I've made some revisions to my earlier revision.
Sadly, you can't edit your post after an hour of the original submission, so I'm just going to link the pastebin because I don't wanna spam the thread.
http://pastebin.com/jZbvXpYR
I must be getting old, 'cuz I think of Appalachian crafts and lore...
http://www.foxfire.org/thefoxfirebooks.aspx