So one of my players wants to have a tail on his character. He's an alchemist and is willing to spend a discovery to have it. There's rules for extra arms, and even a tentacle, but nothing for a tail. What I am thinking of doing is allowing him to replace the tentacle discovery with a tail discovery wording it thus:
The alchemist gains a prehensile, arm-length tail on his body. The tail is fully under his control and cannot be concealed except with magic or bulky clothing. The tail does not give the alchemist any extra attacks or actions per round, though he can use it to retrieve small objects stowed on their persons as a swift action. The tail can manipulate or hold items as well as the alchemist’s original arms can (for example, allowing the alchemist to use one hand to wield a weapon, the tail to hold a potion, and the third hand to throw a bomb). Unlike an arm, the tentacle has no magic item slots.
This is pretty much the rules for a tentacle but with a tail, and instead of being able to attack, it uses the prehensile tail rules I've seen some third party races use. Being an alchemist he wants to use the tail to retrieve stuff from his bag without taking up actions. Does this rule seem fair, and reasonably balanced?
Tentacle + vanara prehensile tail rules... seems fair and fun. I'd say go for it.
I agree, it seems plenty fair. If the player wants to invest the discoveries to make it happen, let him.
In the highly unlikely event it becomes unbalancing...have it get cut off.
Varisia has thriving curios trade, and a 5 foot monkey tail would surely fetch a hefty sum!
I'd say use tieflings Prehensile Tail racial ability. Then you could let him take the Grasping Tail feat if they want to get some extra use out of it. :)
Yea I've pretty much mixed the Alchemist Discovery rules for tentacles with the prehensile tail racial. Seems like a pretty good mix. Use a Discovery get a tail that can swift action handle objects for you.