Shān'Míns
Shān'mín (People of the Mountains) are the uncontested masters of the frozen peaks of northern Jiang'shi. They are a quiet people and speak very little making them somewhat antisocial. However, they are a hardy and strong people and possess a great wisdom.
They are naturall acclimated to the mountains and are fine living in places most others would find lacking in sustenance and most likely breathable air. They are natural born climbers, possess keen sight allowing them to spot enemies or hazards, regardless of whether it is day or night.
Their bond to the land ability is always Mountain.
Physical Description: Shān'mín appear much like humans, but tend to be generally heavier and taller. Their skin tone is tanned and weatherbeaten, the mountain climate ageing them prematurely in terms of appearance. Their hair color includes blacks, greys and white.
Standard Racial Traits
Ability Score Racial Traits: Shān'míns gain +2 Str, +2 Wis, and -2 Cha.
Type: Shān'míns are humanoids with the human and shān'mín subtypes.
Size: Shān'míns are Medium creatures and thus receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Speed: Shān'míns have a base speed of 30 feet.They also have a climb speed of 30 feet, which also grants them a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks.
Languages: Shān'míns begin play speaking Common. Shān'míns with high intelligence scores can choose from the following: Dwarven, Giant, or Terran
Defense Racial Traits
Bond to the Land: Shān'míns have a +2 dodge bonus to AC when in a specific terrain type selected from the ranger's list of favored terrains. This choice is made at character creation, and cannot be changed.
Feat and Skill Racial Traits
Bonus Feat Shān'míns receive Alertness as a bonus feat.
Magical Racial Traits
Movement Racial Traits
Terrain Stride: Shān'míns can move through natural difficult terrain at their normal speed while in mountains and hills. Magically altered terrain affects them normally.
Mountaineer: Shān'míns are immune to altitude sickness and do not lose their Dexterity bonus to AC when making Climb checks or Acrobatics checks to cross narrow or slippery surfaces.
Offense Racial Traits
Senses Racial Traits
Darkvision: Shān'míns can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
Weakness Racial Traits
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The Shān'míns are a race for my homebrew series of adventures I'm writing. They are one of the new races I've created for the land of Jiang'shi.
I was inspired by the Sherpa people and their home is in the northernmost parts of Jiang'shi, based on Nepal and the Himalayas.
Thoughts?
They seem okay, but there's not really anything here to "grab" me. There's nothing especially interesting other than they're so good at climbing that they get a climb speed. No details about them that make the race interesting to play or interact with.
They seem okay, but there's not really anything here to "grab" me. There's nothing especially interesting other than they're so good at climbing that they get a climb speed. No details about them that make the race interesting to play or interact with.
It's not a race the PCs will be, it's a purely NPC race. I have a few of these planned, representing the natives of the land they're exploring.
But I agree, I'll see if I can add some mojo to them.
If their Bond To The Land ability is always mountain, then rewrite the feature to reflect that.
Rather than give them Alertness as a bonus feat, how about Keen Senses? Alertness also grants a bonus to Sense Motive, and their antisocial behavior suggests they shouldn't have that (although that doesn't have to be the case).
"Masters of the frozen peaks" suggests that a bonus to Survival would be appropriate.
Considering how well moonlight illuminates snow, I don't think Darkvision makes sense. A snowy night is not all dark.
If their Bond To The Land ability is always mountain, then rewrite the feature to reflect that.
Rather than give them Alertness as a bonus feat, how about Keen Senses? Alertness also grants a bonus to Sense Motive, and their antisocial behavior suggests they shouldn't have that (although that doesn't have to be the case)...
...Considering how well moonlight illuminates snow, I don't think Darkvision makes sense. A snowy night is not all dark.
I agree with all of the above.
Swap out darkvisions for low light, change alertness to keen senses, and rewrite bond to the land.
Also, I feel like they should have at least one non-mountain themed trait. A weapon proficiency, a skill bonus, a magic trait, anything, as long as it fleshes them out and gives them a little more diversity in their flavor.