Contributor
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One thing I've noticed is that there seems to be two camps. One which favors few to no new races and or races that fit fairly easily into a humanccentric world like changelings and samarasan and androids. The other group seems to want furries, scally critters, and monstrous races.
While I'm definitely with the former, I think whatever is decided should keep both camps in mind. Something like two races legalized with another two earnable booms, one from each "camp" so speak seems like a good idea.
I'd think the latter actually fit into humanocentric society better. They really don't change anything. About the biggest effect i can think of on society is they wouldn't be able to be chefs, full body hair nets and all that...They need to eat, sleep, breathe etc. Besides looking different they don't have many (any?) special powers, abilities, or ramifications.
Changelings would change how society handles power. You think the TSA is annoying when they need to check your shoes , how paranoid does a kingdom have to get to let someone on the throne when they can just be replaced by a lookalike at a moments notice. Androids that can be made in hours could form an instant army loyal only to their creator.
Um... you do know which changelings we're talking about, right? ^_^
Also, androids can't be created like that. Even the Iron Gods don't have the necessary facilities/resources/etc. to just churn out androids, nor can they be "made in hours". Even if they did/could, androids do have free will.
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Ratfolk - In the largest city, at the center of the world no less, there aren't at least a fairly decent supply of Ratfolk longing to make it big in the wider world?
Kobolds - The Pathfinders have dealt with them before, they've got plenty of flavor support from the campaign setting, and have several unique and fun-looking options to play with. Plus they are so blooming cute when they start bragging about being scions of the dragons.
Vanara - Tengu, Kitsune, Nagaji, Wayang, you're throwing a lot of love on East Asian mythos, how about something from India? We lost the Garuda-Aasimar and Asura/Rakshasa tieflings as open options, let's not shut out an entire sub-continent of inspiration.
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Samsarans and Vishkanya both seem like fair choices. I'd also like to be able to more freely place with/as Dhampirs and the elemental races, although on the other hand, I also understand why you'd want to keep a lid on their numbers.
May I suggest a way for people to play such characters that's easier to access than Race Boons, but not as easy as making them freely playable? How about a kind of lottery? Once every year, players interested in making characters of certain races may register on here for a chance to receive a free Race Boon of that race, and somewhere between 10-25% of entrants (this would be done separately for each race up for the lottery) would be selected to get it. There could also be cap on how many Race Boons an individual could achieve this way in a given year (1-3, lower if the chance for winning is higher?).
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I dont care whether they are scaly or mostly human looking: I like the diversity in character concepts more races encourage.
I think actually that it discourages unique character concepts or is neutral. I say this as a player who has sat down w/5 different versions of iffrit sorcerers who are "unique".
And I suspect many people are making these types of characters instead of taking a few moments to think how to make their core race character memorable (or their boon character).
And, yeah, I know the latter is harder so please don't take this as a put down. Just think a little more on how to make yourself interesting and don't make the mistake of thinking the boon does that for you.
Take care,
Kerney
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They suggested some sort of lottery system a few years ago, people that currently have access to the boons complained.
I was thinking it would only be a subset of existing races that they'd be putting up for lottery, though - most non-core races would still require a boon, but a small subset could be available through lottery, so you'd have 3 tiers of race accessibility rather than 2.
Also, heck, you could give the Johnny-come-earlies an extra boon for having the old boon from when it was necessary (something that added on to something appropriate to the spirit of that race), or allow them to trade them in for a semirandom alternative.
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They suggested some sort of lottery system a few years ago, people that currently have access to the boons complained.
It wasn't (just) the people who had access to boons that complained, there were enough people on all sides naysaying it ("Boohoo freakshow" and "boohoo random isn't fair") that caused management to give up. Because it's really hard to do nice things for us, no matter what they try to do for us, an extremely vocal group of people will try to tear it down.
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They suggested some sort of lottery system a few years ago, people that currently have access to the boons complained.It wasn't (just) the people who had access to boons that complained, there were enough people on all sides naysaying it ("Boohoo freakshow" and "boohoo random isn't fair") that caused management to give up. Because it's really hard to do nice things for us, no matter what they try to do for us, an extremely vocal group of people will try to tear it down.
The solution, then, would be for everyone else to be vocal, wouldn't it? The world is run by those who show up.
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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I think the most obvious one (and the one that would give the players the most new options out of the gate) would be to add Skinwalkers. My list of wants would be as follows:
SKinwalkers
Changelings
Vanara
Triaxians (this one would actually make sense for season 7 thanks to the events of season 6 being closely tied to space)
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I dont care whether they are scaly or mostly human looking: I like the diversity in character concepts more races encourage.I think actually that it discourages unique character concepts or is neutral. I say this as a player who has sat down w/5 different versions of iffrit sorcerers who are "unique".
And I suspect many people are making these types of characters instead of taking a few moments to think how to make their core race character memorable (or their boon character).
And, yeah, I know the latter is harder so please don't take this as a put down. Just think a little more on how to make yourself interesting and don't make the mistake of thinking the boon does that for you.
Take care,
Kerney
I'm not suggesting that merely using a race boon makes your character more interesting. Having more options for races allows you to make interesting characters you otherwise couldn't. I know someone that has a nagaji oil salesman, for example (he even made it back when nagaji required a boon). I would have never made my character that is basically a Golarionized Cobra Commander without access to nagaji.
Part of PFS is trying to make it so a table of people you don't know can "get" your character as quickly as possible so they feel comfortable approaching RP with them, and a race that tightly fits the concept can make that much easier.
Yah, Skinwalkers. Definitely.
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Then again, since my current PFS characters are Human, Human, Human, Human, Human, Human, Tiefling, Human, Human and Human...I'm not sure I am the best person to be giving suggestions on additional races.
Maybe you are EXACTLY the person to be giving suggestions. Since none of the current options have appealed to you as much, you can comment upon what would grab your interest :)
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Then again, since my current PFS characters are Human, Human, Human, Human, Human, Human, Tiefling, Human, Human and Human...I'm not sure I am the best person to be giving suggestions on additional races.Maybe you are EXACTLY the person to be giving suggestions. Since none of the current options have appealed to you as much, you can comment upon what would grab your interest :)
Agreed.
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Do people not have home campaigns? What makes these races interesting to the in PFS campaign?
To the question though. Gillfolk & strix have the unique flavor for Golorian, so they would be my wish list for PFS (& yes I saw Mike's post). I don't want to play one, but goblin and kobold are another 'cool Golarion flavor' Other races with 'cool Golarion flavor' I would like to play (& have had a past with the Society) are centaurs, minotaurs, & the charau-ku.*
As a herper I would like to try lizard folk, grippli, and even Kappa (I did build a nagaji). Kobolds fall into this same category.
If I were to design a playable version, a boon would be a good place to do so. It could have the starting level stats directly on it. As a designer I would consider other limits such as requiring these as 15 point characters, or '[core/archer/druid] only' classes. Maybe include some of their later cool racial things as feat options. The "7th level advancement" from the animal companions might be 'instead of a class level choose the following [racial level] any level after 7th.' I would probably put something on it that says this boon must be the first chronicle on the character. The next 3X chronicles must be GM credit.' But I am not a designer.
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Do people not have home campaigns? What makes these races interesting to the in PFS campaign?
I have been playing in home games since around 1980. The home game I had in middle school, and the home game I'm playing in right now are the only two in that whole 35-year span that are more permissive than PFS.
I hear PFS players often say, "Just play in a home game." But I've had to work very hard to organize my current home game. Half of the players are friends I met through PFS. And we use PFS as a model for permissiveness for our games.
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If it were up to me (and it's not, and I'm always in the minority in these threads) - not only would I not add another race, but I'd get rid of kitsune and wayang.
If another race just has to be added, I'd like something that ties into season seven.
It there's not a plot-related race out there, and something has to be added, then a race where really cool minis are available.
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Personally, I'd rather see it taken back to core races only.
I joined PFS at the start of Season 4, the first Season that opened up non-Core races as always available. It was a strong pull for me, and my first 3 characters were Tengu, Tiefling, Aasimar (and it's why my Avatar is still this Kenku figurine). I think it's good for the Campaign to offer something different to cater to people that've only ever known Core races.
Whatever the decision ends up being for Season 7, I'd appreciate it if Tengu remained on the list. I was tickled after hearing they were staying into Season 6.
I think offering 3 non-Core races a Season is a good number. My wishlist would be Tengu plus a new selection of 2 races every year. It'd generate excitement for what the upcoming Seasons could bring. And if those 2 new races could be inspired from the previous Season it would give good context for why we started accepting them as Pathfinders.
And, OMGosh, after reading Mike's comment about Gillmen, I really hope they're being opened as a Boon Race. I made my Undine as aquatic as possible and roleplay him as an underwater salvage specialist, a niche job as far as Pathfinders are concerned.
TL;DR But, anywhom, "Tengu + 2" is my wishlist!
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Dont know if I've stated this before but I believe Skinwalkers should be a boon one season. Each boon for a specific type of Skinwalker. there are 8 types in the Blood of Moon. Bat, Bear, Boar, Croc, Rat, Shark, Tiger, and Wolf. Since Paizo seems to do this "GM Con race boon reward" changing every quarter for the elementals. Do the same with the Skinwalkers. First Quarter Bats and Wolfs. Second Quarter Bear and Tiger
Obviously you dont have to follow that format of release. Heck you could release 4 of them per season. Its Cool you made it a Charity boon but that lucky... had the option to make any of these or just the plain and simple one. So this rescrition helps justify the release of the rest. Plus my heart was broken when I saw skinwalker as a Charity Boon.
Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Martinsville
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Another vote for Kobolds. They have been working with the PF Society since season three, I would think some would be getting into the field.
I also would like to see the Changling. The mismatched eyes are so cool.
I would want the Tengu to be around as a regular choice for a while more, though the Way Yang has always confused me.
The Kitsune are multiplying, we are getting foxed in!! Wouldn't mind them trading out for another this season.
The Catfolk is a want for me, but I had my own cat races (Gatius) when I ran in 2nd edition, with two varients that were exotic (Seimiese cats) and half race like (Calaco). I forget what I called the other two, but it was simular to Seimese and Calaco.
Disappointing that the Goblin won't be around, except for the boon that was supposed to be mine except for DM scoring on wrong tier.
I would hope the Kasatha would not be considered, as the four armed menace would have characters trying to double wield two handed weapons. *shiver* How would flurry work?
oh, and again
Peace!!
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To back up for a minute: while I see there's lots of interest for access to new races, I think that removing races from the list is problematic, because it encourages the "race to second level". This makes (some) people feel that they have to do things like the infamous "planetouched marathon" to legally keep the race they want, burning X scenarios as quickly as possible just to make a deadline.
So, I pose the question: Is it necessary to remove old races to make room for new ones? In my experience, there is a certain (large?) subset of players who want to play the exotic races, but that is based on the player, not the number of exotic races available. Giving those players more choices doesn't necessarily make them take up more space at your table or increase the Star Wars Cantina feel.
Either way, I would love if the process for removing races didn't encourage players to burn through scenarios quickly just to get a race, whether it's an announced deadline like aasimar/tiefling or an assumed one like PaizonCon.