Hello,
I have always wanted to make my own setting with my own set of races for my friends and I to choose from, but making a race that can be considered balanced is not easy for a beginner. I purchased the Race Creation Cookbook by Louis Porter Jr., but I am still unsure if what I have put together is balanced, as I have never really done this before. I asked about it on the Paizo facebook page, and they suggested I ask the forum on their website in case anyone has experience with this book.
The book suggests keeping a race in the 100-120 point range for balance, and this adds up to 119, if I'm not mistaken (it is unclear if 30 ft movement on land is already factored in and can then be increased or decreased based on points, or if you have to actually spend points on the ability to walk as well...)
Here is what I have so far. I am hoping someone can take a look and tell me if this seems balanced enough?
Ability Score Modifiers
+2 Constitution, +2 Charisma, -2 Wisdom.
Racial Features:
Climb: They have a climb speed of 10 feet. They are cave dwellers are used to climbing structures of all kinds in their every day lives.
Echolocation: This race can see in the dark up to 90 feet using echolocation. Their mind processes sounds in the surrounding area and translates them into images. While in the light, they have standard visual capabilities.
Skill Modifiers:
Due to their upbringing and day to day lives, they have developed skill capabilities as described:
Craft +4
Perform +4
Knowledge Dungeoneering +4
Appraise +4
Diplomacy +2
Heal +2
Intimidate +2
Sense Motive -2
Knowledge Nobility -2
Knowledge Local -2
* Echolocation was purchased as "tremor sense" and will function mostly the same way.
If anyone believes this is unbalanced, but can tell me how to make adjustments to balance them out, please do. I welcome all advice.
Thank you.
ThatChunkyGuy wrote: Hello,
I have always wanted to make my own setting with my own set of races for my friends and I to choose from, but making a race that can be considered balanced is not easy for a beginner. I purchased the Race Creation Cookbook by Louis Porter Jr., but I am still unsure if what I have put together is balanced, as I have never really done this before. I asked about it on the Paizo facebook page, and they suggested I ask the forum on their website in case anyone has experience with this book.
The book suggests keeping a race in the 100-120 point range for balance, and this adds up to 119, if I'm not mistaken (it is unclear if 30 ft movement on land is already factored in and can then be increased or decreased based on points, or if you have to actually spend points on the ability to walk as well...)
Here is what I have so far. I am hoping someone can take a look and tell me if this seems balanced enough?
Ability Score Modifiers
+2 Constitution, +2 Charisma, -2 Wisdom.
Racial Features:
Climb: They have a climb speed of 10 feet. They are cave dwellers are used to climbing structures of all kinds in their every day lives.
Echolocation: This race can see in the dark up to 90 feet using echolocation. Their mind processes sounds in the surrounding area and translates them into images. While in the light, they have standard visual capabilities.
Skill Modifiers:
Due to their upbringing and day to day lives, they have developed skill capabilities as described:
Craft +4
Perform +4
Knowledge Dungeoneering +4
Appraise +4
Diplomacy +2
Heal +2
Intimidate +2
Sense Motive -2
Knowledge Nobility -2
Knowledge Local -2
* Echolocation was purchased as "tremor sense" and will function mostly the same way.
If anyone believes this is unbalanced, but can tell me how to make adjustments to balance them out, please do. I welcome all advice.
Thank you.
Just updating this. I have looked into the race points method of creating a race and the above example seems to be a little over powered, based on all of the skill bonuses. I have created an alternative for this race based on the rp system. I would still appreciate any input on both drafts.
Also, I would appreciate any and all advice on how to make a race in general. I would like to make this an interesting race, so I would appreciate even minor details on how to make a race interesting in any way (religion, alignment, etc.)
Humanoid - 0
Medium - 0
Normal Speed - 0 - 30 ft.
Ability Modifiers (Standard) - 0 - Con +2, Cha +2, Wis -2
Languages (Standard)- 0 - Common, Race Specific Language
Racial Traits
Movement - 2
Climb 20 feet
Feat And Skill - 6
Craftsman - 1 - (+2 all craft and profession when creating items from metal or stone)
Greed - 1 - (+2 Appraise checks for gems and precious metals)
Cave Dweller - 1 - (+1 Knowledge Dungeoneering and Survival checks made underground)
Skill Bonus - 2 - (+2 Perform Sing)
Weapon Familiarity - 1 - Heavy Pick, Light Hammer.
Senses Racial Traits - 2
Dark Vision 120 feet 3
Light Sensitivity -1
Total - 10
Also, in my experience with forums, it is usually preferred that instead of double posting, a user edits his previous post. I apologize in advance, I can't seem to find the edit function.
Thanks in advance!
Ah, the edit function is in the to bar with "26 minutes ago | FLAG | LIST | FAQ | REPLY" But, it's only available temporarily. After that you cannot edit it without 1) getting hired into Paizo and arranging to get forum administration privileges or 2) Hacking their servers. Since both are kinda involved, double posting is acceptable.
The revised mechanics of your race look good. Now you just need to come up with the fluff to work with them.
The lack of fluff really makes it hard to judge the race. It would be like if someone presented you a cake they had just baked and wanted you to tell them if it tasted good before they added the frosting. Yes the cake bit is good but it's still not a complete cake yet to evaluate.
It's important to think about WHY you need the race you are adding. There are A LOT of cave dwelling or underground races. The thing that I found surprising about your choice was the bonus to Charisma and Sing. This sounds like a friendly, good leaning race which isn't as common underground.
The Race Builder is frustrating because there's all these goodies and you can't pick all of them. what you can do, however, is keep a few in your mind as alternate class features or create/borrow race specific feats to add in more abilities you had to abandon during the editing process.
Awesome, thanks. It's really hard to balance everything and remain unbiased, or to prevent yourself from adding in things that may not fit the race's idea, theme and personality.
To elaborate, I have been working on the fluff, it's just incomplete.
In summary, they are cave dwellers with two important foundations in their culture: hard work and song. They work almost their entire lives, and some of them may not even see the sun. On average they probably work 16 hour days during the week, and their most commonly smiths and miners. Almost their entire economy is made up of profits that were a direct result of materials that mined and then turned into weapons, armor, etc. They have a rich musical culture, and that is their primary source of entertainment, social activities, etc. They almost never have time to part take in musical activities, but when they do, they cherish it, because it is important to them. Song to them is like sports, film (or song!) to us. They are very invested in their people. They live almost their entire lives underground with their townspeople and develop bonds as well as pride in their community, and in each other.
Even though they have a bonus to charisma, they are not attractive by human standards. They are pale and have facial traits similar to both bats and orcs. They are simply so sociable, and so talented in music, that their charisma is remarkable, even with their looks being less appealing.
I am still trying to flesh them out and make them more interesting. Hopefully in the coming weeks I will have an art rendition of one of their race. I was thinking the character example for the picture could be a bard, but my friend said bards are still very unpopular. Is that true?
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