| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
So I have been seeing others take a crack at making Mass Effect and Star Trek Races, so I thought why not take a shot at it.
My first entry for the Tau Empire in Service to The Greater Good.
Tau Fire Warrior
+2 Str, +2 Con, -2 Cha
6 HP
Fire Caste Tau are Medium Humanoids with the Tau Subtype
Fire Caste Warriors: due to their life long training, Fire Caste Warriors receive a +1 racial bonus to EAC/KAC when wearing Light, Heavy, or Power Armor.
For the Greater Good: Their belief in “The Greater Good” inspires Tau with a sense of purpose. +2 racial bonus vs Fear effects
Low-Light Vision. The Tau homeworld is a warm, dry, and arid planet. As such the Tau prefer the night to the day and their vision has adapted because of this. Tau can see in dim light as if it were normal light. See Vision on page 261.
Olfactory Chasm: The Tau sense of smell is vastly superior compared to other humanoid races. Gain the Scent ability.
I realize that they are very similar to the Vesk, but since the Fire Caste are the warriors and each caste is going to be from each other I think this makes sense.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Tau Air Caste
+2 Dex, +2 Int, -2 Str
2 HP
Air Caste Tau are Medium Humanoids with the Tau Subtype
Air Caste Pilots: A lifetime living around starships grants members of the Air Caste a +2 Racial bonus to Engineering and Piloting Checks.
For the Greater Good: Their belief in “The Greater Good” inspires Tau with a sense of purpose. +2 racial bonus vs Fear effects
Low-Light Vision. The Tau homeworld is a warm, dry, and arid planet. As such the Tau prefer the night to the day and their vision has adapted because of this. Tau can see in dim light as if it were normal light. See Vision on page 261.
Olfactory Chasm: The Tau sense of smell is vastly superior compared to other humanoid races. Gain the Scent ability.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Tau Earth Caste
+2 Int, +2 Wis, -2 Cha
4 HP
Earth Caste Tau are Medium Humanoids with the Tau Subtype
Earth Caste Builders: A lifetime studying and building things gives Earth Caste Tau a +2 racial bonus on two Intelligence based skill checks chosen at character creation. Once selected these choices can not be changed.
For the Greater Good: Their belief in “The Greater Good” inspires Tau with a sense of purpose. +2 racial bonus vs Fear effects
Low-Light Vision. The Tau homeworld is a warm, dry, and arid planet. As such the Tau prefer the night to the day and their vision has adapted because of this. Tau can see in dim light as if it were normal light. See Vision on page 261.
Olfactory Chasm: The Tau sense of smell is vastly superior compared to other humanoid races. Gain the Scent ability.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Tau Ethereal Caste
+2 Wis, +2 Cha, -2 Dex
4 HP
Ethereal Caste Tau are Medium Humanoids with the Tau Subtype
Ethereal Caste Leaders: As the spiritual leaders of the Tau people and the Tau Empire, those of the Ethereal Caste gain a +2 to Culture and Diplomacy checks.
For the Greater Good: Their belief in “The Greater Good” inspires Tau with a sense of purpose. +2 racial bonus vs Fear effects
Low-Light Vision. The Tau homeworld is a warm, dry, and arid planet. As such the Tau prefer the night to the day and their vision has adapted because of this. Tau can see in dim light as if it were normal light. See Vision on page 261.
Olfactory Chasm: The Tau sense of smell is vastly superior compared to other humanoid races. Gain the Scent ability.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Tau Water Caste
+2 Int,+2 Cha, -2 Str
2 HP
Water Caste Tau are Medium Humanoids with the Tau Subtype
Water Caste Diplomates:- A lifetime of making deals grants a Water Caste Tau +2 racial bonus on Diplomacy and Sense Motive Checks
For the Greater Good: Their belief in “The Greater Good” inspires Tau with a sense of purpose. +2 racial bonus vs Fear effects
Low-Light Vision. The Tau homeworld is a warm, dry, and arid planet. As such the Tau prefer the night to the day and their vision has adapted because of this. Tau can see in dim light as if it were normal light. See Vision on page 261.
Olfactory Chasm: The Tau sense of smell is vastly superior compared to other humanoid races. Gain the Scent ability.
No no game needs tau not even 40k tau are an easy button top tier waac army and lol no +2 str lol no at least be accurate all tau have at least -2 str and start with a 8 in str rember astra militarum infantry beat them in melee try not to overclock an overclocked raceSo I have been seeing others take a crack at making Mass Effect and Star Trek Races, so I thought why not take a shot at it.
My first entry for the Tau Empire in Service to The Greater Good.
Tau Fire Warrior
+2 Str, +2 Con, -2 Cha
6 HP
Fire Caste Tau are Medium Humanoids with the Tau SubtypeFire Caste Warriors: due to their life long training, Fire Caste Warriors receive a +1 racial bonus to EAC/KAC when wearing Light, Heavy, or Power Armor.
For the Greater Good: Their belief in “The Greater Good” inspires Tau with a sense of purpose. +2 racial bonus vs Fear effects
Low-Light Vision. The Tau homeworld is a warm, dry, and arid planet. As such the Tau prefer the night to the day and their vision has adapted because of this. Tau can see in dim light as if it were normal light. See Vision on page 261.
Olfactory Chasm: The Tau sense of smell is vastly superior compared to other humanoid races. Gain the Scent ability.
I realize that they are very similar to the Vesk, but since the Fire Caste are the warriors and each caste is going to be from each other I think this makes sense.
The tau loose in hand in hand combat because they are not TRAINED in hand to hand combat, considering hand to hand combat to be savage. The Tau fire warrior is stronger than the average tau, and they are not significantly weaker than a human. The imperial guard just train in hand to hand combat more than the Tau do, so they are better at it.
The Tau as a whole are not appreciably stronger or tougher than a comparably fit human.
They have some advantages in that: they have precise long range vision (although their eyes focus slowly), they are digitigrade, and the fact that they are possibly even more eusocial than humans.
I definitely don't see +2 str and con. Best I could see is the fire warriors not having a penalty to those two and should get the +2 dex.
Really most of the tau advantage is in their tech.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I would suggest using the opportunities that Themes present to make the Tau.
Tau racially are +2 Dex (no negs) with a bonus to perception checks at distance to represent their keen eyes, low-light vision, and other common traits.
Then use the Themes to represent Air, Fire, Earth, Water and Ethereal Castes. Each would have the associated ability bonus (Dex for Air, Con for Fire, Int for Earth, Cha for Water, and Wis for Ethereal). You then have their leveling abilities represent the skill bonuses you listed.
This creates the race and represents the choosing, without needing to over complicate the racial aspect.
I thought it was the tau's tech that improved their vision so much?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Caste based themes make sense for Tau, that's a good idea.
Regarding the vision, in the 3e codex at least, I think, they have sharper long range vision, but their eyes adjust to distance changes slower that a human.
The other option I can see would be to set the tau up like the lashunta. They get a +2 dex, amd then each cast gets an additional good and bad stat, amd a different skill bonus
Fire: +Con, -wis, perception or piloting
Earth: +int, -2, engineering
Water: +cha, str, culture
Air: +dex(+4 total), -Str, acrobatics or piloting
I personally do not want to create a bunch of specific Tau Themes for the Tau, rather I am trying to make these viable race options that I could offer to players or us as a Game Master.
One issue that was brought up was the Fire Caste +str bonus. So how about just changing the bonus to +2dex/con, -2 Cha, +6 HP ? This still makes them the toughest out of the Tau but they are not noticeably stronger than any other race.
Hmm the way I would do it and this is just me +2 dex if not human +2 to attribute of choice. (they have alot in common with humans if you take away the blue skin etc.) give them some advantage for surviving on desert like planets. I like the for the greater good ability
fire as mercenary replace Grunt for the fire caste ability.
air as ace pilot
earth as scholar
water Icon
I also don't see the +2Str
I mean...that is what they got the Kroot for...
+2 Dex, +2 Con, -2 Cha
6 HP
Fire Caste Tau are Medium Humanoids with the Tau Subtype
Fire Caste Warriors: due to their life long training, Fire Caste Warriors receive a +1 racial bonus to EAC/KAC when wearing Light, Heavy, or Power Armor.
For the Greater Good: Their belief in “The Greater Good” inspires Tau with a sense of purpose. +2 racial bonus vs Fear effects
Low-Light Vision. The Tau homeworld is a warm, dry, and arid planet. As such the Tau prefer the night to the day and their vision has adapted because of this. Tau can see in dim light as if it were normal light. See Vision on page 261.
Olfactory Chasm: The Tau sense of smell is vastly superior compared to other humanoid races. Gain the Scent ability.
So Fire Warriors with a Dex instead of a Str Bonus, gotcha.
So, a quick idea of a Kroot warrior. Thoughts?
Kroot
Str+2, Con+2, Int-2: HP +6
Kroot are Medium Humanoids with the Kroot Subtype.
Shaping: The Kroot are a race that can consciously alter their own DNA. This allows a Kroot character to give themselves Biotech modifications without having to visit an official lab/doctor. Additionally, Adaptive Bio Chains for a Kroot do not have an additional 10% cost increase. [the character must still pay the actual credit cost for the modification, what actually happens to the credits is up to GM interpretation though.]
Wild Hunters: +2 Survival, +2 Perception, +2 Stealth, +2 Acrobatics
Eat Anything: +2 Fortitude Saves vs poison
I am open to ideas, not that thrilled with this interpretation of a Kroot.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
So with the release of Alien Archive, I have attempted to create a Tau Fire Warrior using the Alien Archive Rules. This is my first attempt at creating anything using the guidelines in Alien Archive. Thoughts?
Tau Fire Caste Graft: Low Light Vision, Fearless, Survival and Perception are Good Skills, gain Armor Savant
Fire Warrior CR 3
XP 800
Tau (Fire Caste)
LN Medium Humanoid (Tau Fire Caste)
Init:+4 Senses: Low-Light Vision; Perception: +8
HP: 40
EAC:19
KAC:20
Fort: +6 Ref:+5 Will:+4[+6 Fear]
Speed: 25ft
Melee: +4 [Knife, Survival ]1d4+4 S
Ranged: +7 [Pulse Rifle] 1d6+3 F, Burn1d6, Automatic
Special Abilities:[1-Armored Advantage(Gear Boost)], [2-Far Shot(Feat)]
Str+1 Dex+4 Con+3 Int-1 Wis+0 Cha+0
Skills: Acrobatics+13 Athletics+8 Medicine+8, Perception+8, Survival+8
Languages: T’au
Gear: Tau Combat Armor, Pulse Rifle, Flash Grenade I, batteries[2], medpatch
Enviroment: Any (T’au Empire)
Organization: Fire Team (6-12),
Pulse Rifle
Level 3: Price(1,180)-1d6-60ft-burn1d6-20Charges-Usage(1)-Bulk(1)-Automatic
Combat Armor
Level 3: Price 2,000: EAC+4/KAC+4/MaxDex+4/Penalty-1/Speed-5ft/Upgrade Slots 1/Bulk3
Looks a lot better.