Out of boredom...
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:25 pm
I'm going to post a bit off the cutting room floor from my own game. This is a race of winged elves basically. Originally, the plan was to have some areas accessible via flying, but now I don't feel like implementing it. It's extremely hard to balance in the combat mechanics when the players can simply fly up in the air and pelt the enemies with spells and arrows; using magic to recover lost stamina.
They've been relegated to back-story, with the possibility of a small part being added in just because I have them. This race isn't well developed, most of the rough ideas are sketched out, but I didn't bother with the detail after finding out that only my Dragon could consistently slaughter a party of them.
As an aside, don't go fighting a dragon and think that the bastard will be as easy as in Bard's Tale or DW. Mine can TPK a prepared party, no matter the level, in a couple rounds. She eats level 100 Crusaders for breakfast, with a side of Archmage for washing down the sharp metal bits.
In fact, any time you see any critter that normally would just be high level fodder, or at best a boss for a mid level party, just pray that I was nice and made it so the encounter could be talked through (I have). I hate weakling Dragons that can be one hitted, undead who are child's play, and orcs that are little more than fodder for Douglas Haig.
For a note, the Regen/Stam Regen is way too powerful. Everything runs off Stamina, so with such a high recharge rate, they were able to pull off some Dr Strange-esque feats. Health regen wasn't that bad, but it made healing useful only for restoring the odd lost limb or 2.
So the Stamina Regen was nixed entirely, it's now a very rare enchantment. No playable race lists either regen out of the box, though both should make it for custom races later. Flight and a couple of neat things planned for it also are kept, specifically for the Dragon, another NPR, and a few other things. Keep bows and spells with LOS ranges handy.
I'd add a poll, but I couldn't care less seeing as how this race isn't playable, and may not even find it's way into the finished product even as a side quest.
Aethini
Statistics
STR – 2 END + 2 WIS + 2 INT – 2 APP + 2 PER - 2
Special: Flight, Regen 3, Stamina Regen 8, Night Vision, Vision 4, +2 bonus using Aeromancy powers
Description
The Aethini are a race of winged fae, similar in appearance to the land bound Eethini and underground-dwelling Dethini. Despite their superficial similarities, the Aethini are not actually related to their grounded cousins.
As expected, they have the ability to fly. Their top speed is around 200 miles per hour in the air. On land, they move as a normal humanoid. They are more enduring and wise than most humanoids, but are physically weaker and less intelligent. Their graceful bodies and elegant wings give them an almost angelic appearance.
Hair color ranges from various shades of red and blond to a rare light brown. Eyes are green, with the rare silver or light blue. They tend to be somewhat short, ranging from 4'6” to 5'8” in height.
They also have a form of photosynthesis. The region in which the Aethini typically live is barren, high mountain tops. As such, they usually subsist on whatever small amounts of fruit and grain that they can harvest from the lower slopes. In addition, they gain energy from the sun itself. This results in both a rather rapid regeneration of stamina, as well as a mild health regeneration effect.
The wings have another, less helpful effect. They can only use specially made clothing and armor, designed to not restrict their wings' movement.
Culture
The Aethini have a generally little known culture. Their chosen geographic locations are difficult, at best, for most other races to even reach. They tend to live in natural caves, or under natural outcroppings. If they find a suitable location, they may build stone structures.
There is only one city of the Aethini, the location of which they keep a secret. Due to their nature, it is likely that no one but others able to fly could reach it anyway. Most of the race live there, with small villages scattered throughout other lands.
Most villages have 20-40 Aethini living there. Typically, it's populated by those who grew tired of the city life and desired a more simplistic lifestyle. The total population of the race is unknown, but doubtful that it exceeds over half a million at best.
The Aethini rarely reproduce, finding land and food a scarce resource at best. They tend to act in harmony with nature, not working metal or stone no more than needed. As the areas they are in have little wood, they do not practice woodcraft of any sort. Generally, they trade gems or ore for needed supplies and weapons. They are vegetarians to a fault, though that is more because they would need to be cannibals to eat meat most of the time than any other reason.
There are very few gender-defined roles in the Aethini society. As they exist in such small numbers, every member of the community is needed to do their utmost to keep everything in order.
In war, they employ hit and run tactics, relying upon their wings and dropped stones for the most part. They do employ bows when they are able to get them. With their excellent vision, both at night and during the day, they are extremely deadly when armed.
While very few practice the formalized school of wizardry, a number practice the sorcerous arts. As they are very much in tune with the air, they almost always have some skill in Aeromancy.
Generally they are quiet and reserved when dealing with others. Their isolated lives leave them unable to deal with the myriad of cultures and peoples that a wandering Aethini may encounter. However, their appearance almost makes up for their lack of social graces.
Religion
Aethini worship the Sun, as the source of their life. As they literally derive nourishment from it, this is understandable. In addition, they worship the two moons as the Lovers of the Sun.
Only males can be priests of the Sun. Only females can be priestesses of the two moons. This is about the extent of gender differentiation in the Aethini culture.
In addition, there is their born protector, a position passed from Father to Son within the Aethini Church. This protector is armed with a enchanted sword, and armored in specially crafted armor, that protects him while allowing for flight. While he tends to remain in their capitol, he will travel from village to village around once a year.
Government
The Aethini government is tri-cameral. All the houses come together to deal with issues affecting the society as a whole. Each house deals with it's own area of responsibility otherwise.
There is the Church, which selects a number of priests and priestesses to represent it's affairs as well as the spiritual needs of the people. This body never numbers more than 50, and has the High Priest of the Sun and the two High Priestesses of each Moon as tie breakers. Their funding comes from tithes levies by the church. They deal exlusively with religious matters.
There is the Defenders, the acting military council. They are selected by the Populace and the Church. The Holy Protector acts as tie breaker. There are 12 warriors selected for this council, and they all must have had prior military experience. They discuss matters of security, policing the population, and military training and doctrine. They get funding from the Populace's coffers.
Finally, there is the Populace, the representatives of the common population. They are elected by the population, 50 for the City itself, and 1 for each village that chooses to send one. They deal with any matter not covered by the other two houses, such as infrastructure and trade. They levy taxes to fund their activities, and request aid from the military council if they need assistance in enforcing these laws and taxes.
Essentially, only matters of war and international politics are discussed between the 3 houses.
They've been relegated to back-story, with the possibility of a small part being added in just because I have them. This race isn't well developed, most of the rough ideas are sketched out, but I didn't bother with the detail after finding out that only my Dragon could consistently slaughter a party of them.
As an aside, don't go fighting a dragon and think that the bastard will be as easy as in Bard's Tale or DW. Mine can TPK a prepared party, no matter the level, in a couple rounds. She eats level 100 Crusaders for breakfast, with a side of Archmage for washing down the sharp metal bits.
In fact, any time you see any critter that normally would just be high level fodder, or at best a boss for a mid level party, just pray that I was nice and made it so the encounter could be talked through (I have). I hate weakling Dragons that can be one hitted, undead who are child's play, and orcs that are little more than fodder for Douglas Haig.
For a note, the Regen/Stam Regen is way too powerful. Everything runs off Stamina, so with such a high recharge rate, they were able to pull off some Dr Strange-esque feats. Health regen wasn't that bad, but it made healing useful only for restoring the odd lost limb or 2.
So the Stamina Regen was nixed entirely, it's now a very rare enchantment. No playable race lists either regen out of the box, though both should make it for custom races later. Flight and a couple of neat things planned for it also are kept, specifically for the Dragon, another NPR, and a few other things. Keep bows and spells with LOS ranges handy.
I'd add a poll, but I couldn't care less seeing as how this race isn't playable, and may not even find it's way into the finished product even as a side quest.
Aethini
Statistics
STR – 2 END + 2 WIS + 2 INT – 2 APP + 2 PER - 2
Special: Flight, Regen 3, Stamina Regen 8, Night Vision, Vision 4, +2 bonus using Aeromancy powers
Description
The Aethini are a race of winged fae, similar in appearance to the land bound Eethini and underground-dwelling Dethini. Despite their superficial similarities, the Aethini are not actually related to their grounded cousins.
As expected, they have the ability to fly. Their top speed is around 200 miles per hour in the air. On land, they move as a normal humanoid. They are more enduring and wise than most humanoids, but are physically weaker and less intelligent. Their graceful bodies and elegant wings give them an almost angelic appearance.
Hair color ranges from various shades of red and blond to a rare light brown. Eyes are green, with the rare silver or light blue. They tend to be somewhat short, ranging from 4'6” to 5'8” in height.
They also have a form of photosynthesis. The region in which the Aethini typically live is barren, high mountain tops. As such, they usually subsist on whatever small amounts of fruit and grain that they can harvest from the lower slopes. In addition, they gain energy from the sun itself. This results in both a rather rapid regeneration of stamina, as well as a mild health regeneration effect.
The wings have another, less helpful effect. They can only use specially made clothing and armor, designed to not restrict their wings' movement.
Culture
The Aethini have a generally little known culture. Their chosen geographic locations are difficult, at best, for most other races to even reach. They tend to live in natural caves, or under natural outcroppings. If they find a suitable location, they may build stone structures.
There is only one city of the Aethini, the location of which they keep a secret. Due to their nature, it is likely that no one but others able to fly could reach it anyway. Most of the race live there, with small villages scattered throughout other lands.
Most villages have 20-40 Aethini living there. Typically, it's populated by those who grew tired of the city life and desired a more simplistic lifestyle. The total population of the race is unknown, but doubtful that it exceeds over half a million at best.
The Aethini rarely reproduce, finding land and food a scarce resource at best. They tend to act in harmony with nature, not working metal or stone no more than needed. As the areas they are in have little wood, they do not practice woodcraft of any sort. Generally, they trade gems or ore for needed supplies and weapons. They are vegetarians to a fault, though that is more because they would need to be cannibals to eat meat most of the time than any other reason.
There are very few gender-defined roles in the Aethini society. As they exist in such small numbers, every member of the community is needed to do their utmost to keep everything in order.
In war, they employ hit and run tactics, relying upon their wings and dropped stones for the most part. They do employ bows when they are able to get them. With their excellent vision, both at night and during the day, they are extremely deadly when armed.
While very few practice the formalized school of wizardry, a number practice the sorcerous arts. As they are very much in tune with the air, they almost always have some skill in Aeromancy.
Generally they are quiet and reserved when dealing with others. Their isolated lives leave them unable to deal with the myriad of cultures and peoples that a wandering Aethini may encounter. However, their appearance almost makes up for their lack of social graces.
Religion
Aethini worship the Sun, as the source of their life. As they literally derive nourishment from it, this is understandable. In addition, they worship the two moons as the Lovers of the Sun.
Only males can be priests of the Sun. Only females can be priestesses of the two moons. This is about the extent of gender differentiation in the Aethini culture.
In addition, there is their born protector, a position passed from Father to Son within the Aethini Church. This protector is armed with a enchanted sword, and armored in specially crafted armor, that protects him while allowing for flight. While he tends to remain in their capitol, he will travel from village to village around once a year.
Government
The Aethini government is tri-cameral. All the houses come together to deal with issues affecting the society as a whole. Each house deals with it's own area of responsibility otherwise.
There is the Church, which selects a number of priests and priestesses to represent it's affairs as well as the spiritual needs of the people. This body never numbers more than 50, and has the High Priest of the Sun and the two High Priestesses of each Moon as tie breakers. Their funding comes from tithes levies by the church. They deal exlusively with religious matters.
There is the Defenders, the acting military council. They are selected by the Populace and the Church. The Holy Protector acts as tie breaker. There are 12 warriors selected for this council, and they all must have had prior military experience. They discuss matters of security, policing the population, and military training and doctrine. They get funding from the Populace's coffers.
Finally, there is the Populace, the representatives of the common population. They are elected by the population, 50 for the City itself, and 1 for each village that chooses to send one. They deal with any matter not covered by the other two houses, such as infrastructure and trade. They levy taxes to fund their activities, and request aid from the military council if they need assistance in enforcing these laws and taxes.
Essentially, only matters of war and international politics are discussed between the 3 houses.