Rethinking Fantasy Races - Slaughtering Your Sacred Minotaurs
So I realize that I've been mostly focusing on the higher profile races. I think it's time to start pushing into deeper waters. So today, I'm gonna be working on one of my favorite races. Kobolds.
Step 1: Concept
Pathfinder kobolds are, for some reason, just not as engaging for me as D&D kobolds. Maybe it's because Pathfinder goblins are the way they are. I don't know. At any rate, I'd like to really hit that "Tucker's Kobolds" feel from the ground up while giving them a bit more heft. Still weak and scrappy, but also not a fucking handicap.
Step 2: Racial Qualities
TYPE - Humanoid (reptilian). Yeah, I'm gonna stick with the draconic/reptilian origins here. I was thinking of maybe playing around in the rat and/or dog origins, but I'm probably gonna just keep with simplicity.
SIZE - Small
SPEED - I like them speedy. Normal speed here.
ABILITIES - The standard +2 Dexterity, –4 Strength, and –2 Constitution will simply not fly here. +2 Dex, -2 Str, sure. As for the mental bonus, I'm thinking Int. Crafty little bastards.
LANGUAGES - Xenophobic works here. Automatic Draconic. Bonus...let's say Common, Gnome, Sign Language, and Undercommon. I like giving Sign Language out. A cowardly race being able to communicate in silence? Totally on point.
Step 3: Racial Traits
Alright, let's see what kobolds typically get here...
Natural Armor (2 RP) - Absolutely.
Crafty - Wow, the race builder points went crazy here. Like, a +2 to three different skills and two skills as permanent class skills for 3 points total? Like...super inconsistent. So let's break this down and look at it again.
Skill Training (1 RP) - Craft (trapmaking) and Stealth as permanent class skills
Skill Bonus (6 RP) - +2 Craft (trapmaking), Perception, Profession (miner)
Darkvision (2 RP) - Word.
Light Sensitivity (-1 RP) - Works.
So, we're looking at 10 points right there. Let's look at alternates.
Dragon Affinity (1 RP) - Really cool.
Dragonmaw (2 RP) - Also really cool.
Dragon-Scaled (1 RP) - Energy resistance works for me.
Shoulder to Shoulder (3? 7? Who knows?) - I love racial traits like this. ^_^
Wyrmcrowned (Same as above. Probably 3.) - This is pretty neat too.
Man, these traits are really making me want to play up the "tiny dragon" angle. Let's see what we can do. Also, I want to give them a claw/claw/bite routine.
KOBOLD
Type - Humanoid (reptilian) 0 RP
Size - Small 0 RP
Base Speed - Normal 0 RP
Ability Score Modifiers - Standard (+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, -2 Strength) 0 RP
Languages - Xenophobic 0 RP
Racial Traits
Defense Racial Traits
Natural Armor 2 RP
Dragon-Scaled 1 RP
Shoulder to Shoulder 3 RP
Feat and Skill Racial Traits
Skill Bonus (Craft (trapmaking), Perception, Profession (miner)) 6 RP
Skill Training 1 RP
Wyrmcrowned 3 RP
Magical Racial Traits
Dragon Affinity 1 RP
Offense Racial Traits
Claws 2 RP
Dragonmaw 2 RP
Senses Racial Traits
Darkvision 2 RP
Weakness Racial Traits
Light Sensitivity -1 RP
So...22 points total. We can cut the Perception bonus and Skill Training. That gets us to 19. Dragon Affinity needs to be an alternate because it's useless to non-sorcerers, so that'll drop us to 18. And we'll make Wyrmcrowned an alternate as well, to get us to our desired goal of 15.
Which shapes us up into...
Kobold Standard Racial Traits
Ability Score Racial Traits: Kobolds are quick and clever, but their slight builds make them less powerful. They gain +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, and -2 Strength.
Type: Kobolds are Humanoids with the reptilian subtype.
Base Speed: Kobolds have a base speed of 30 feet.
Languages: Kobolds begin play speaking Draconic. Kobolds with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Common, Gnome, Sign Language, and Undercommon. See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.
Defense Racial Traits
Dragon-Scaled: Kobolds gain energy resistance based on the color of their scales. Black-scaled and green-scaled kobolds gain acid resistance 5. Blue-scaled kobolds gain electricity resistance 5. Red-scaled kobolds gain fire resistance 5. White-scaled kobolds gain cold resistance 5.
Natural Armor: Kobolds naturally scaly skin grants them a +1 natural armor bonus.
Shoulder to Shoulder: A kobold can occupy the same space as one other Small ally without penalty. If you share a space with another kobold, you each gain a +1 circumstance bonus to AC, as you help jostle one another out of the way of incoming attacks. You also gain a +1 racial bonus on aid another rolls.
Feat and Skill Racial Traits
Crafty: Kobolds gain a +2 racial bonus on Craft (trapmaking) and Profession (miner) checks.
Offense Racial Traits
Claws: Kobolds receive two claw attacks that each deal 1d3 damage. These are primary natural attacks.
Dragonmaw: Kobolds gain a bite attack that deals 1d4 points of damage. Once per day, you can deal 1d6 points of additional energy damage with your bite attack. The damage type depends on your scale color: acid for black or green; electricity for blue; fire for red; cold for white.
Senses Racial Traits
Darkvision: Kobolds can see perfectly in the dark up to 60 feet.
Weakness Racial Traits
Light Sensitivity: Kobolds lives in darkness have caused them to suffer from light sensitivity.
Alternate Racial Traits
Dragon Affinity: Kobold sorcerers with the draconic bloodline or kobold bloodline treat their Charisma scores as 2 points higher for all sorcerer spells and class abilities. This racial trait replaces the natural armor trait.
Wyrmcrowned: Your horns have grown to the extent that they appear similar to those of a dragon who shares your scale color, lending a draconic power or menace to your dealings with others. Choose either Diplomacy or Intimidate. You gain a +2 racial bonus on checks with that skill, and it is always a class skill for you. This racial trait replaces shoulder to shoulder.
Look at 'em. Tiny, angry, dragons. ^_^ Let me know what you think.
Until next time.
