Author Topic: Gollwyd [Race]  (Read 3972 times)

Offline VennDygrem

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Gollwyd [Race]
« on: May 29, 2014, 11:26:04 PM »
Gollwyd

Gollwyd are relative newcomers to the art of necromantic magic, although that is only as practitioners. Once, they were one of the lesser peoples who populated the borders of the Hegni kingdom, and became the subject of the experiments conducted by their budding necromancers. But rather than afflict their people, as those experiments had done to so many others, they appeared to take favour upon them. Perhaps it was the hand of Lledrith at work, not wishing to put all of his new magic into a single basket, but for whatever reason, the Gollwyd grew in stature and personality over the many long years in the dark of Marleath, and are now vying with the Hegni for positions and power beneath the uncaring eye of Ve Angau.

Personality
A shrewd people, Gollwyd are used to analyzing the motives of other people and preparing for as many variables as possible. In the best of cases, the Gollwyd are manipulative and commanding, unafraid to take charge or impress their opinion upon others. In the worst cases, they are paranoid and obsessive, hesitant to leave a room until they have counted all of the buttons on all of the shirts of each occupant of the room. But whatever form their personality takes, they either strike fear or admiration into the hearts of those who gaze upon them, and are more than willing to take advantage of such a change.

Physical Description
Gollwyd share the same range of average height and physique as Hanians, with whom they might once have been kin, though they tend to be less hardy. Their skin is pale and cool to the touch, and though exceptionally smooth and flawless, seems to be drawn a little too tight for comfort. Their sharp, angular features do little to hide their opportunistic, predatory nature. Gollwyd tend to possess dark hair of brown or black, though some may be born with any hair color natural to Hanians. Likewise, a Gollwyd's eyes may be any color natural to Hanians, though in some cases red or solid white or black eyes have been observed. Some Gollwyd can pass for Hanian if they wish with little help.

Relations
Gollwyd are distrustful of the Hegni, though they often have to rely upon their cousins in necromancy to garner subjects to practice their Necromantic experiments upon; As such, they tend to find ways to charm and beguile those who might be of assistance, or if that fails they use simple diplomacy or bribery to get what they want. Unlike the Hegni, the Gollwyd tend to look upon the Boncyff with some friendship, recognizing that they are more than just the dumb brutes that the Hegni generally treat them as. As for the Casglwyr, much as the Gollwyd will make use of their talents towards vivisection, they otherwise regard them as warily as the Hegni do. They do not have relations with other races, as such, and any Gollwyd on the surface is almost certainly goinng to be treated as a Hanian.

Religion
As with their cousins in necromancy, the Gollwyd are devoted to the worship of Lledrith. Perhaps more so, as he raised them out of slavery and into a position of prominence within the lands of Marleath. Unlike the Hegni, they do not bare a particular hatred to Drancedigaeth, being able to understand his revilement at the practice of necromancy. Being somewhat more open in religious practices than the others in Marleath, they find time for each of the gods in turn, although Awyr Leuad is all but ignored, for the heavens do not exist in Marleath.

Language
Gollwyd speak Marletan, and have little to no cause to learn any other.

Adventurers
Undead minions don't grow on trees, though they can often be found rooted in the ground. The most powerful undead companions are forged far from civilization, and the darkest magic is usually hidden in the depths of the hidden places of the world. Gollwyd adventurers go out to seek ever greater ways to further their goals, no matter what they may be. They will plant themselves within a group of other adventurers so that the seeds of their deceptions can grow strong over a longer period of time, as the undead are not the only unwitting minions that can be useful.

Gollwyd Racial Traits
  • -2 Constitution, +2 Charisma: Gollwyd are not the hardiest of the races, given their connection to the undead, but they more than make up for it with a canny ability for both deception and leadership alike.
  • Medium: As Medium creatures, Gollwyd have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
  • Gollwyd base land speed is 30 feet.
  • Low-light vision: While Gollwyd cannot see in the dark as the Undead can, they have enhanced vision that allows them to see twice as far as a human in conditions of dim light.
  • Unnatural Presence (Su): Animals, whether wild or domesticated, can sense the unnatural presence of a Gollwyd at a distance of 30 feet. They will not willingly approach nearer than that and panic if forced to do so; they remain panicked as long as they are within that range. The animal can make a Will save (DC of 10 + ½ your HD + your Charisma modifier) to resist the effect. Gollwyd cannot gain the service of an Animal Companion (such as that granted by the Totem Companion feat) unless the creature has a Type other than Animal, such as through an alternate class feature or feat.
  • Perverted Life: Due to their link to the negative energy that powers Necromantic magic, Gollwyd take a -1 penalty per die of hit points healed by positive energy effects (to a minimum of 1 hit point restored), such as most effects that heal hit point damage. However, they are healed by negative energy at a rate of 1 hit point for every 3 points of damage they would otherwise take. This does not grant immunity to Energy Drain effects or Death effects.
  • Leader's Charm (Su): Given their natural (and unnatural) charisma, Gollwyd make excellent leaders and can bolster their allies with their very presence. Allies within 30 feet of the Gollwyd receive a +1 bonus on Fortitude, Reflex, or Will saves. The Gollwyd can change which save receives the bonus as a move action.
  • Wary: Gollwyd are naturally suspicious of creatures they come across. You gain a +2 racial bonus on Sense Motive checks, and take a -2 penalty on Diplomacy checks.
  • Automatic Languages: Marletan. Bonus Languages: Any
  • Favored Class: Overlord
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« Last Edit: July 02, 2015, 09:24:14 AM by Stratovarius »

Offline VennDygrem

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Re: Gollwyd [Race]
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2014, 11:26:46 PM »
Proposed Gollwyd Racial feats:

Bold Charm
Prerequisite: Gollwyd race
Benefit: The penalty and bonus imposed by your Leader's Charm improves to ½ your Charisma modifier, rounded down. In addition, you no longer take a penalty to Diplomacy checks from your Wary racial trait.

Fascinating Presence
Prerequisite: Gollwyd race
Benefit: A number of times per day equal to your Charisma modifier, you may take a Full-round action to capture creatures within your Unnatural Presence in rapt attention. On a failed Will save, the target becomes fascinated. This effect lasts for 1 minute, or until you or an ally breaks the fascination. The DC against this effect is 10 + ½ your HD + your Charisma modifier.

Pack Presence
Prerequisite: Gollwyd race
Benefit: While within range of your Leader's Charm, your allies use the higher of your Charisma modifier or their own on all Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate skill checks.
« Last Edit: July 02, 2015, 06:57:07 PM by VennDygrem »

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Gollwyd [Race]
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2014, 07:25:52 AM »
Hypnotic Charm doesn't really make sense. What does "Each creature may only be affected once by this ability at any time." even mean?

Given he's an overlord class, I might just do this:
Leader's Charm (Su): Gollwyd are, despite some of their unusual characteristics, powerful leaders, able to bolster their allies with their very presence. Allies within 30 feet of the Gollwyd receive a +1 bonus on Fort, Reflex, or Will saves. The Gollwyd can change which save receives the bonus as a move action.

Either that or just go back towards having the Fascinating Presence as the racial ability.

Offline VennDygrem

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Re: Gollwyd [Race]
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2014, 08:33:55 AM »
It meant that you can't stack the bonuses all onto one ally, and enemies can't take the penalty more than once if they move into and out of range again. The ability was meant to be almost exactly what you proposed before.

Leader's Charm works just as well, though. I think leaving Fascinating presence as the feat will work out better in the interest of keeping things balanced, but if you think it's better to swap it back in, I can do that as well.

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Gollwyd [Race]
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2014, 08:38:05 AM »
That first case can't happen anyway - same source stacking rules, etc. That was why it threw me.

Whichever one you don't end up choosing should probably just be converted into a racial feat. Always nice to have benefits like that lying around.

Offline VennDygrem

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Re: Gollwyd [Race]
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2014, 08:44:14 AM »
Changed to Leader's Charm, and subsequently removed the line about Hypnotic Charm from the Fascinating Charm feat's text.

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Gollwyd [Race]
« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2014, 02:12:18 AM »
Alright. Should I snag all of the feats from the races and drop them into the feat post?

Offline VennDygrem

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Re: Gollwyd [Race]
« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2014, 11:05:07 AM »
Go ahead. Add any you think are ready,  add your own,  etc. More are coming in the future.

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Gollwyd [Race]
« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2015, 09:26:02 AM »
Updated the Gollwyd flavour.

Pack Presence
Prerequisite: Gollwyd race
Benefit: While within range of your Unnatural Presence, your allies use the higher of your Charisma modifier or their own on all Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate skill checks.

Why doesn't this feat hinge off of Leader's Charm instead of Unnatural Presence.

Also, what would you think of a feat that allowed Unnatural Presence (when desired by the Gollwyd) affect all living creatures, not just animals?

Offline VennDygrem

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Re: Gollwyd [Race]
« Reply #9 on: July 02, 2015, 07:03:48 PM »
Updated the Gollwyd flavour.

Pack Presence
Prerequisite: Gollwyd race
Benefit: While within range of your Unnatural Presence, your allies use the higher of your Charisma modifier or their own on all Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate skill checks.

Why doesn't this feat hinge off of Leader's Charm instead of Unnatural Presence.

Also, what would you think of a feat that allowed Unnatural Presence (when desired by the Gollwyd) affect all living creatures, not just animals?

Whoops, that was certainly the intent. Probably hold-over from too many revisions to the race's abilities.

As for the new feat idea, that sounds like relatively fair, though it will often mean a huge amount of extra rolls for the DM over the course of the campaign. I'm sure there's a way to balance it, though.
The basic inspiration for the race was Vampires, and that should be fairly evident in both the race's fluff and mechanical attributes (just as Boncyff take inspiration from skeleton and zombie creatures, and Hegni take inspiration from ghosts). There are probably plenty of ways to push this subtle relation through feats, though as an Overlord class, I'm sure it's likely that the feats should play into that connection as well, rather than just giving them more vampiric traits since they are not actually vampires.

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Gollwyd [Race]
« Reply #10 on: July 02, 2015, 07:52:49 PM »
Not a worry, I figured that was the intent and it was an editing error. Since the range is the same, it doesn't actually change anything.

Could have the new feat limited by Charisma mod/day or can only affect Charisma mod # of targets in a day - either one would cut the rolls down a fair bit.

There's always the possibility of coming up with those three level racial PrCs that emphasize what they are meant to be. I'd be more than happy to help you with them. :P