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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
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Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore
1078 Posts |
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Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore
1078 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2019 : 02:20:43
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Shadow-Kith
Shadow-Kith are strictly Shadar-Kai that have risen above the standard, common expectations of their race. As Shadow Elves, they were exploited and enslaved by the Shadovar, and understand their history and patronage in the elven pantheon. As Shadow-Kith they know they are chosen for something more powerful and important. Most Shadow-Kith are loyal to The Raven Queen, and that is the typical way to become a Shadow-Kith. Though there are several ways to become a Shadow-Kith, this is the most common. Other ways are more complicated involving the elven god Erevan Ilesere, but that option is very rare and almost always rejected by the trickster god.
Most Shadow-Kith are powerful shadow elves that pledge to defend and promote the cause of the Shadar-Kai. To become a Shadow-Kith one needs to go through a ritual performed by a High Cleric of The Raven Queen. There is no order or affiliation to the queen herself once taken, but that subject must slay or control a Shadovar within 1 month or lose all Shadow-Kith abilities.
Shadow-Kith are Shadow elves (Shadar-Kai) that dwell on the Plane of Shadow, sometimes crossing into other planes where the barriers between dimensions are weak. Just as parts of the Plane of Shadow resemble a strange, distorted version of the Material Plane, Shadow-kith superficially resemble elves from the Material Plane. Shadow-Kith are darker, more elusive, and spookier than their material counterparts.
Shadow-Kith are strictly Shadar-Kai elves and are not to be confused with Shadow-Walkers or Shades. Other creatures native to the Plane of Shadow exist that have stronger or weaker connections to the energies of that place (such as the shadow mastiff or a Shade) and therefore do not follow this race specific template.
Creating A Shadow-Kith "Shadow-kith" is a template that can be added to any Shadar-Kai elf that meets the requirements (referred to hereafter as the base creature).
A shadow-kith uses all the base creature's statistics and abilities except as noted here. Do not recalculate the creature's Hit Dice, base attack bonus, saves, or skill points if its type changes.
Size and Type: Shadar-Kai encountered on the Material Plane have the extraplanar subtype and are native to the Plane of Shadow.
Speed: As base creature x 2
Special Qualities: A shadow-kith retains all the special qualities of the base creature, and also gains the following:
Resistance to cold: Equal to 5 + 1 per Hit Die, to a maximum of 20.
Darkvision: Out to 60 feet.
Shadow Blend (Su): In any conditions other than full daylight, a shadow-kith can disappear into the shadows, giving it total concealment. Artificial illumination, even a light or continual flame spell, does not negate this ability, but a daylight spell will. This total concealment ability works the same as a greater Invisibility spell cast at your total HD.
Shadow-Kith also have one additional special ability for every 2 Hit Dice they possess (minimum of one additional ability) chosen from the following list:
*+4 luck bonus on all saving throws. *Cause Fear (Sp): 1/day. Caster level 10th. The save DC is Charisma-based. *Damage reduction: 10/magic +2. *Ability scores increase for Dexterity and Charisma by +2 *Fast healing 2. *Mirror Image (Sp): 1/day. Caster level 15th. *Dimension door (Sp): 1/day. Caster level 15th. *Plane Shift (Sp): 1/day, to or from the Plane of Shadow only. Caster level 15th. *Spell Resistance: 11 + character level. *Attacks and Damage: Gain a +2 competence bonus on attacks and damage. *Armor Class: gains a +4 deflection bonus to AC. *Greater Blink (Sp): 1/day. Caster level 20th
Skills: Same as base creature. Shadow-Kith gain a +8 racial bonus on Hide Move Silently checks. Feats: Same as the base creature. Environment: Plane of Shadow Organization: Same as the base creature. Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +2. Treasure: Same as the base creature. Alignment: Usually Chaotic neutral. Advancement: Same as the base creature. Level Adjustment: Same as base creature +2.
I'm sure I messed up somewhere. Please feel free to help me with this template.Thank you. CEV |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7966 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2019 : 03:59:01
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Yes .. schattenalfen.rtf ... not a finished product ready (or even meant) for publishing, but nonetheless an "official" one, lol. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4425 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2019 : 04:20:27
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LA+2? I'm thinking thats waay off. |
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Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore
1078 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2019 : 04:41:03
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quote: Originally posted by Diffan
LA+2? I'm thinking thats waay off.
Explain please. |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4425 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2019 : 10:17:24
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Well let's see..
Take a human with the Shadow-kith template. At 6th level they'll have:
Base speed: 60-ft. Resist Cold 11 Darkvision: 60-ft. Shadow Blend
Plus +2 Dexterity and Charisma DR 10/magic +2 +4 luck to all saves.
Add this to say....a Swordsage or a Rogue or heck a spellcaster for a simple +2 LA that can be bought off? Even if you don't allow buy off what character at level 8 gets the same benefits? |
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Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore
1078 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2019 : 14:24:59
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quote: Originally posted by Diffan
Well let's see..
Take a human with the Shadow-kith template. At 6th level they'll have:
Base speed: 60-ft. Resist Cold 11 Darkvision: 60-ft. Shadow Blend
Plus +2 Dexterity and Charisma DR 10/magic +2 +4 luck to all saves.
Add this to say....a Swordsage or a Rogue or heck a spellcaster for a simple +2 LA that can be bought off? Even if you don't allow buy off what character at level 8 gets the same benefits?
Only a Shadar-Kai. Otherwise, the Shade Template is far more powerful than this one and is a LA+4. So maybe this should be a LA+3 then. An 8th level Shade would be more powerful than an 8th level Shadow-Kith. |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4425 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2019 : 07:27:23
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Sources on the Shades Level Adjustment varies, I've seen +4 and +5, both from 3.0 supplements. Aside from it being a terrible mechanic, it's notoriously skewed and subjective. |
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Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore
1078 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2020 : 21:33:01
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quote: Originally posted by Diffan
Sources on the Shades Level Adjustment varies, I've seen +4 and +5, both from 3.0 supplements. Aside from it being a terrible mechanic, it's notoriously skewed and subjective.
I fully agree. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2020 : 21:38:03
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quote: Originally posted by Diffan
Sources on the Shades Level Adjustment varies, I've seen +4 and +5, both from 3.0 supplements. Aside from it being a terrible mechanic, it's notoriously skewed and subjective.
Somehow, this doesn't surprise me, given that in the 3.x era, no two sourcebooks agreed on the origin of the Shadow Weave or how it interacted with the Weave.
It may be just my opinion, but to me, that shows that the Shadow Weave and everything related to it was simply poorly thought out and implemented, and further evidence that no one at WotC was talking to anyone else. |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4425 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2020 : 22:41:21
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quote: Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote: Originally posted by Diffan
Sources on the Shades Level Adjustment varies, I've seen +4 and +5, both from 3.0 supplements. Aside from it being a terrible mechanic, it's notoriously skewed and subjective.
Somehow, this doesn't surprise me, given that in the 3.x era, no two sourcebooks agreed on the origin of the Shadow Weave or how it interacted with the Weave.
What books even fully detail the Shadow Weave though? The FRCS has some information, especially as it dealt with the feats Shadow Adepts got, but I don't know what other books really detail it? The super-adventures (Cormyr/Shadowdale/Anauroch) go into it slightly as it pertains to how it interacts with people, and how the Weave-deficient areas act like anti-magic fields. But overall lacking as far as setting-wide issues go.
quote: Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
It may be just my opinion, but to me, that shows that the Shadow Weave and everything related to it was simply poorly thought out and implemented, and further evidence that no one at WotC was talking to anyone else.
haha, there does seem to be quite a bit of evidence of that. I don't think they all looked at eacht others work once it was published. Hence why things got even more broken as the edition rolled out. |
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Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore
1078 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2020 : 05:06:17
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I think that every edition of D&D relies on the generations that they are found in. My generation was 1ED Advanced D&D so I had to learn 2 and 3.5ed. I stopped after that.
Things get broken when you don't talk across the gaming board. |
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