Sunday, August 3, 2014

New BX/LL Class: Foxes (Type B Intelligent Animal)

The following is meant to be what I call a "Type B" intelligent animal (which are slightly anthropomorphic, as opposed to the "Type A" versions which are simply talking versions of the normal animal type).

Foxes

Level Title Exp. Points Hit Dice
1 Mischief-maker 0 1d4
2 Trickster 1,500 2d4
3 Rascal 3,000 3d4
4 Scamp 6,000 4d4
5 Scoundrel 12,000 5d4
6 Scalawag 25,000 6d4
7 Conniver 50,000 7d4
8 Fox Rogue 140,000 8d4

Foxes may be rogues and tricksters, but they’re also incredibly cunning and brave. A fox will often put himself at risk for just causes, but will also drive his fellows crazy with tricks and pranks. The prime requisite for a fox is Dexterity. Foxes with a Dexterity of 13 or greater will gain a +10% bonus to earned experience points.

RESTRICTIONS: Foxes use four-sided dice (d4) to determine their hit points. They may advance to a maximum of 8th level of experience. Foxes may not wear any armor more protective than leather, and they may not use shields. They may use any weapon of normal or small size, but may not use long bows or two-handed swords. Foxes are excellent marksmen, and receive a +1 “to hit” bonus when using a bow or crossbow. A fox character must have a minimum Charisma score of 9, and may not have a Strength score greater than 14.

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Foxes fight and saves as thieves of the same level. Foxes possess thieving abilities as a thief of the same level. Additionally, foxes possess a smooth talking ability. This smooth talking ability provides them a +2 bonus to all reaction rolls (in addition to natural bonuses due to Charisma), as well as the following individual skills:

Seduce: This ability permits the fox to (non-magically) charm a member of the opposite sex, regardless of race or species. The fox must be able to speak a language that the subject of this ability understands. The number on the left indicates the roll or under required to successfully seduce a subject. Any roll equal to or higher than the number on the right indicates the subject realizes they’re being seduced and will react accordingly (as hostile reaction). Any roll between the two numbers is considered a failure, but the subject is unaware of the fox’s attempt to seduce.

Double-talk: This ability permits the fox to talk his or her way out of a sticky situation, and convince the subject to pursue a different line of thinking/course of action. The number on the left indicates the roll or under required to successfully double-talk a single subject (separate rolls must be made if trying to double-talk more than a single subject at a time). Any roll equal to or greater than the number on the right indicates the subject realizes they’re being manipulated, becomes resentful, and acts immediately upon any threat (treat as hostile reaction). Any roll between the two numbers is considered a failure, but the subject is unaware of the fox’s attempt to double-talk them.

Rally: This ability allows the fox to rally those friendly creatures and characters around him in pursuit of a goal, regardless of the danger involved. Any character or creature within earshot of the fox that understands the language the fox is speaking is subject to the fox’s rallying attempt. This ability does not work against creatures or characters determined to be hostile to the fox. Cross-index the fox’s level with the Hit Dice of the creature(s)/character(s) within earshot. The result will be “no effect”, a number only, or an A, which may or may not be followed by a number.
“No effect” (“–”) means the fox is unable to rally a character or creature with the indicated number of Hit Dice.

A number only indicates the number or greater required on a 2d6 roll to effectively rally a creature with that number of Hit Dice.

An A means the character or creature with that number of Hit Dice is automatically rallied. If a number is noted next to the letter A, that is the morale bonus the character or creature with that number of hit dice receives while pursuing the goal to which the fox has rallied them.
Foxes speak common and the language of vulpines. Foxes with an Intelligence of 16 or greater will also speak the language of lupines (wolves), in addition to other languages granted as a bonus from a high Intelligence.

Fox's Smooth Talking
Fox's LevelSeduce*Double-talk*
125% / 65%40% / 75%
235% / 70%50% / 80%
345% / 80%60% / 85%
455% / 90%70% / 90%
565% / 95%80% / 94%
675% / 97%90% / 97%
785% / 98%97% / 99%
895% / 99%99% / 100%
* chances are reduced to number on left by 5% for each level
above 1st of target; number on right does not change

Fox's Rallying
HD of Creatures/Characters within Earshot
Fox's Level 1HD 2HD 3HD 4HD 5HD 6HD 7HD 8HD 9HD 10HD 11+HD
1 7 9 11
2 A 7 9 11
3 A A 7 9 11
4 A1 A A 7 9 11
5 A1 A1 A A 7 9 11
6 A2 A1 A1 A A 7 9 11
7 A2 A2 A1 A1 A A 7 9 11
8 A3 A2 A2 A1 A1 A A 7 9 11

4 comments:

  1. Wait, ... I think your Smooth Talking table is a "roll low" (d%) throw, is it not ? The text reads as though it were "roll high" throw.
    And where the text says "number on the left"/"number on the right".... are the columns mislabeled?
    Should the center column read "chance of smooth-talking success", and the right-most column read "chance manipulation goes unnoticed" ?

    You told me what the model was for mechanic behind Rally, but I've already forgotten. It was going to work like dragon-breath (or something), but repurposed in a non-attack way. (I thought that was a clever bit of design.)

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    1. The smooth talking tables and descriptions have been adjusted.

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  2. Cool stuff!

    Regarding the seduction ability: surely it must be magical if it only works on members of the opposite sex regardless of the targets or the characters actual sexual preference? My suggestion is to drop that line and have it work on members of any sex as well and leave it to the players to try it on whichever NPC they fancy.

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    Replies
    1. I've actually been considering removing the percentages altogether and make it a save vs. spells mechanic. I'll definitely make your input part of the consideration.

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