The Gaming Den

So, for an upcoming session, one of the players wants to be a frog. Which is fine, there's 'some' material plane that could have them, and the game is set on the great wheel, so one weird race is not going to be a sore thumb.

I'm thinking, using something like the ideas from the 2e Grippli

Grippli

It's not easy, being green
Something, something, I am a patient hunter, something, something

You're not kermit the frog, you're an actual frog, a big one, a smart one that is often hunted for their vividly coloured skin. Also, you trade with Elves and can use tools, like belts with pouches, or pantaloons, maybe a jaunty little cap with a large feather in it.

Small: As small creatures, Grippli have a +4 bonus to some checks, and a -4 to other checks. Also, +1 to hit
[*]Grippli base land speed is 10 feet; but may move up to 30' when jumping, and any modifiers to their Base Speed affects their maximum Jumping distance. Swim speed of 30.
[*]+4 Dex, +4 Wis
[*]Racial bonus of +30 to Jump checks; Normally Grippli jump around
[*]Hold Breath: a Grippli may hold its breath for four times its Constitution modifer
[*]Non-Humanoid: Grippli need to wear custom made clothing or armour. Magic items reform as normal, within the same size category.
[*]Racial bonus of +5 to Hide checks in areas with vegetation
[*]Racial bonus of +5 to Listen Checks when in a forested area
[*]Tongue Attack: A Grippli may make a tongue attack out to 20', the tip of the tongue is sticky, and may make an improved grab on any target one size category smaller than itself, which is resolved as a grapple if the tongue attack makes a successful touch attack the Grippli pulls in a struck opponent towards their mouth biting it, but not necessarily swallowing it. A Grippli's tongue has a Base AC of the Grippli's AC -5; and an HP equal to 1/10'th of the Grippli's total HP. Yes, the tongue can obviously be severed.
Automatic Language: Grippli. Bonus Languages: Elf, Gnome, Common
Favored Class: Ranger, Druid

There are also Bullywug, if you want something more bipedal.

-Username17

Hmm, yeah, I realized that while doing more google image searches.

Looking them up really quickly in this 2e MM that I've got.... they're probably not a good fit; since the PC wants to be a good guy, and doesn't like dumb races.

I'll show them both, and ask them what they prefer. He can be a smart, wise, good Bullywug for all I care.

Thanks for the advice Frank.

Also, if you just want to be an amphibian, the same book has the Firenewt. Original AD&D Fiend Folio FTW.

-Username17

Actually, I've got the AD&D Monstrous Manual, 384 pages of just raw monsters, plus some pages on NPC parties.

I'll look up the Firenewt though... and.. it's not there. ):

First Printing: AD&D Fiend Folio (the one with a Githyanki on the cover). 3rd edition printing: Monsters of Faerun.


There's also a Neraph in the Planar Handbook, which is a LA +0 playable Slaad. They have no stat modifiers so they are allowed to be crazy good and have a long list of cool powers.



-Username17

Wow, Neraph are pretty beefy.

+4 Dex and +4 Wis? Ouch, man.

Also no speed penalty for being small, but that's a small (heh) issue. I'm more worried about how stupidly good those stat mods are.

It's a level 11 game; everyone's got wish economy; and their stats start at 13 (8+5 inherent), and can climb up to 23 before levels or gear has touched their stats. The PCs get a 30 pt free buy.

Mostly b/c pt buy is more annoying to teach than anything else. I still use a chart, and have some part memorized, and other's not.

Honestly, teaching the formulas for the different tables would have been better than 'charts to infinity'.

I'm really thinking about making a mashup of item system that uses the recent thing that I wrote up on Iconic items/powers; and the BoG item slots to keep things both tame, and reduce bookeeping.

As for the dex and wis... meh, the only person getting a benefit is the Grippli Ranger. As in, the PHB Ranger. They've always been a balanced class, so this just makes it so that Grippli will probably be Rangers, or Druids, and that fits the race just fine.

Also, the Grippli monster entry and description influenced me.

They have 'IQ' of Very to high (11-14); making them quite a bit smarter than the average human; but they're not clever, so I shifted that as a +4 to wisdom.

They also have better than average armour AC 9 (2e, so that's either having a 15 dex, or a +1 natural armour; and Natural armour was worth insane in 2e; PCs never really got it, except from maybe Barkskin, even then it was just an Armour Bonus). I went for +4 dex, since they don't have visibly tough skin, and frogs are pretty thin-skinned creatures as well.

I could drop it, but they'll have a hard enough time as it is. I need to add their non-humanoid form, and possibly split their movement into 10' move, and 30' jumps, or something.

+4 bonuses to spell casting stats are a really big deal. Those things have the AC of Kobolds and better divine casting than Aasimar. It really is senselessly RNG breaking.

-Username17

FrankTrollman wrote:

-Username17

Oh, who's this cute little guy?

Who's a cutey? You are! You are!