So I'm creating a race that revolves around wearing/having a mask that increases their ability score and gives them an immunity, instead of just having certain ability score increases. For example, having a Crow Mask increases Dexterity by 2 and grants immunity to necrotic damage.
The Dragon mask increases Strength and grants immunity to fire damage (which I'm a little iffy about, considering how common fire damage actually is).
Is this balanced? Other than the ability increase and immunity, the only other traits they will have are advanced darkvision (120 ft instead of 60 ft) and *possibly* a trait that reduces damage from falling.
The ability to change one’s ASI’s around at will is broken all by itself. Adding variable damage immunities at will on top of it is worse. Adding superior Darkvision on top of that is even worse still.
The ability to change one’s ASI’s around at will is broken all by itself.
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by this, do you mean that they would change their ASI more than once?
When you choose the race, you get one mask and that's it. You get X bonus and X immunity, and you can't go back and change it (unless the DM says otherwise, I suppose). That's how I see it...
Immunity is pretty rare for PCs and monsters alike, and it's really not a thing anyone gets at level 1. Poison immunity is not unheard of, but it's still considered to be very strong. And it's only only available because it's pretty much the worst damage type. Resistance conveys the same theme and is still very strong, so I'd go with that instead.
Having one really strong thing and "balancing it out" with little else or even penalties is just asking for abuse. Specialization is built into the game, so many players will naturally specialize around the immunity and gain more out of it than they could with a handful of decent features.
I don't think I specified/communicated this well or at all in the original post (I'm so sorry) so I'll put this here: the masks are just the race's standard ASI. It's just flavor, there's only certain scores that can by increased (DEX, STR, and CHA).
Sorry for not specifying this in the original post.
Immunity is pretty rare for PCs and monsters alike, and it's really not a thing anyone gets at level 1. Poison immunity is not unheard of, but it's still considered to be very strong. And it's only only available because it's pretty much the worst damage type. Resistance conveys the same theme and is still very strong, so I'd go with that instead.
Having one really strong thing and "balancing it out" with little else or even penalties is just asking for abuse. Specialization is built into the game, so many players will naturally specialize around the immunity and gain more out of it than they could with a handful of decent features.
That sounds good. I agree with the specialization thing, I wasn't thinking too much about that when I started making the race... (big oof on my part)
I don't think I specified/communicated this well or at all in the original post (I'm so sorry) so I'll put this here: the masks are just the race's standard ASI. It's just flavor, there's only certain scores that can by increased (DEX, STR, and CHA).
Sorry for not specifying this in the original post.
That’s a different story. I had been under the impression that the character would be able to effectively change subraces at will as easily as changing masks.
I don't think I specified/communicated this well or at all in the original post (I'm so sorry) so I'll put this here: the masks are just the race's standard ASI. It's just flavor, there's only certain scores that can by increased (DEX, STR, and CHA).
Sorry for not specifying this in the original post.
That’s a different story. I had been under the impression that the character would be able to effectively change subraces at will as easily as changing masks.
So sorry about that! No, they DEFINITELY cannot do that, that'd be straight-up ridiculous.
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F e a r m e (says the small, insignificant worm)
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So I'm creating a race that revolves around wearing/having a mask that increases their ability score and gives them an immunity, instead of just having certain ability score increases. For example, having a Crow Mask increases Dexterity by 2 and grants immunity to necrotic damage.
The Dragon mask increases Strength and grants immunity to fire damage (which I'm a little iffy about, considering how common fire damage actually is).
Is this balanced? Other than the ability increase and immunity, the only other traits they will have are advanced darkvision (120 ft instead of 60 ft) and *possibly* a trait that reduces damage from falling.
F e a r m e
(says the small, insignificant worm)
The ability to change one’s ASI’s around at will is broken all by itself. Adding variable damage immunities at will on top of it is worse. Adding superior Darkvision on top of that is even worse still.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
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I'm not entirely sure what you mean by this, do you mean that they would change their ASI more than once?
When you choose the race, you get one mask and that's it. You get X bonus and X immunity, and you can't go back and change it (unless the DM says otherwise, I suppose). That's how I see it...
I can definitely see where you're coming from with this one. I'll probably set it to one immunity that fits the race's flavor.
F e a r m e
(says the small, insignificant worm)
Immunity is pretty rare for PCs and monsters alike, and it's really not a thing anyone gets at level 1. Poison immunity is not unheard of, but it's still considered to be very strong. And it's only only available because it's pretty much the worst damage type. Resistance conveys the same theme and is still very strong, so I'd go with that instead.
Having one really strong thing and "balancing it out" with little else or even penalties is just asking for abuse. Specialization is built into the game, so many players will naturally specialize around the immunity and gain more out of it than they could with a handful of decent features.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
I don't think I specified/communicated this well or at all in the original post (I'm so sorry) so I'll put this here: the masks are just the race's standard ASI. It's just flavor, there's only certain scores that can by increased (DEX, STR, and CHA).
Sorry for not specifying this in the original post.
F e a r m e
(says the small, insignificant worm)
That sounds good. I agree with the specialization thing, I wasn't thinking too much about that when I started making the race... (big oof on my part)
F e a r m e
(says the small, insignificant worm)
That’s a different story. I had been under the impression that the character would be able to effectively change subraces at will as easily as changing masks.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
So sorry about that! No, they DEFINITELY cannot do that, that'd be straight-up ridiculous.
F e a r m e
(says the small, insignificant worm)