I’d like to create a leviathan offspring race. I think it will be a variation of Dragonborn but lore wise might make it more suited to Human. The only reference to a leviathan I’ve found officially is in Mordenkainen´s Tome of Foes where it is considered a garguantuan water elemental. Kinda feels like they stuck a name on something since all the lore I’m familiar with outside of DnD points to it being a fish, mammal, or reptile... like Godzilla, if Godzilla only swam. To suddenly call a massive elemental a leviathan is a stretch to me and I really think the creators just wanted to call 'something' a leviathan.
I’d rather not take on the task of inserting another super monster into the 5e universe though. A leviathan, if created, would likely be more then a match for dragons in its element. The blue dragons might compete but no one has a clue what blue dragons do in their oceanic lairs. Officially, their lightning might not even work under water or it could get much stronger. Salt water being conductive and all could send it everywhere, or somewhere with ease.
Its an apex predator. The domino effect should be expected for its influence on other apex predators in any case.
Anyways, I’m trying not trying to create a leviathan, just its offspring. It would be born from or under the influence of a Leviathan and therein take on Leviathan traits in its growth.
In this regard I’d like some good ideas for it if anyone has some. In particular I’m stumped by how I should set up its racial abilities. The lore should be easy to work around the mechanics provided the mechanics make sense. Its been considered to copy the dragonborn race and essentially reflavour it, but they are very different creatures. For one, dragons fly and leviathans swim.
I need some combat related traits for the most part atm because I want it to be a race people would choose, but not at the expense of choosing any other.
I’m thinking:
The ability to transform for swimming that allows constant regeneration in combat while active
Weather prediction
Locate water
Detect substance in water (An ability to detect if water is just water or not)
Stat increases in Con and Str/Dex
Resistance to physical damage in Leviathan form.
No additional languages. (Leviathans are solidary beasts by nature, they learn the languages of other species to interact with them and have none for themselves besides physical damage.)
Increased swimming range in both forms and the ability to dash underwater when transformed.
Their hair is oily and skin waxy. They are weak to fire as a result in both forms, because combustible.
What you're describing sounds like a shifter subrace, or maybe like a krakenborn race.
I like the idea of transforming, however, resistance to physical damage is incredibly powerful, that's giving a player half of a barbarian's defining trait for free. I worry for the same reason about regeneration. That's basically a healing cantrip, something that is highly discouraged by D&D.
Instead of Locate water and Detect substance in water (An ability to detect if water is just water or not), what about shape water?
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Swimming ability could also be reflected by a proficiency in Athletics, on top of having a swim speed.
Weather prediction is really just access to the Druidcraft cantrip limited to one specific effect.
Instead of resistance (which, as pointed out, is really strong, and would discourage playing barbarian, which is bad), you could have the race give +2 str +1con, and +1hp/level on top of that.
There should probably be something about holding your breath while underwater. And other creatures attacking you while you're underwater could have disadvantage. This is powerful but also specific enough that it shouldn't unbalance anything.
A race that has its abilities in water is pretty useless in DnD overall. Not many campaigns really take advantage of aquatic terrains.
I think this is an unfair characterization. Take a look at the Triton, an aquatic race. They have three main abilities. They can control air and water, talk to swimming animals, has resistance to cold and does not suffer ill effects due to water pressure (they can also breathe underwater and swim). While the two sea elements might not be helpful, you’re still left with a resistance and a powerful magic trait.
If I understand correctly, you seem to be suggesting a similar thing. Perhaps use the triton as a guide to making a humanoid leviathan race.
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
A race that has its abilities in water is pretty useless in DnD overall. Not many campaigns really take advantage of aquatic terrains.
So while having abilities in water is fun, its not practical. Having abilities you want to use but usually can't will impact the experience.
Races will usually have abilities that are very limited in scope or power though. Giving a strong ability but limiting it to certain conditions can actually help give flavor to the race.
I'm not saying this should be all of their racial abilities, but a race wouldn't need a lot more to be playable.
You could, for instance, add darkvision, to signify the race's ability to see in deep sea, where there's no sunlight.
I’d like to create a leviathan offspring race. I think it will be a variation of Dragonborn but lore wise might make it more suited to Human. The only reference to a leviathan I’ve found officially is in Mordenkainen´s Tome of Foes where it is considered a garguantuan water elemental. Kinda feels like they stuck a name on something since all the lore I’m familiar with outside of DnD points to it being a fish, mammal, or reptile... like Godzilla, if Godzilla only swam. To suddenly call a massive elemental a leviathan is a stretch to me and I really think the creators just wanted to call 'something' a leviathan.
I’d rather not take on the task of inserting another super monster into the 5e universe though. A leviathan, if created, would likely be more then a match for dragons in its element. The blue dragons might compete but no one has a clue what blue dragons do in their oceanic lairs. Officially, their lightning might not even work under water or it could get much stronger. Salt water being conductive and all could send it everywhere, or somewhere with ease.
Its an apex predator. The domino effect should be expected for its influence on other apex predators in any case.
Anyways, I’m trying not trying to create a leviathan, just its offspring. It would be born from or under the influence of a Leviathan and therein take on Leviathan traits in its growth.
In this regard I’d like some good ideas for it if anyone has some. In particular I’m stumped by how I should set up its racial abilities. The lore should be easy to work around the mechanics provided the mechanics make sense. Its been considered to copy the dragonborn race and essentially reflavour it, but they are very different creatures. For one, dragons fly and leviathans swim.
I need some combat related traits for the most part atm because I want it to be a race people would choose, but not at the expense of choosing any other.
I’m thinking:
The ability to transform for swimming that allows constant regeneration in combat while active
Weather prediction
Locate water
Detect substance in water (An ability to detect if water is just water or not)
Stat increases in Con and Str/Dex
Resistance to physical damage in Leviathan form.
No additional languages. (Leviathans are solidary beasts by nature, they learn the languages of other species to interact with them and have none for themselves besides physical damage.)
Increased swimming range in both forms and the ability to dash underwater when transformed.
Their hair is oily and skin waxy. They are weak to fire as a result in both forms, because combustible.
What you're describing sounds like a shifter subrace, or maybe like a krakenborn race.
I like the idea of transforming, however, resistance to physical damage is incredibly powerful, that's giving a player half of a barbarian's defining trait for free. I worry for the same reason about regeneration. That's basically a healing cantrip, something that is highly discouraged by D&D.
Instead of Locate water and Detect substance in water (An ability to detect if water is just water or not), what about shape water?
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
It's D&D, you can do whatever you want =)
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Swimming ability could also be reflected by a proficiency in Athletics, on top of having a swim speed.
Weather prediction is really just access to the Druidcraft cantrip limited to one specific effect.
Instead of resistance (which, as pointed out, is really strong, and would discourage playing barbarian, which is bad), you could have the race give +2 str +1con, and +1hp/level on top of that.
There should probably be something about holding your breath while underwater. And other creatures attacking you while you're underwater could have disadvantage. This is powerful but also specific enough that it shouldn't unbalance anything.
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A race that has its abilities in water is pretty useless in DnD overall. Not many campaigns really take advantage of aquatic terrains.
So while having abilities in water is fun, its not practical. Having abilities you want to use but usually can't will impact the experience.
I think this is an unfair characterization. Take a look at the Triton, an aquatic race. They have three main abilities. They can control air and water, talk to swimming animals, has resistance to cold and does not suffer ill effects due to water pressure (they can also breathe underwater and swim). While the two sea elements might not be helpful, you’re still left with a resistance and a powerful magic trait.
If I understand correctly, you seem to be suggesting a similar thing. Perhaps use the triton as a guide to making a humanoid leviathan race.
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Races will usually have abilities that are very limited in scope or power though. Giving a strong ability but limiting it to certain conditions can actually help give flavor to the race.
I'm not saying this should be all of their racial abilities, but a race wouldn't need a lot more to be playable.
You could, for instance, add darkvision, to signify the race's ability to see in deep sea, where there's no sunlight.
Click to learn to put cool-looking tooltips in your messages!
Regeneration is still difficult to balance, and a bit odd, considering the Biblical leviathan couldn't heal at all. Why have regeneration?
Really want this race.Hope it comes out in D&D 5e.
We all ready have a bunch of underwater humanoids - Mermen, tritons, sea elves, water Genasi. It seems silly to make another 'water based humanoid.
Now, if you want to make a humanoid version of an existing monster, that makes sense.
Based on the existing leviathan, things to look at include:
That seems like a good race to me.