So I'm relatively new to DMing and, as a result, am pretty new to homebrewing races and items for my home game with my friends. Currently, I've been working on a homebrew race of dog-folk because I have seen 2 separate cat-related official races and thought this would be a cool way to introduce dogs too. I've got some basic lore of how the race would have been created and how they can look, but I would greatly appreciate feedback on the race's traits and abilities (Listed Below). Feel free to playtest it in your own games, and if you think it is good enough once I have finished writing its overall lore, I will be posting it into D&D beyond for public use in the system there too! Anyway, thank you for any and all suggestions or advice you give, and if you have any questions, feel free to add them too! I'll do my best to reply when I have time!
CANIVIR TRAITS
Your canivir character gains certain traits as a result of their canine ancestry.
Race Name: Canivir pronounced (Kā.nī.veer)
Ability Score Increase: +2 constitution + 1 ability score of your choice.
Age: Canivir reach adulthood in their late teens and live up to 85 years.
Size: Your size can be Medium or Small.
Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 ft. if your chosen size is medium and 25 ft. if your chosen size is small.
Darkvision: You can seeing dim light within 60 ft. of you as if it were bright light, and darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color and darkness only shades of grey.
Dog's Bite: Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your strength modifier.
Feral Bloodlust: as a bonus action, you can unleash a powerful primal howl that draws on your predatory pack instincts. Until the end of your next turn, 6 creatures of your choice who can hear you, including yourself, gain advantage on attack rolls against enemies. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
Lupine instinct: you have proficiency in the intimidation and perception skills
Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and Caninus
It doesn't seem to OP except that Feral Bloodlust is really good, but proficiency in Caninus is hard. I don't know why, but D&D Beyond doesn't support custom languages.
It doesn't seem to OP except that Feral Bloodlust is really good, but proficiency in Caninus is hard. I don't know why, but D&D Beyond doesn't support custom languages.
Feral Bloodlust is pretty much Pact Tactics on a very limited level, much like Kobolds get. However, with that there you might want to define how far that is actually heard, example of such is the Leonin's Roar, which has a 10 foot range, which to me is too short a range considering a lions 'roar' can be heard for miles IRL, therefore you would think such then would be causing fear further than two sword lengths. For a couple of homebrew races of my own I used the range that Fear has, which is 30 feet, as a basis for such things as howls and roars.
This is my rendition of the reverse Tabaxi. From my experience of building the race, here is my feedback.
1: Dogs don't actually see in the dark like cats. Instead, they track using scent and hearing. You have probably seen something that says how much stronger dogs can smell than humans can. Giving the player advantage on perception and tracking creates a diverse ability that can be used in a multitude of situations.
2: Feral bloodlust is pretty powerful. Advantage is a dangerous thing. Any class, especially rogues, will jump at an opportunity to get free advantage. I decided that they could use the help action as a bonus action. The advantage only affects one attack, it can be used multiple times, requires range, and creates the element that you are "helping" your teammates. It works, but you can draw it out and make it less combat based.
So I'm relatively new to DMing and, as a result, am pretty new to homebrewing races and items for my home game with my friends. Currently, I've been working on a homebrew race of dog-folk because I have seen 2 separate cat-related official races and thought this would be a cool way to introduce dogs too. I've got some basic lore of how the race would have been created and how they can look, but I would greatly appreciate feedback on the race's traits and abilities (Listed Below). Feel free to playtest it in your own games, and if you think it is good enough once I have finished writing its overall lore, I will be posting it into D&D beyond for public use in the system there too! Anyway, thank you for any and all suggestions or advice you give, and if you have any questions, feel free to add them too! I'll do my best to reply when I have time!
CANIVIR TRAITS
Your canivir character gains certain traits as a result of their canine ancestry.
Race Name: Canivir pronounced (Kā.nī.veer)
Ability Score Increase: +2 constitution + 1 ability score of your choice.
Age: Canivir reach adulthood in their late teens and live up to 85 years.
Size: Your size can be Medium or Small.
Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 ft. if your chosen size is medium and 25 ft. if your chosen size is small.
Darkvision: You can seeing dim light within 60 ft. of you as if it were bright light, and darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color and darkness only shades of grey.
Dog's Bite: Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your strength modifier.
Feral Bloodlust: as a bonus action, you can unleash a powerful primal howl that draws on your predatory pack instincts. Until the end of your next turn, 6 creatures of your choice who can hear you, including yourself, gain advantage on attack rolls against enemies. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
Lupine instinct: you have proficiency in the intimidation and perception skills
Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and Caninus
It doesn't seem to OP except that Feral Bloodlust is really good, but proficiency in Caninus is hard. I don't know why, but D&D Beyond doesn't support custom languages.
I have a weird sense of humor.
I also make maps.(That's a link)
Feral Bloodlust is pretty much Pact Tactics on a very limited level, much like Kobolds get. However, with that there you might want to define how far that is actually heard, example of such is the Leonin's Roar, which has a 10 foot range, which to me is too short a range considering a lions 'roar' can be heard for miles IRL, therefore you would think such then would be causing fear further than two sword lengths. For a couple of homebrew races of my own I used the range that Fear has, which is 30 feet, as a basis for such things as howls and roars.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/569631-lupine#LupineTraits
This is my rendition of the reverse Tabaxi. From my experience of building the race, here is my feedback.
1: Dogs don't actually see in the dark like cats. Instead, they track using scent and hearing. You have probably seen something that says how much stronger dogs can smell than humans can. Giving the player advantage on perception and tracking creates a diverse ability that can be used in a multitude of situations.
2: Feral bloodlust is pretty powerful. Advantage is a dangerous thing. Any class, especially rogues, will jump at an opportunity to get free advantage. I decided that they could use the help action as a bonus action. The advantage only affects one attack, it can be used multiple times, requires range, and creates the element that you are "helping" your teammates. It works, but you can draw it out and make it less combat based.
My only good homebrews: Races, Subclasses.
An aspiring DM and Homebrewer. Ask me if you need anything.