Homebrew Zombie Vagrant Species Details

Idea behind the design.

The idea is to allow a player to play as a sentient 'Zombie'

[Bulletpoint]

  • +con -int is to replicate that zombies generally lose quite a few brain cells during the dying process but at the same time generally become more resistant (or ignorant) to harm and fatigue/stamina.
  • Living dead immunities and resistance display the fact that the character is undead. Just like undead monsters it features the same immunities and resistances as they do. And equally weaknesses. Such as healing spells causing damage. It also adds on to the reality that the player character is in fact a zombie, emphisized by the food design.
  • Relentless nature is essentially the Revenant sub-race features. Given that the zombie cant be healed or use healing potions the gradual health recovery seems fair. As well as the resurrection to emphisize how restless this restless dead happens to be +magic.
  • Form and function I and II are basically sub-racial options included in this base race. Giving the player the ability to play as either a quick zombie or a brute zombie, in essence. In exchange for this the player is losing all other bonus racial options that every other race would gain. Example: Keen senses, Elven weapons, Drow magic etc etc.

Zombie Vagrant Traits

Brains?

The living dead.

The living dead, unlike their living counterparts play via different rules. Unable to benefit from any form of regular healing - Potions - Healing magic they do however boast unnatural resistance to the dark forces. Healing spells and abilities used on the Zombie Vagrant deal their accumulated healing as damage instead.

The Zombie Vagrant counts as undead for determining spells and effects such as turn undead.

The Hungering Maw: The hungering bite of the walking dead is perhaps one of its most prevalent reputations. The Zombie Vagrant is no exception. The Zombie Vagrant has a Natural Bite Attack that can be used for free as a part of a successful grapple: 1dmg, DC14 con save or take 1d6 necrotic damage & heal the Zombie Vagrant equal to that amount.

  • Damage Immunity: Poison
  • Immunity: Disease
  • Condition Immunity: Poisoned
  • Resistance: Necrotic

In Addition: The Zombie Vagrant is unable to eat regular food. Anything cooked, white meat or anything of a vegitable matter cannot be eaten and none of the benifets of eating said food can be gained. However so long as their diet is 'flesh' aka - Red meat they can gain the bonuses of eating whether its rotten, decomposing or fresh.

In Addition: The Zombie suffers disadvantage on social interactions [persuasion, intimidate, etc]

Relentless Nature

  • If you are below half your hit point maximum at the start of your turn, you regain 1 hit point.
  • If you die, you return to life 24 hours after death. If your body is destroyed, you reform within 1 mile of the place of your death at a spot determined by the DM. If your equipment was also destroyed or your party took your body while leaving it behind, you do not regain it without backtracking.
  • You know the distance and direction between you and any creature involved in your goal, such as a person to seek vengeance against or someone you pledged to defend, your necromancer or etc. This awareness fails if the creature is on another plane of existance.
  • Each time the Zombie dies and revives it will return with 20% less maximum HP and MP. This effect is cumulative so dying twice will result in 40%, three times 60% and so on. In order to regain those lost HP and MP points the zombie is required to cannibalize the corpse of a member of its own base race. Most notably, the brains. An example: A Human Zombie Vagrant dies. It ressurects, in order to regain the 20% missing HP and MP, the Zombie needs to consume a Human brain... to sort of get back what it lost.

When your goal is complete, you finally find rest. You die and cannot be restored to life unless forcefully via a necromancer.

Form of Function

Choose between the nature of your risen dead.

  • The Shambling horror, slow and purposeful in its pursuit with horrifying rage and violence. - Grants the Grappler Feat
  • The Runner, swift in the pursuit of its prey, relentless and unwavering acuity exemplify this creature as a thing of nightmare. - Grants the Mobile Feat

Once a choice has been made the Zombie Vagrant may not take the alternative granted feat at a later time. Example: A Zombie Vagrant that opts to take The runner is not then able to take the Grappler feat even if a class ability score increase would allow it at a later time.

Form of Function II

At Level 5

  • The shambler becomes stronger still. - Grants The Shambling Horror: "The Fell Handed" Feat without the requirement for Axes - Aka "Grave Handed"
  • The charge of a runner becomes all the more devastating. - Grants The Runner: "Charger" Feat.

When the above bonuses are bestowed the Zombie Vagrant may not take the alternative granted feat at a later time. Example: A Zombie Vagrant that opts to take The runner is not then able to take "The Fell Handed" Aka "Grave Handed" feat even if a class ability score increase would allow it at a later time.

If the Zombie Vagrant had prematurely taken a feat that it is no longer allowed to have access to it is refunded.

Ability Score Increase

Your con ability score is increased by 2.

Your int ability score is reduced by 2.

Age

Zombie Vagrant's are ignorant of time albeit the less 'successful' are often riddled with rot and debilitating deformations of the flesh caused by years of sustained damage.

Alignment

The best and the worst are found among them.

Size

Zombie Vagrant's vary widely in height and build, from barely 3 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write one language of your choice. 

Zombie Vagrant's can barely speak in general, many only able to maintain their native tongue prior to their death let alone a vast array of languages.

Comments

Posts Quoted:
Reply
Clear All Quotes