Temple Termagant
Posts: 13
Joined: Sunday, 11th March 2018, 07:08
Species Proposal – Troglodyte
Many have expressed interest in a species unable to read scrolls – a trait which imposes a huge downside to the player. At the same time, I've been experimenting with the concept for a species with significantly accelerated piety gain – a huge upside. These two traits now attempt to balance each other out in this concept of blind faith.
The Species
Troglodytes are a cave-dwelling species lacking eyesight. Having adapted to an ever dark environment, their other senses have grown keen, allowing them to navigate their surroundings and sense other beings. However, these senses are of little use when it comes to reading scrolls. What Troglodytes lack in eyesight, they make up for in pious zeal. A Troglodyte is little without its god, finding meaning and strength through worship. With their unrestrained fanaticism, Troglodytes allow gods to use them as conduits for manifesting their power in the world.
Innate Abilities
- Troglodytes cannot read scrolls
- Troglodytes have reduced line of sight (from 7 to 6)
- Troglodytes are obsessed with worship (intrinsic faith)
- Troglodytes can sense invisible creatures
- Troglodytes can remove cursed equipment at the cost of moderate draining
Level Bonuses
- +1 strength or dexterity every 4 levels
- Average HP and MP
- 3 MR per level
- Code:
+1 Fighting
-1 Short Blades
-1 Long Blades
+0 Axes
+1 Maces
-1 Polearms
+1 Staves
+1 Unarmed Combat
-1 Bows
-1 Crossbows
-1 Slings
-1 Throwing
+0 Armour
+2 Dodging
-1 Shields
+3 Stealth
-1 Spellcasting
-1 Fire Magic
-1 Ice Magic
-3 Air magic
+2 Earth Magic
+0 Poison Magic
-1 Conjuration
-1 Hexes
-1 Charms
-1 Summoning
-1 Necromancy
-1 Translocation
-1 Transmutation
+1 Invocation
-2 Evocation
+0 EXP
Design Notes (obsolete as of 20.03.18)
- Slightly above average starting stats to make up for the lack of scrolls and weak aptitudes, making pre-temple especially tough. This is balanced out by the slower stat gain.
- Conservative aptitudes overall, but casting aptitudes were not butchered, as to make casting oriented gods such as Sif Muna and Vehumet options worth considering.
- Having at least one good ranged aptitude makes sure that Okawaru can be played using both melee and ranged oriented paths. There is also certainly room for more species that can handle crossbows well.
- Losing access to scrolls means losing access to escape options, gear quality (enchantment/acquirement/branding) and situational utility. The intention is to increase the frequency at which god abilities may be used, to in turn make up for these weaknesses.
- The increase in piety gain does not affect the frequency of gifts. It does, however, ensure that gift thresholds are reached sooner.
- In the case of Ru, piety per sacrifice is not increased, but rather the frequency at which sacrifices are made available. While this does not affect the theoretical power ceiling of Ru's influence, it does allow Troglodytes to be more picky with their choices, often allowing for a more favorable set of sacrifices in the long run. This also increases strategic options when considering sacrifices, as the player is more likely to be able to combine specific sacrifices over the course of the game.
- Since Troglodytes excel in piety, not in profit, Gozag is unimpressed by the Troglodyte's worship, and awards no further advantage than usual.
I hope you enjoy this concept. Any feedback is welcome.
- For this message the author Pingas has received thanks: 2
- Malevolent, Terrapin