Talk:Rattenkönig (3.5e Race)

Nipping it in the Bud

I can sense controversy with the Hardened Filth and Swarm Intelligence abilities here. So time to address it right off.

• Hardened Filth (Ex): Even when clean, the magic which creates rattenkönigs seems to keep a constant hard filth around them which provides protection. They receive a natural armor bonus equal to 3 + their HD.
• Swarm Intelligence (Ex): One rat is an animal, and a dozen rats bound in a rattenkönig is intelligent, but dim witted. However as their numbers grow, so do their intelligence. The rattenkönig receives a +1 enhancement bonus to Intelligence at 2 HD and every two HD beyond, to a maximum of +16 Int at 32 HD. When a rattenkönig loses HD due to temporary or permanent negative levels, their intelligence subsequently drops as well.

Because I've made it impossible for them to wear armor, I've given them a scaling natural armor bonus to keep them on par with creatures expected at that level. They might still obtain a proper armor bonus via spells and magic items, but since AC quickly becomes irrelevant at higher levels, this should only serve to make them decent instead of too much. And if they go the spell route and self buff, it's probably means they're a sorcerer (Cha penalty) or wizard (Int penalty... sorta) which brings me to...

Swarm Intelligence is a big bonus, but they start with heavy penalty. With the penalty in mind they start with -4, and don't match normal wizards with no Int bonus until level 8. At 32 (well into epic incidentally) they now equal a human wizard with a +12 magic item, which they would surely have by then. Since this doesn't stack with magic items, all this does is save them some cash at the expense of being effective later than a human of equal level. It should work out. Don't let the big number scare you. -- Eiji-kun (talk) 08:43, 25 September 2012 (UTC)

Yeah... so armor bonus usually goes up to 13 (+5 full plate) without dex, making the current number WAY too high. Make it 3 + 1/2 level or somesuch, since it also stacks with an enhancement bonus to natural armor. Furthermore, state it explicitly that they can't benefit from a bonus to armor or else it gets way out of hand with the different spells and bracers available. That's my biggest concern, since at level 20 they'll be fine-ish as far as int goes. I still think the Skritt were a better idea though :-P I don't see anyone actually being able to play this in a serious campaign and communicate with other party members, much less be able to RP with PCs... Also, can swarms actually wear anything? You might want to actually out-and-out say what slots they have, and even maybe describe how they wear them since... yeah, I don't really see it :-/ --Ghostwheel (talk) 11:23, 25 September 2012 (UTC)

Spoke to you in chat, just speaking for history sake. Fair point on AC, so it's been altered. The body slot and "wearing" issue is in quasi-swarm traits.

Heh, serious it is not. The Skritt inspired me, but they're not intended to be Skritt per se (mostly because I'm not familiar enough with them to do them justice). This does open up all sorts of fun other ideas of making swarm-like things. Another time though. -- Eiji-kun (talk) 11:42, 25 September 2012 (UTC)