Homebrew Race: Sauric, Needing opinions and testing Options

[3278]

Why describe something almost completely reptilian, and then specify that it is mammalian, simply a warm-blooded reptile would make much more sense ?

If the desire is to have a scaled human - rather than a humanoid reptile - there is precedent within the mammals in the form of the pangolin, whose scales are made from the same material as human fingernails.

[MJBurrage]

If the desire is to have a scaled human - rather than a humanoid reptile - there is precedent within the mammals in the form of the pangolin, whose scales are made from the same material as human fingernails.

Very cool (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[TeknoDragon]

If the desire is to have a scaled human - rather than a humanoid reptile - there is precedent within the mammals in the form of the pangolin, whose scales are made from the same material as human fingernails.

Exactly. However, I am thinking part of the failure is a lack of general purpose 'oh, cool!' in my short notes on the sauric race. If, by and large, people are unable to accept something on the basis of its description, then I have failed in one or both of these ways: The quality of the description, or the physical design.

My purpose, after all, isn't just something for only me to play; rather, something for anyone to play. If it was just for me, I'd use a surge package and be done. Designing a race or any other major component of a game is just like writing any other fiction-- the piece has to stand on its own without defense from its writer.

So, to the group at large, then: if the body-shape were kept, but the scales changed for a slightly heavy skin (hide, that is), would that be more workable, in your imaginings?

[Draco18s]

1) The four eyes bugs me. There are no reptiles or mammals that have four eyes (I think its pretty much limited to spiders). I suspect this is weirding most people out.
2) You describe them as "half dragons" (or the inspiration four), but seem to be using the 4e body type (eg. no tail, no wings*), thus missing out on 90% of the fun of being a half dragon.**
3) Despite being described as reptiles, they're mammals with every mammal trait except hair. Even dolphins have hair (around their beak, though most species lose it shortly after birth).




*Admittedly 3.5 half dragons didn't have wings unless they were large size or larger, which bugs me from an aerodynamic standpoint, as you need wings that are twice as large relative to the body as the body size doubles in order to maintain flight (square-cube law).

**3.5 half dragons have their own issues, such as their breath weapon save DC being based on base creature HD, which does not include class hit die. I had Wizards confirm this, despite making no sense (sure, it makes half dragon T-rexes fucking scary, but your more common half-dragon half-humanoids with class levels pushovers at higher levels, not to mention being completely useless as a PC).

[Ol' Scratch]

Exactly. However, I am thinking part of the failure is a lack of general purpose 'oh, cool!' in my short notes on the sauric race.

I think it's more that they really just don't fit the setting at all. What you described is just a super freaky changeling that surpasses even a lot of Class III types. And it's very unlikely there'd be enough of them around to qualify as an entire race as written. Especially when the setting already has a potential draconic race available in the T'skrang who, aside from feeling right, also fill a much welcomed niche (by being another charismatic race to give Elves a run for their money).

I mean, it just comes from out of left-field with no support or logic behind it. They don't look right, they don't feel right, and they don't fit the setting very well if at all. All of which is why you're probably not receiving the kind of response you may have been hoping for.