Pixie Player Character - A set of thoughts

[mgtremaine]

Monster PC's in C&C are detailed vaguely in the CK. Which is just how I like it as a GM ....

I was throwing some ideas around for a Pixie Cleric when thought I should jot some of these ideas down, then I decide I might as well share them.

First thought, 3rd edition had all kinds of rules for this that sadly I never got a chance to play. But the biggest detail seemed to the LA (Level Adjustment rating). Using that as a general scale might be useful to calculate the extra xp that should be required. (Throw the rest ofthe garbage out the window].

Second thought class and half has a cool table to blend hp, what if you use the monsters base hp and the class hp as the two input to the this table.

Third thought natural powers should be gained through the progress of the early levels.

These thoughts came to together like so for a PIxie Cleric class. Below the xp chart with the additional xp per first 4 levels. Also it show what racial powers they gain at what level. You can see some powers gain in strength, so instead of Improved Invis, they start with a blend like the psuedodragon, then regular invis, then finally improved invis. Same with their illusion power, starts weak gets better...

Code: Select all

Pixie Cleric Exp Chart: [Level Adjustment 4 levels]
1st		0 		 d6		Blend [1], Silent Image [3], Detect Thoughts, Dancing Lights, SR 1
2nd		3251		d6		Invisibility [1], Minor Image [3], Know Alignment, SR 2
3rd		7001		d6		Major Image [3], Change Self [2], Confusion 1rd/lvl [4], SR 3
4th		13001		d6		Persistent Image [3], Dispel Magic, SR 4
5th		26001		d6		Improved Invisibility [1], Polymorph Self [2], SR 5 
6th		35001		d6		Permanent Illusion [3], Confusion [as Curse] [4], SR 6
Normal XP After This

Normal Pixie Racial Powers:

SR 6
Improved Invisibility [1] at will

1/Day Powers
Polymorph Self [2]
Permanent Illusion [3]
Know Alignment
Confusion [as a Curse] [4]
Dispel Magic [@ 8th level]
Dancing Lights
Detect Thoughts
Sleep [10%]

-Mike

[Just Jeff]

I know a guy who ran a pixie PC. I don't remember if it was T&T or D&D. I do remember him trying to convince the GM that a pixie didn't need lockpicks. Just climb inside the lock and wiggling.

[Arduin]

I know a guy who ran a pixie PC. I don't remember if it was T&T or D&D. I do remember him trying to convince the GM that a pixie didn't need lockpicks. Just climb inside the lock and wiggling.

LOL! I didn't know that pixies were < 1" tall.

[Treebore]

I like it. The class and a half idea is really good, I think, for this.

As for pixie's picking locks without lock picks, not only did I not know they were small enough to do that, I'd still think the tumblers would be pretty tough without some kind of tool to leverage them with.

[Lord Dynel]

If you want to go the racial class way, what you did would work pretty well I think. One thing about 3.x methods, though, were you were supposed to be that creature after all it's class levels were taken. A pixie was five levels of racial classes and once you took all five of them, you weer equivalent to the CL 5 pixie. I guess that works okay.

I don't know how I'd do it. I would probably work it similar to the CKG, but stagger their abilities a little. Off the top of my head, I'd probably always make them always roll a d4 for hit points, regardless of the class they choose, and then stagger their abilities every few levels. I'd give them their improved invisibility and their first arrow, and maybe SR 2 at 1st level. At 3rd level, I'd give them the sleep arrow and some spell like abilities. At 5th, a few more special abilities and SR 4. At 9th I'd give them their memory loss arrow, their permanent illusion ability and the CL 6. I think I'd also follow the guidelines of the CKG in regards to adding 1000 XP to reach 2nd level, 2000 to reach 3rd, 4000 to reach 4th, 8000 to reach 5th, etc.

But I do agree - with the vagueness, it does allow for CK fiat. Which is a good thing!

[Peter]

The method I use for monstrous races is as follows:

Races receive 1 dice higher for each size larger than medium. If the die would be above a d12, than instead add a d4 per die higher. Likewise, a race receives 1 dice lower for each size below small. The die can never be below 1d2.

So as a pixie cleric, he would have 1d6 HP per level.

Other factors that would make the pixie balanced include:

Due to the pixie's size, he can only wield smaller weapons which deal less damage.
Armor would be double the cost due to unique shape and size of the pixie.
The pixie's flight would be restricted or not allowed in certain types of armor.

[Arduin]

Due to the pixie's size, he can only wield smaller weapons which deal less damage.

According to the pixie description, they only do damage with special (ie. magical) arrows. As they are small enough to be hunted by kitty cats, they would do no h.p. of damage with hand held weapons. Well, maybe if they poked you in the eye. But,otherwise no credible threat of damage.

[Peter]

Ah, ya I'm thinking in AD&D2 terms. The Complete Book of Humanoids lists weapons for pixies. I'd say a rogue pixie can most definitely anklestab a target in the anterior tibial artery, causing a couple points of damage. Although the target could easily come down on the pixie with a flywater and crush him.

[Arduin]

Ah, ya I'm thinking in AD&D2 terms. The Complete Book of Humanoids lists weapons for pixies. I'd say a rogue pixie can most definitely anklestab a target in the anterior tibial artery, causing a couple points of damage.

Sure, on a crit roll. (see my eye example above). Otherwise, "snowball in hell".

[mgtremaine]

I didn't bring up damage and weapons just because I was just talking class based theory & framework, but I agree Pixie without their bows should not being do damage or at least not much.

I was thinking that Pixies would roll a 2d4 for strength which should give most of them a -1 or -2 to damage. If the best pixie weapon was 1d2 then problem solved. Pixies can hit but all damage is superficial.

Of course any monster PC is really meant for advanced games . Still it's fun to consider.

-MIke

[Treebore]

I didn't bring up damage and weapons just because I was just talking class based theory & framework, but I agree Pixie without their bows should not being do damage or at least not much.

I was thinking that Pixies would roll a 2d4 for strength which should give most of them a -1 or -2 to damage. If the best pixie weapon was 1d2 then problem solved. Pixies can hit but all damage is superficial.

Of course any monster PC is really meant for advanced games . Still it's fun to consider.

-MIke

In our 2E days I ran a campaign with characters all being from the "Complete Humanoid" book, and it was a lot of fun, and gave me a lot of new perspectives as a GM.

[serleran]

The Mayfair remake of City-State of the Invincible Overlord had a pixie (as I recall) as a playable race, along with lizardman.

I like the staggered abilities, starting them off relatively weak and increasing with progression... but, they might improve too rapidly. Maybe not one per level. But, that's really a matter of testing to see how it goes.