04-24-2013, 10:39 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-29-2013, 01:04 AM by Kaiser6012.)
Hmmm...
The Shumi could be a thing - it'd be a bit difficult justifying, as the race is (from what I recall of FF8) rather pacifistic and insular, but by the same token we've got Nu Mou and Viera, don't we?
That being said, racial archetype is, I feel, not the best way to go about the whole Moomba issue. Indeed, the roleplaying ramifications of playing a Moomba are not to be taken lightly. I would probably just say a blanket "no" on the possibility of playing a Moomba, making them a monster with sentience unless the player had an airtight story concept.
Actually, that's got me thinking...
Shumi
Insular, enigmatic, inscrutable... the Shumi have been described as all these and more. Skilled artisans, inventors and artists, the Shumi live solitary lives away from the rest of the world, mostly in hermetically sealed villages that can differ wildly from the outside environs. It is not unheard of, for example, to find a Shumi tribe living in a lush forest pod, complete with springs and complex ecospheres, within the frigid tundra of the far north.
Their personality goes towards the humble. A Shumi that lives within a tribe possesses no name, but instead bears a title that indicates their occupation. It is not uncommon to find Shumi named "stone-cutter" or "apprentice smith" within a village. Those who leave, though, have been known to take on names for varying reasons. If a Shumi leaves a village, they find their industrious, focused outlook on life can carry them far in life on the outside.
Rumors of their more jovial nature, in particular their love of practical jokes at the expense of others, is unsubstantiated.
Racial Traits
Medium: As medium creatures, Shumi recieve no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Shumi base land speed is 30 ft.
+2 DEX, +2 INT, -2 CON: Shumi are well renowned for their skill at working machines and artistic materials, both in invention and implementation. They have the insight to invent a machine and the deft hands to maintain it. However, their physique is not cut out for strenuous activity and they, in general, tend towards being portly rather than athletic.
Skill Focus (Craft): A Shumi takes to their chosen profession unlike many others. Only the most skilled of craftsmen can match the Shumi's work. The Shumi gain the Skill Focus feat for a single Craft skill for free at 1st level.
Portly: Though the Shumi are not good at physical exertion, their physiology allows for some measure of protection against physical harm. Their CON score is treated as 2 higher for the purposes of determining bonus hit points per level.
Magically Attuned: Though there is no acknowledgement of this from the Shumi Tribes, it seems they have a peculiar gift for harnessing latent magical powers, whether through weapons infused with magicite or through familiartiy with some of the more powerful magics in the land. A Shumi can choose a single spell of first level from any base class that they may apply to any class spell list. In effect, the Shumi "knows" this spell no matter what class they are. This ability does not grant the Shumi MP, merely the ability to cast it should they find a way to gain MP.
Evolutionary Aspiration: Through time, a Shumi goes through a process of metamorphosis, whereby their unique physiology changes depending on various (currently unknown) factors. Most aspire to metamorphose into the creature known as Moomba, friendly little creatures with striking red manes that resemble bipedal cats of about TaruTaru size. In this vein, most Shumi seek to emulate their friendly, trusting nature. When a Shumi aids another, they grant a bonus of +3 instead of the normal +2.
Alternate Racial Abilities
Materia Attuned: As some Shumi stone cutters and jewelers have found, working materia can be just as easy for them as working a fine gemstone. If chosen, a Shumi with Materia Attuned always treats Use Materia as a class skill, and gain a +2 to Use Materia for the purpose of determining caster level. This ability replaces Magically Attuned.
Magitech Attuned: Shumi artificers are spectacular at their jobs, and most find the blending of magic and machine somewhat more accessible than most. Shumi that take Magitech Attuned gain Magitech Proficiency as a bonus feat. This ability replaces Magically Attuned.
Mana Attuned: Shumi, either through their mastery of terraforming or through their reflective, almost zen existence, find themselves nexi to more powerful magics than some other races, though this is not by any means a common occurrence. Shumi that are Mana Attuned treat their spellcasting stat or stats as being 2 higher for the purpose of determining bonus MP. This ability replaces Portly.
Elder Shumi: The elder shumi, an evolved member of the Shumi tribe, act as the main leader and diplomat to their tribes and to those who seek their aid. As such, they have become used to dealing with people and are more apt at negotiations than most other Shumi. This ability grants a +2 bonus to Diplomacy and allows the Shumi to make a Perception or Sense Motive check (Their choice) against a target's Bluff check upon first meeting the target in a social situation. If successful, the Shumi has taken the measure of the target and knows how to make a good first impression, making the initial reaction to the Shumi (and any associated companions) one step higher than normal: Hostile people become unfriendly, unfriendly people become indifferent, etc. If the Shumi knows about the target beforehand (through rumours, firsthand accounts or prior observation of the target) they gain a +2 circumstance bonus to the roll. This ability cannot move a starting disposition above friendly. This ability replaces the Skill Focus (Craft) and Evolutionary Aspiration abilities.
Emotional Evolution: Though most Shumi evolve into forms that either emulate their beloved Moomba or a form that helps the tribe, some take a turn towards the darker and more selfish side to their nature. In time, their body grows to reflect this change, becoming more grotesque as their corruption grows. A Shumi with this ability takes a -2 penalty to DEX and STR as their body becomes even more bloated and corpulent on the negative mindset, but gain a +2 to an ability of their choice as they become more able to carry out their desires. This ability replaces Evolutionary Aspiration and Portly abilities.
...Eh? Eh? What do you think? I just knocked it together, but from what I recall of the Shumi it seems to fit.
EDIT: Brought the stat bonuses in line with Pathfinder standard by giving them a con penalty.
The Shumi could be a thing - it'd be a bit difficult justifying, as the race is (from what I recall of FF8) rather pacifistic and insular, but by the same token we've got Nu Mou and Viera, don't we?
That being said, racial archetype is, I feel, not the best way to go about the whole Moomba issue. Indeed, the roleplaying ramifications of playing a Moomba are not to be taken lightly. I would probably just say a blanket "no" on the possibility of playing a Moomba, making them a monster with sentience unless the player had an airtight story concept.
Actually, that's got me thinking...
Shumi
Insular, enigmatic, inscrutable... the Shumi have been described as all these and more. Skilled artisans, inventors and artists, the Shumi live solitary lives away from the rest of the world, mostly in hermetically sealed villages that can differ wildly from the outside environs. It is not unheard of, for example, to find a Shumi tribe living in a lush forest pod, complete with springs and complex ecospheres, within the frigid tundra of the far north.
Their personality goes towards the humble. A Shumi that lives within a tribe possesses no name, but instead bears a title that indicates their occupation. It is not uncommon to find Shumi named "stone-cutter" or "apprentice smith" within a village. Those who leave, though, have been known to take on names for varying reasons. If a Shumi leaves a village, they find their industrious, focused outlook on life can carry them far in life on the outside.
Rumors of their more jovial nature, in particular their love of practical jokes at the expense of others, is unsubstantiated.
Racial Traits
Medium: As medium creatures, Shumi recieve no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Shumi base land speed is 30 ft.
+2 DEX, +2 INT, -2 CON: Shumi are well renowned for their skill at working machines and artistic materials, both in invention and implementation. They have the insight to invent a machine and the deft hands to maintain it. However, their physique is not cut out for strenuous activity and they, in general, tend towards being portly rather than athletic.
Skill Focus (Craft): A Shumi takes to their chosen profession unlike many others. Only the most skilled of craftsmen can match the Shumi's work. The Shumi gain the Skill Focus feat for a single Craft skill for free at 1st level.
Portly: Though the Shumi are not good at physical exertion, their physiology allows for some measure of protection against physical harm. Their CON score is treated as 2 higher for the purposes of determining bonus hit points per level.
Magically Attuned: Though there is no acknowledgement of this from the Shumi Tribes, it seems they have a peculiar gift for harnessing latent magical powers, whether through weapons infused with magicite or through familiartiy with some of the more powerful magics in the land. A Shumi can choose a single spell of first level from any base class that they may apply to any class spell list. In effect, the Shumi "knows" this spell no matter what class they are. This ability does not grant the Shumi MP, merely the ability to cast it should they find a way to gain MP.
Evolutionary Aspiration: Through time, a Shumi goes through a process of metamorphosis, whereby their unique physiology changes depending on various (currently unknown) factors. Most aspire to metamorphose into the creature known as Moomba, friendly little creatures with striking red manes that resemble bipedal cats of about TaruTaru size. In this vein, most Shumi seek to emulate their friendly, trusting nature. When a Shumi aids another, they grant a bonus of +3 instead of the normal +2.
Alternate Racial Abilities
Materia Attuned: As some Shumi stone cutters and jewelers have found, working materia can be just as easy for them as working a fine gemstone. If chosen, a Shumi with Materia Attuned always treats Use Materia as a class skill, and gain a +2 to Use Materia for the purpose of determining caster level. This ability replaces Magically Attuned.
Magitech Attuned: Shumi artificers are spectacular at their jobs, and most find the blending of magic and machine somewhat more accessible than most. Shumi that take Magitech Attuned gain Magitech Proficiency as a bonus feat. This ability replaces Magically Attuned.
Mana Attuned: Shumi, either through their mastery of terraforming or through their reflective, almost zen existence, find themselves nexi to more powerful magics than some other races, though this is not by any means a common occurrence. Shumi that are Mana Attuned treat their spellcasting stat or stats as being 2 higher for the purpose of determining bonus MP. This ability replaces Portly.
Elder Shumi: The elder shumi, an evolved member of the Shumi tribe, act as the main leader and diplomat to their tribes and to those who seek their aid. As such, they have become used to dealing with people and are more apt at negotiations than most other Shumi. This ability grants a +2 bonus to Diplomacy and allows the Shumi to make a Perception or Sense Motive check (Their choice) against a target's Bluff check upon first meeting the target in a social situation. If successful, the Shumi has taken the measure of the target and knows how to make a good first impression, making the initial reaction to the Shumi (and any associated companions) one step higher than normal: Hostile people become unfriendly, unfriendly people become indifferent, etc. If the Shumi knows about the target beforehand (through rumours, firsthand accounts or prior observation of the target) they gain a +2 circumstance bonus to the roll. This ability cannot move a starting disposition above friendly. This ability replaces the Skill Focus (Craft) and Evolutionary Aspiration abilities.
Emotional Evolution: Though most Shumi evolve into forms that either emulate their beloved Moomba or a form that helps the tribe, some take a turn towards the darker and more selfish side to their nature. In time, their body grows to reflect this change, becoming more grotesque as their corruption grows. A Shumi with this ability takes a -2 penalty to DEX and STR as their body becomes even more bloated and corpulent on the negative mindset, but gain a +2 to an ability of their choice as they become more able to carry out their desires. This ability replaces Evolutionary Aspiration and Portly abilities.
...Eh? Eh? What do you think? I just knocked it together, but from what I recall of the Shumi it seems to fit.
EDIT: Brought the stat bonuses in line with Pathfinder standard by giving them a con penalty.