Alternate Gorons, ECL 4

This is an idea I've had kicking around in the back of my head for a while now. This is currently in its second mechanically complete draft. Constructive criticism is welcomed.

Thanks to Solix and Zen for feedback.

Goron

Size/Type: Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 3d8+9 (23 hp)
Initiative: -1
Speed: 20 ft. (5 squares)
Defense: 14
Damage Resistance: 9/-
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+5
Attack: Unarmed Strike +9 melee (2d8+6)
Full Attack: Unarmed Strike +9 melee (2d8+6)
Space/Reach: 4 ft./4 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Natural Armor, Improved Natural Weapons, Stony Form, Dense, Fire Resistance 5, Low-light Vision, Curl-and-Roll
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +0
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8
Skills: Craft (Gunpowder) +3, Disguise +1, Concentration +4, Listen +4, Spot +20.
Feats: Alertness, Improved Natural Attack (Unarmed Strike), Improved Unarmed Strike.
Environment: Mountains
Organization: Solitary, gang (2-4), or band (11-20 plus 50% noncombatants plus 4 2nd-level sergeants and 1 leader of 2nd-5th level)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: Standard
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +1
Gorons speak Goron and Common.

Combat
Confident in their toughness and strength, most Gorons confidently wade into melee. Few can withstand many blows from their rock-hard fists.

Gorons as Characters
Goron characters possess the following racial traits.

+4 Strength, -2 Dexterity, +6 Constitution, -2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma.

Medium-size (Ex): As Medium creatures, 1 square for a Goron is 4 ft., giving them a space of 4 ft. by 4 ft. by 4 ft. (1 square by 1 square by 1 square), and a reach of 4 ft. (1 square) in all directions. Gorons get a +4/- size bonus to DR, and a +4 size bonus to all melee and ranged damage rolls, and have a +16 size bonus to bull rush, disarm, grapple, overrun, and trip checks. They have a +4 size bonus to Attack rolls and Defense, and a +16 size bonus to Hide and Spot checks for size.

Base Speed (Ex): Gorons have a base speed of five squares (20 ft.). Gorons can run up to only triple speed; however, when wearing medium armor or carrying a medium load, the goron’s speed is unchanged. While in heavy armor or toting a heavy load, the goron’s speed is cut to 4 squares (16 ft.), but running is still at triple speed. All armor check penalties apply normally.

Racial Hit Dice: A Goron begins with three levels of humanoid, which provide 3d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +2, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +3, and Will +1.
Racial Skills: A Goron’s humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 3 × (4 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Appraise, Construction, Craft, Disguise, Demolition, Listen, Profession and Spot.
Racial Feats: A Goron’s humanoid levels give it two feats. They also receive Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat at HD 2.
Racial Defense Bonus (Ex): Gorons get a +1 racial bonus to Defense. They lose this bonus anytime they would lose their Dexterity bonus to Defense.

Natural Armor (Ex): Gorons have damage reduction 5/-.
Improved Natural Weapons (Ex): The base damage for a Goron's unarmed strike is 2d6.
Dense (Ex): Gorons get a -4 racial penalty to all Swim skill checks. They sink like stones in most water.
Stony Form (Ex): Gorons get a +10 racial penalty to all Disguise skill checks to resemble small boulders.
Curl-and-Roll (Ex): See original Zelda D20 Sourcebook
Fire Resistance (Ex): Gorons have Fire Resistance 5.
Low-Light Vision (Ex): Gorons can see twice as far as normal in moonlight, torchlight, candlelight and other similar lighting conditions as normal. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

Favored Aspect (Tr): Gorons gain a +1 racial bonus to Caster Level when casting spells from the fire aspect.
Opposed Aspect (Tr): Gorons gain a -1 racial penalty to Caster Level when casting spells from the forest aspect. Gorons with a Caster Level of 0 or less are not prevented from casting spells from the forest aspect. Instead, they cast spells from the Forest aspect as if Caster Level 1, but all variables are automatically the minimum value possible.
Favored Class: Warrior
Level adjustment: +1

You have 6x(2+Int) skill points, with the new rules it should be 3x(2+Int). Unless all classes means HD to then it would be 3x(4+Int).

Fixed now I think, thank you.

I notice that Gorons only get 3 squares of movement, I think that it would be better if they got 4 instead, like a dwarf instead of well I really don't know. I just think that for a ECL 4 character it shouldn't be an issue of keeping up with the party on slopes. I also say this because Rolling is based on your base speed in part IIRC.

I think I agree. They were originally 5 squares, but I changed it to match LA+0 gorons. I'll make the alteration.

I think I agree. They were originally 5 squares, but I changed it to match LA+0 gorons. I'll make the alteration.

I would agree, if I have payed 4 levels I would at least like to keep up with the party.

I think I agree. They were originally 5 squares, but I changed it to match LA+0 gorons. I'll make the alteration.

I would agree, if I have payed 4 levels I would at least like to keep up with the party.

Yes. I want an average Goron to be a match for a level 4 Warrior with a greatsword, and part of what that entails is at least decent mobility.

I think that you are succeeding. Might want to make IUS a racial bonus feat then.

I'm considering it. Warriors are more powerful than fighters, so a bonus feat at HD 2 and full BAB progression might be reasonable. Taking into account the fact that they don't get any MP from these HD, I think I'm convinced. Any ideas for default feat selection?

I'm considering it. Warriors are more powerful than fighters, so a bonus feat at HD 2 and full BAB progression might be reasonable. Taking into account the fact that they don't get any MP from these HD, I think I'm convinced. Any ideas for default feat selection?

INA: Unarmed strike, that would as a feat stack with the racial ability. As for the second, either a rolling feat or something like Alertness or Improved Initiative.

I'm considering it. Warriors are more powerful than fighters, so a bonus feat at HD 2 and full BAB progression might be reasonable. Taking into account the fact that they don't get any MP from these HD, I think I'm convinced. Any ideas for default feat selection?

INA: Unarmed strike, that would as a feat stack with the racial ability. As for the second, either a rolling feat or something like Alertness or Improved Initiative.

Funnily enough, the first thing I thought when I saw the Tome of Battle's unarmed strike enhancement feat was that it would mess up my goron design. What about Rock Stance? It's goron-specific and enhances the total defence action.
EDIT: Sorry, misunderstood. Definitely going with INA, so I thought you were talking about a different feat.

My logic behind the second feat is that most Gorons will not spend there lives fighting. However the ability to spot things and the ability to get around better or react quicker would help in nearly any situation.

Certainly valid. INA makes sense because Gorons dig tunnels through rock by punching their way through. An Initiative bonus would make them less clumsy, so I'll go with Alertness.

I like it because you end up with someone who is reasonably good at combat but has flavor and can do other things.

http://zelda.wikia.com/wiki/Goron has some information on gorons that indicates that they might not be very observant. This is indicated with the Wisdom penalty, so Alertness is in. The average Goron has offset this problem somewhat.

One of the things that I actually like about the new skill system is that is makes feats like Alertness and Skill Focus a lot better.

That's certainly true. My main gripe is that it makes it impossible to make a semiproficient level 1 character, but the current skill system does have some very nice aspects.

True, most of the skills now need editing, as do some feats and almost all PRC's in order to make them conform to the new numbers.

True, most of the skills now need editing, as do some feats and almost all PRC's in order to make them conform to the new numbers.

If I run a level 5 module, I'll use DCs similar to what I'd use for level 1 characters in a different setting. Hopefully that will balance things out enough.

True, most of the skills now need editing, as do some feats and almost all PRC's in order to make them conform to the new numbers.

If I run a level 5 module, I'll use DCs similar to what I'd use for level 1 characters in a different setting. Hopefully that will balance things out enough.

Yes, it is another thing that makes the RPG less intuitive.