Just some stuff I was tossing around here...I can see definitely why this might be at the very least a restricted race.
Physical Description and Costuming:
Since a homunculus is created from the corpse of a native Ornian creature, it would make sense for it to be able to retain some, if not all, of the actual appearance of said creature in addition to the requirement of green veins. An Angori homunculus could have horns, for example, or a Dwarf homunculus could have a beard.
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Class and Skill Affinities:
(Crazy idea alert) Going on the idea that a homunculus is a creature that used to be something else, might it be feasible to give a Homunculus one inborn class affinity (Rogue/Alchemist/Warlock etc.) and one or two inborn skill affinities, and let them choose a single class affinity and one or two skill affinities, if applicable, from their base race?
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Racial Ability ideas:
Venomous Utterance: May shoot a damaging spray of their poisonous blood from their mouth/from an opened vein. Single or multi packet, (x) Tox.
Last Gasp (this one needs some work): When dropped to 0 health, instead of bleeding out normally the homunculus may immediately enter a trancelike state of concentrated strength for X seconds, during which he is conscious and may attack or cast spells as normal but takes no damage. After this period the homunculus drops immediately to "dead" status.
Strength of False Life: similar to Dwarf "Unyielding Defense"
Venomous Retaliation: The alchemical blood of a homunculus grants them a Ruin effect to be used for offense or defense.
Venomous Resilience: The alchemical blood of a homunculus makes them resistant to "Tox" effects, granting them the ability to counter one Tox effect.
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Other ideas:
Stephen seemed OK with entertaining the idea of letting players keep a "half-level backup" on the books in case you happen to perm in the middle of an event. What if, after perming, a character could be given the option to be resurrected at (at a level loss) as a homunculus? I think that would bring out some really entertaining RP and plotline opportunities; there would definitely be some RP and possibly serious IP consequences. (This would only work for PCs that were not already homunculi.)
-C-
Oh Alchemist...the class of mystery...
(That would totally make Alchemists a lot like like Warlocks. Oooh, evil! Or maybe they could create non-sentient ones? Golems, those being animate beings made out of inanimate matter as opposed to made from people. Slightly less evil, but equally creepy.)
-C-
I reject your reality and substitute my own!
For future reference, the adjectival form of Orn is Ornish, not Ornian. Honest mistake, since I have yet to write up the lore. ;)
I'm down with homunculi having the appearance of other races. By virtue of homunculus being a race rather than a condition, however, they could not have the abilities of other races. Thus, even if you wear the elf ears, you don't get Keen Senses like an elf, etc. Note that we've already considered the prospect of a "Frankenstein" race that could gain the abilities of other races by combining bits and pieces of them, but homunculi will not be that race.
The variable affinity thing isn't such a crazy idea, although I don't see it happening for a very important reason. While it might not seem that powerful, take into account that most characters won't ever buy want more than one or two skills that aren't appropriate to their class and race choices (if they did, they probably would have chosen differently). Thus, being able to choose a skill affinity is almost as good as being human for the careful planner. The same applies to a variable class affinity. Add to that the racial abilities and you have a twink's dream race.
Like so many other things, I need to make the idea of a backup PC known. Thanks for reminding me. On that note, the idea of a PC perming and becoming a homunculus intrigues me. Really, it's taking the concept of the homunculus to its natural evolution. I'd be curious to see how someone chose to play it off. The homunculus is, after all, a completely different person, even if he or she shares the same physical appearance (and memories?) as the original body. Do you try to assume the identity of your predecessor, or spit in the face of their legacy? Do your old comrades shun you or look on you with pity? There's some excellent potential for drama if done by a mature roleplayer, so I'm all for it.
Looking over Venomous Utterance gave me a great idea; how about a splash of acidic blood in response to an attack (i.e., Retort 20 Tox)? Tox immunity is the other I'm strongly considering, but that will have to come later when I finish working out the immunity effect. I'm not feeling Last Gasp, if only because I've denied similar "infinite health" effects in other instances.
Great work, Casey. This is the sort of stuff I like to see. :)
"You are technically correct. The best kind of correct!"
- Bureaucrat 1.0, Futurama
Ahah, so you ADMIT humans are the master race! Human awesome team go! ;)
The "fresh chance" of a PC resurrected as a homunculus was the idea that really grabbed me when I first had it. You'd probably have some lingering memories of your skills and previous life, death-related brain damage notwithstanding. (Yes! Brain-damaged PCs! My work here is done...)
-C-
I reject your reality and substitute my own!
LMAO
Yes, humans are awesome... from a raw skills perspective. If the skills and classes you want fall in line with another race's affinities, however, other races are superior because of their racial abilities.
"You are technically correct. The best kind of correct!"
- Bureaucrat 1.0, Futurama
I have created Acidic Blood action in response to the retort 20 tox post.
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
and give high lvl alchemists the ability to create them as well.
"I'm not locked up in with all of you, all of you are locked up in here with me!" Rorschach - Watchmen