User talk:ZarHakkar/Assimilitant (5e Race)

Post-2019-Revamp Discussion

Minor Things

So I happened to stumble upon this class while looking through the feats list. Its a great race, very interesting playstyle and frankly it opens up many possibilities. There are a few things I'd like to comment on. Most importantly was the fact this race seems not to be on the normal 5e homebrew race list under its respective type. I don't know if that's intentional, but I think it shows great promise and should be put in a place that will let it be seen by others. Continuing on, you questioned type on this creature, and I do think it would be a bit of both, but I would think whatever genetics were used to make them would define its type. What I mean, is it probably would be something on a subclass basis. Such as Hulking, being from a giant or dragon. I would assume the Assimilitant would end up having that race and Monstrosity. Aberration seems like a good fit, but unless I'm wrong (which I probably am), then I'd think aberrations are only creatures who are clearly not of this reality. The Assimilitant seems like it was created by mixing the dna of multiple real world creatures. Something like the Uncanny Assimilitant would maybe be both monstrosity and aberration, while the primordial seems to be an ooze monstrosity. Speaking of primordial, I had a few questions on that subrace. From the base description from his physiology and how the subrace has semi-solid form and sensory differentiation, I was wondering if it would need to breath. The green ooze that makes up their bodies seem to be an organic slush that functions as any needed organs to keep the assimilitant going. So would it not need to breath is my question, seeing how it has no mouth. And as a side question to its organs, would it lose the traits listed above if it gained eyes, a mouth and vocal cords or other organs? Or would it keep its blind-sense but also have normal vision if it got eyes and a normal body.

I merely ask all this as simple questions. I find this race fantastic for the most part and wish more people would be able to see it. But I have no idea how to list it in the race section, and I'd not go about messing with a person's page. For all I know the creator wants it here, so who am I to disagree. Merely opinions and questions friend! Do take care and you have a fine race here. --The Grand Showmanship 07:56, 13 March 2020 (MDT)

Hmm.. lots of interesting points brought up. I guess I'll tackle them one at a time.

• The race is not listed on the 5e homebrew race page.

This is intentional, for now at least. When I first created this race, it was very bloated with features and very unbalanced. It got struck with several templates right away. I was advised by fellow user that perhaps I should move it to my user page, and so I did to work on it alone until it could meet higher standards.

• Genetics defining creature type.

That's an interesting idea, although as one of the original issues of this race was that it was too bloated initially, I am a bit worried to adding additional specifics. I feel like monstrosity is a good general catch-all for the type, since, like you said, aberrations are typically not of this world, as assimilitants are very much of this world. Interestingly enough, there's a precedent set with the owlbear I can refer to in this case: despite being an experimental hybrid of two beasts, it is considered a monstrosity. This mindset can be applied to the assimilitant with the same logic.

• Primordial assimilitants.

The only difference between primordial and the other subraces is that the others were given the opportunity to have an external structure. Primordials were not, and are thus considered to be the "base" assmilitant form. Think of them as giant cells. Respiration is still required for them to live, but they do so through their outermost membrane, the same "skin" that allows them to "see" and "eat" and such. As for it losing traits, it wouldn't typically. Most if not any of them being gained would be an "addition" on top of their regular traits, unless it's something radical like covering the outer membrane with a stone-like casing or something.

I'm glad you enjoyed my race! Thanks for taking the time to tell me your thoughts. --ZarHakkar (talk) 22:52, 25 March 2020 (MDT)

Well I'm glad you enjoyed my ideas. I saw your edit to add respiration as a trait and I think it fits them well. Yes the race is 'bloated' but I feel that is due to its nature as a complex creature. Sure it is complex, but I feel if someone runs it by there DM, it is very much a working race. Its faults help counter the massive bonus it does seem to get and frankly it is only as powerful as what it can consume. If you are in a campaign where all you fight is humans 100% of the time, you'll gain no impressive traits and be very much a weaker entity for it. But in a world where monsters are abundant and can be found everywhere... well. Its very easy to see you gaining powers to help compensate for your faults or become much stronger than you could normally. I'd love to see this run with a spellcaster class or something of the sort, maybe created by a mage who had wanted to make themselves a new body but instead created this thing instead. You had a connection to the weave or maybe you learned as a wizard but seeing this with spells makes me quite interested in such a playstyle. Or maybe a fighter who tries to consume people in combat to gain their traits on the fly? Yes you'd probably have disadvantage while actively transforming your body, but maybe that's just how your Assimilitant is? It wants to evolve so bad it will do so even when doing so would put it at a disadvantage.

Thanks for responding to my ideas again and if I think of any more, I'll be sure to let ya know. I do hope I can get a DM give me a chance to run this, as I've got a few ideas for sure ;) Again, 5 star idea, very well done and balanced for sure. It has potential to be 'overpowered' but I mean you could say that about many of the standard classes too, so that's nothing new in D&D :P --The Grand Showmanship 09:49, 26 March 2020 (MDT)

Pre-2019-Revamp Discussion

Possible Improvements

• Should I create a "default" negative consequence that minimizes DM adjunction?
• You can't increase an ability score past 20 unless it's the ability score that that subrace specialize in
• What if there was a numerical limit to the number of traits you could assimilate?

Addressed, addressed, addressed! I'm finished and satisfied with this race. --ZarHakkar (talk) 05:21, 26 September 2018 (MDT)

Anything Else

Well I was trying to reach on ya on the Tavern Zar but nada. So then I was about to break it down but CL done so. I'll await your response. BigShotFancyMan (talk) 21:23, 23 June 2018 (MDT)

Aberration or Monstrosity?

Not sure whether this race should be classified as one or the other. --ZarHakkar (talk) 05:13, 23 June 2018 (MDT)

For now, I've decided on Monstrosity. --ZarHakkar (talk) 07:02, 23 June 2018 (MDT)

SRD Links

Whaddya mean "needs SRD links"? Do you not see all the friggin' SRD links? I went extraboard on them and I call bull. --ZarHakkar (talk) 10:17, 23 June 2018 (MDT)

Avoid using external images to belittle other editors you disagree with. Even if that editor is anonymous. —ConcealedLight (talk) 17:37, 23 June 2018 (MDT)