PFRPG: Half-Tanuki Race

by Tim Wallace

Born of the not-as-unlikely-as-you-may-think pairing of a halfling and a tanuki, a half-tanuki generally resembles a Small version of a tanuki. However, they also can shapechange into a halfling form that hints at their tanuki heritage. As both of their parent races, half-tanuki are infamous pranksters. However, when threatened they become quite fearsome in combat, often using whatever is at hand as a weapon.

Half-Tanuki Racial Traits (13 RP)

+2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, –2 Strength: Half-tanuki are nimble and quick-witted, but their small stature makes them weaker than other races.

Half-Tanuki: Half-tanuki are humanoids with the halfling and shapechanger subtypes.

Small: Half- tanuki are Small creatures and gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty to their CMB and CMD, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.

Slow Speed (–1 RP): Half- tanuki have a base speed of 20 feet.

Low-Light Vision (1 RP): Half- tanuki can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.

Adaptable Fighter (2 RP): Half- tanuki receive Catch Off-Guard as a bonus feat at 1st level.

Change Shape (Su) (3 RP): A half-tanuki can assume the appearance of a specific single halfling form of the same sex. The half-tanuki always takes this specific form when she uses this ability. A half-tanuki in halfling form gains a +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear halfling. Changing shape is a standard action. This ability otherwise functions as alter self, except that the half-tanuki does not adjust his ability scores.

Gift of Tongues (2 RP): Half-tanuki gain +1 racial bonus on Bluff and Diplomacy checks, and learn 2 languages each time they gain a rank in Linguistics rather than 1 language.

Halfling Luck (2 RP): Half- tanuki receive a +1 racial bonus on all saving throws.

Saké Affinity (Su) (4 RP): As a swift action, a half-tanuki can take a swig of saké. When she does so, she gains the effect of one of the following spells (dependent on his level): at 1st level, a half-tanuki can use this ability to gain the effect of divine favor; at 5th level, a half-tanuki can use this ability to gain the effect of false life; and at 7th level, a half-tanuki can use this ability to gain the effect of haste or rage. Unusual half-tanukis may swap out these spell effect choices at the GM's discretion. A half-tanuki’s caster level is equal to his total Hit Dice for this ability. Each time a half-tanuki takes a swig of saké, she becomes progressively drunker and takes a –1 penalty to its AC and on Reflex saves for 1 minute. These penalties stack.

Languages: Half-tanuki begin play speaking Halfing and Tanuki. Half-tanuki with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: any human language, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Sylvan, and Tengu.

Alternate Racial Traits

The following racial traits may be selected instead of existing half-tanuki racial traits. Consult your GM before selecting any of these new options.

Darkvision (Ex): Your vision matches that of your tanuki parent. You gain darkvision 60 feet. This replaces the low-light vision and adaptable fighter traits.

Fast Shifter (Su): You were born with an innate talent for switching between your natural forms. Using your racial change shape ability is a move action instead of a standard action. This racial trait replaces the halfling luck trait.

Bake-Danuki (Su): Your shapechanging ability outstrips that of other half-tanuki. You can assume the appearance of a Small or Medium humanoid as the alter self spell, save that you do not adjust your ability scores. You still have static Small tanuki and halfling forms that you probably use with allies. This trait replaces the change shape and sake affinity racial traits.

Silver Tongued (Ex): You gain a +2 bonus on Bluff and Diplomacy checks. In addition, when you use Diplomacy to shift a creature's attitude, you can do so up to three steps up rather than just two. This replaces the adaptable fighter and gift of tongues traits.

Favored Class Options

The following options are available to all half-tanuki who have the listed favored class, and unless otherwise stated, the bonus applies each time you select the favored class reward.

Barbarian: Select one known rage power usable only once per rage. The barbarian adds +1/6 to the number of times it can be used per rage. Once that rage power is usable twice per rage, the barbarian must select a different rage power.

Bard: Add a +1/2 bonus on Bluff checks to lie and a +1/2 bonus on Diplomacy checks to gather information.

Fighter: Add +1 to the fighter's CMD when resisting a dirty trick or steal attempt (see Advanced Player’s Guide).

Ninja: The ninja gains 1/6 of a new ninja trick or add +1/4 point to the ninja’s ki pool.

Monk: Add +1/4 point to the monk's ki pool.

Rogue: The rogue gains 1/6 of a new rogue talent.

Racial Archetypes

The following racial archetypes are available to half-tanuki.

Drunken Reveler (Bard)

Many bards both drink and perform, but the drunken reveler has figured out how to use alcohol to fuel his performance in new ways.

Drunken Trapfinding: A drunken reveler adds +2 to Perception skill checks made to locate traps and to Disable Device skill checks for each alcoholic drink he has consumed, to a maximum of +2 per four drunken reveler levels. As long as a drunken reveler has consumed an alcoholic drink within the last minute, he can use Disable Device to disarm magic traps. This ability replaces bardic knowledge.

Drunken Dance: A drunken reveler is trained in the use of the Perform skill, especially dance, to create magical effects on himself. This works like bardic performance, except that he does not need to be able to see or hear his own performance. Drunken dancing is treated as bardic performance for the purposes of feats, abilities, and effects that affect bardic performance, except that battle dancing does not benefit from the Lingering Performance feat or any other ability that allows a bardic performance to grant bonuses after it has ended. The benefits of drunken dancing apply only when the bard is wearing light or no armor. Like bardic performance, battle dancing cannot be maintained at the same time as other performance abilities.

As long as the drunken reveler has consumed an alcoholic drink within the last minute, starting a battle dance is a move action. If the drunken reveler has not consumed an alcoholic drink within the last minute, starting a drunken dance is a full-round action.  A drunken dance can be maintained each round as a free action. Changing a drunken dance from one effect to another requires the drunken reveler to stop the previous performance and start the new one as a move action (though he does not have to take another drink to do so). Like a bard, a drunken reveler's performance ends immediately if he is killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a free action each round. A drunken reveler cannot perform more than one battle dance at a time. At 10th level, the drunken reveler can start a drunken dance by using a swift action instead of a move action if he has consumed an alcoholic drink within the last minute; and as a move action if he has not.

All abilities below that provide constant bonuses to the drunken reveler for having drunk alcoholic drinks while performing a drunken dance apply those bonuses concurrently for the duration of his drunken dance. His first drink to start a drunken dance counts toward these bonuses. All other types of bardic performance work normally (affecting the bard and his allies, or the bard’s enemies, as appropriate).

This ability alters the standard bardic performance ability.

Liquid Courage (Ex): While dancing, the drunken reveler increases him morale bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects by +1 for each alcoholic drink he consumes during his dance, to a maximum of +1 increase per four drunken reveler levels. This ability replaces countersong.

Roaring Drunk (Ex): While dancing, the drunken reveler gains a +1 morale bonus on Intimidate checks and to the save DC of any fear effects he creates for each alcoholic drink he has consumed during his dance, to a maximum of +1 per four drunken reveler levels. This ability replaces fascinate.

Staggering Drunk (Ex): While dancing, a drunken reveler gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks of opportunity for each alcoholic drink he has consumed during his dance, to a maximum of +1 per four drunken reveler levels. This ability replaces well-versed.

Boasting Taunt (Ex): While dancing, the drunken reveler can incite a creature to attack him by making an Intimidate check to demoralize. If the check succeeds, the target is also shaken as long as the drunken reveler is visible and dancing or until it makes a melee attack against the drunken reveler. The drunken reveler receives a +2 circumstance bonus on this check for every alcoholic drink he has consumed during this dance. This is a language-dependent mind-affecting effect, and it relies on audible components. This ability replaces suggestion.

Good for What Ails You (Ex): While dancing, the drunken reveler who takes a drink of alcohol may attempt a new saving throw against one of the following conditions that may be affecting him: blinded, confused, dazzled, deafened, exhausted, fatigued, frightened, nauseated, panicked, shaken, or sickened. If he succeeds at the save, the effect is suppressed for the duration of the dance. he also may attempt a new saving throw if poisoned; a successful save counts against those required for a cure, but a failed save has no ill effect. This ability replaces lore master.

Mass Boasting Taunt (Ex): While dancing, the drunken reveler can incite multiple creatures to attack him by making an Intimidate check to demoralize. If the check succeeds, the targets are also shaken as long as the drunken reveler is visible and dancing or until they make melee attacks against the drunken reveler. The drunken reveler receives a +2 circumstance bonus on this check for every alcoholic drink he has consumed during this dance. This is a language-dependent mind-affecting effect, and it relies on audible components. He can target one creature for every three levels of drunken reveler he has attained beyond 1st. This ability replaces mass suggestion.

Zen Rager (Monk)

While a barbarian is the picture of rage unbridled, a zen rager is the picture of rage bottled up and given a focus.

Rage (Ex): At 1st level, a zen rager can call upon inner reserves of strength and ferocity, granting her additional combat prowess. Starting at 4th level, a zen rager can rage for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + her Wisdom modifier. At each level after 4th, she can rage for 2 additional rounds. Temporary increases to Wisdom, such as those gained from spells like owl’s wisdom, do not increase the total number of rounds that a zen rager can rage per day. A zen rager can enter rage as a free action. The total number of rounds of rage per day is renewed after resting for 8 hours, although these hours do not need to be consecutive.

While in rage, a zen rager gains a +4 morale bonus to her Strength and Constitution, as well as a +2 morale bonus on Will saves. In addition, she takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class. The increase to Constitution grants the zen rager 2 hit points per Hit Dice, but these disappear when the rage ends and are not lost first like temporary hit points. While in rage, a zen rager cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or any ability that requires patience or concentration.

A zen rager can end her rage as a free action and is fatigued after rage for a number of rounds equal to 2 times the number of rounds spent in the rage. A zen rager cannot enter a new rage while fatigued or exhausted but can otherwise enter rage multiple times during a single encounter or combat. If a zen rager falls unconscious, her rage immediately ends, placing her in peril of death.

This ability replaces stunning fist.

Bonus Feat: Add Extra Rage to her list of available bonus feats at 1st level, and Extra Rage Power ^APG to her list of available bonus feats at 6th level.

Stunning Fist (Ex): At 4th level, the zen rager gains Stunning Fist as a bonus feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites. At 4th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, the zen rager gains the ability to apply a new condition to the target of his Stunning Fist. This condition replaces stunning the target for 1 round, and a successful saving throw still negates the effect. At 4th level, she can choose to make the target fatigued. At 8th level, she can make the target sickened for 1 minute. At 12th level, she can make the target staggered for 1d6+1 rounds. At 16th level, she can permanently blind or deafen the target. At 20th level, she can paralyze the target for 1d6+1 rounds. The zen rager must choose which condition will apply before the attack roll is made. These effects do not stack with themselves (a creature sickened by Stunning Fist cannot become nauseated if hit by Stunning Fist again), but additional hits do increase the duration.

This ability replaces ki pool and ki strike (all).

Rage Powers (Ex): At 5th, 7th, and 12th levels, a zen rager gains a rage power drawn from the list of barbarian rage powers. Her zen rager level counts as her barbarian level for the purpose of meeting the perquisites of rage powers. This ability replaces high jump, wholeness of body, and abundant step.

Tireless Rage (Ex): Starting at 19th level, a zen rager no longer becomes fatigued at the end of her rage. This ability replaces empty body.

Half-Tanuki Feats

Half-tanuki have access to the following feats.

Improved Saké Affinity

Your favorite drink affects you in new ways.

Prerequisites: Character level 3rd, half-tanuki or tanuki, saké affinity.

Benefit: You gain a new spell effect when you drink saké. Choose one of the following spells (availability dependent on your character level or hit dice): illusion of calm ^uc (3rd), invisibility (5th), displacement (7th), freedom of movement (9th), resurgent transformation ^APG (11th), or statue (13th). You may instead gain that ability when you use your saké affinity ability. Your caster level is equal to your total Hit Dice for this ability.

Special: You may select this feat up to six times. Each time you take it, you gain new spell effect for your saké affinity ability.

Master Brewer

Your mastery of brewing alcohol borders on the supernatural.

Prerequisite: Craft (alcoholic beverages) or Profession (brewer) 5 ranks.

Benefit: You receive a +2 bonus on Craft (alcoholic beverages) checks, and you may create mundane alcoholic beverages much more quickly than normal. When making alcoholic beverages, you can create a number of doses equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum 1) at one time. These additional doses do not increase the time required, but they do increase the raw material cost.

In addition, whenever you make alcoholic beverages using Craft (alcoholic beverages), use the item's gp value as its sp value when determining your progress (do not multiply the item's gp cost by 10 to determine its sp cost).

Raccoon Shape

You can change into a raccoon.

Prerequisites: Cha 13, character level 3rd, half-tanuki.

Benefit: You can take the appearance of a raccoon (see Bestiary 3) whose appearance is static and cannot be changed each time you assume this form. You gain a bite attack which deals 1d3 damage and gain a +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear as a raccoon. In addition, while in raccoon shape you add your Dexterity (instead of Strength) modifier to modify Climb and Swim checks. Changing from half-tanuki to raccoon shape is a standard action. This ability otherwise functions as beast shape II, and you ability scores change accordingly.

Swift Tanuki Skinchanger

You can change into a raccoon.

Prerequisites: Dex 13, character level 3rd, half-tanuki or tanuki.

Benefit: You can assume any of your shape changing abilities as a swift action.

Normal: A tanuki or half-tanuki’s shape changing abilities require a standard action.

Bake-Danuki Skinchanger

Your shapechanging ability outstrips that of other half-tanuki.

Prerequisites: Cha 13, character level 3rd, half-tanuki or tanuki.

Benefit: You can assume the appearance of a Small or Medium humanoid as the alter self spell, save that you do not adjust your ability scores. You still have static Small tanuki and halfling forms that you probably use with allies.

Half-Tanuki Magic Items

Half-tanuki have access to the following magic item.

Mahōfukube (魔法瓢)

Price 8,000 gp; Aura moderate transmutaion; CL 7th; Weight 1 lb.

This drinking gourd appears unremarkable. To gain the benefit of the gourd, it must be filled with saké, Whenever a drink is taken from the gourd, the drinker gains a +4 bonus to their caster level for saké affinity spell effects. If the drinker does not have saké affinity, they gain no benefit from drinking from the saké- filled mahōfukube.

Construction Requirements

Cost 4,000 gp; Craft Wondrous Item, saké affinity