Pantherans Traits

Characters with the pantheran heritage share a variety of traits in common with one another.

Age. Pantherans tend to mature quickly compared to many humanoids, reaching adolescence at 2 years and physically maturing by age 10. Their natural lifespan is between 50–70 years, with snow-spotted pantherans usually being the longest-lived.

Size. The smallest pantherans are rarely above 3 feet tall and weigh around 40 pounds, while the largest may be 8 feet and over 300 pounds. Your size is Medium, unless otherwise stated by your gift.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a climbing speed of 30 feet.

Cat-Like Reflexes. You gain an expertise die on initiative checks.

Claws. You have retractable claws. Extending or retracting the claws requires no action. The claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes that deal slashing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.

Darkvision. You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Pantheran Gifts

There is great diversity within the pantheran heritage. In addition to the traits found in your pantheran heritage, select one of the following gifts:

Snow-Spotted

Originally hailing from high mountain regions, these pantherans have thick coats and a knack for navigating rocky crags. They most often resemble snow leopards. You have the
following traits:

Graceful Fall. You can reduce any falling damage you take by 10 as long are you are not incapacitated. This trait stacks with other attempts to mitigate falling damage, such as an
adept ’s Slow Fall practiced technique.

Thick Fur. You are resistant to cold damage. You are also naturally acclimated to high altitudes, including elevations above 20,000 feet.

Weather Sense. You can spend one minute observing your surroundings. If you’re in a familiar type of terrain (as agreed with your Narrator), you can predict the next 24 hours of mundane weather. If you have never been in this type of terrain before, you can make a Survival check to do so, with a DC determined by the region’s tier. In addition, you can tell your altitude to within 100 feet.

Stripefolk

The largest category of pantherans, stripefolk nevertheless have a fluid grace, both in and out of the water. As their name suggests, these folk
most often resemble tigers, though some may take after other large forest cats, like leopards.

Gifted Mimic. You gain an expertise die on checks to mimic the voice or call of another creature you have heard before. This die increases to 1d6 if a creature you are trying to
deceive can’t see you.

Excellent Swimmer. You have a swimming speed of 30 feet.

Natural Camouflage. You gain proficiency in Stealth. If you are already proficient, you instead gain an expertise die

Powerful Frame. When determining your carrying capacity and the weight that you can push, drag, or lift, your size is considered to be Large.

Wildkin

Some pantherans resemble small wildcat species, such as bobcats or black-footed cats. They are far from helpless, however, and are some of the most skilled hunters and tenacious scrappers of the pantherans. You have the following traits:

Size. Your size is Small.

Natural Hunter. You have advantage on checks to perform the Hunt and Gather journey activity . On a success or better, you bring in 1 additional Supply each day.

Razor Quick. Your claws have the finesse property and you can use them as a bonus action.

Superior Darkvision. Your darkvision now extends to 120 feet. If you didn’t have darkvision already, you gain darkvision to a range of 60 feet.

Wriggly. You gain an expertise die on attempts made to escape being grappled. You do not suffer disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls or Dexterity saving throws made while squeezing.

Pantheran Paragon

At 10th level, you have become a paragon of their heritage. You gain one of the following features:

Land on Your Feet

You learn the feather fall spell and can cast it a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest. You also gain advantage on Dexterity ability checks and saving throws.

Nine Lives

Once per long rest, you can do one of the following without using an action:

• Turn a failed saving throw into a success.
• Turn a successful saving throw or death saving throw into a critical success.

Twitching Whiskers

You gain blindsight to 30 feet and can’t be surprised by invisible creatures. Unseen attackers within 10 feet do not gain advantage on attack rolls against you.

Pantherans Culture

Pantherans are a versatile heritage, near-universally admired for their natural beauty and grace. However, even in cultures that value closeness, pantherans favor strict boundaries, both personal and spatial, and they will walk away from situations they do not care for, even to their own detriment. While they may enjoy battle or the hunt, it is a rare pantheran who looks for empire or conquest.

As a people pantherans delight in novelty and will risk much in the pursuit of curiosity and investigation, meaning that among them are some of the most dedicated scholars, determined explorers, and genre-pushing creatives. As competitive as they can be, however, pantherans almost universally acknowledge the benefits of rest, occasionally leading to confusion or conflict with others when a high-energy worker or colleague suddenly lays down their work in favor of a nap.

Suggested Cultures

While you can choose any culture for your pantheran character, the following cultures are linked closely with this heritage: Freelinking: Node title Ka-Teni does not exist , lone wanderer , keeper of the land ,
moonkeeper , wildling

Sipher Traits

Characters with the sipher heritage share the following traits:

Age. Siphers mature more slowly than humans and are typically found to settle down into an adult life in their late 60s. They can live to be nearly 300 years old.

Size. Siphers are between 3 and 4 feet tall, and average roughly 100 pounds. Your size is Small. Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You cannot discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Hiveminded. You draw strength from the hivemind, gaining an expertise die when making an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw. Once you have used this feature you cannot use it again until you have taken a long rest. 

Insightful. A sipher’s life of connectivity grants them a natural intuitive empathy. You gain an expertise die when making Insight checks.

Sipher Gifts

While most siphers are born with a variety of ways to connect to and benefit from the hivemind, some are born without any connection at all. Some siphers are able to harness planetary energy, and use it to directly aid or harm those around them. In addition to the traits found in your sipher heritage, select one of the following gifts.

Core Child

A sipher born particularly close to a planet’s core amidst the heat, may have a particular kind of connection to such places. You have resistance to fire damage. Additionally, you are able to superheat yourself for one minute as a bonus action. While superheated, your skin glows red, and your unarmed attacks do fire damage. Any creature which touches you or which hits you with a natural weapon or unarmed attack automatically takes 1d6 fire damage. Once you have superheated yourself, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest.

Earthmeld

You have a burrowing speed of 10 feet. As long as it has not been manipulated with psionic powers, you can use your burrowing speed to move through sand, loose earth, loamy soil, or mud, but not solid rock. You do not naturally leave any sort of tunnel behind, but you can attempt to create a 5-foot by 5-foot wide tunnel in earth or soil by spending extra time and effort shoring up and adding support. This reduces your burrowing speed to 5 feet every 15 minutes.

Energy Bolt

Choose an energy type from acid, cold, fire, and lightning. As an action you can muster a bolt of planetary energy and make a ranged attack with a range of 30 feet. This attack counts as a natural weapon for you. On a hit, the bolt does damage equal to 1d8 + your Dexterity modifier.

Hivebound

Some siphers are more connected to the hivemind than others. You can tap into the hivemind to gain advantage on an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw. You cannot use this feature again until you finish a long rest. Planetary Invocation As an action you can touch a creature and channel planetary energy. The target regains hit points equal to your level. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. Your number of uses resets when you take a long rest.

Tremorsense

As long as you are in contact with the ground, you can sense vibrations and use them to pinpoint the location of anything that is moving and also in contact with the ground within 30 feet of you.

Sipher Paragon

Upon reaching 10th level, you become a personification of the ideals of your people. You gain one of the following paragon gifts.

Planetary Connection

Prerequisite: Core Child

You gain immunity to fire damage.

Hivemind Expertise

Prerequisite: Hivebound

Whenever you would make an ability check, you can use this gift to tap into the hivemind and gain an expertise die on the roll. You can use this gift a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus and regain all uses upon completing a long rest. Additionally, you gain proficiency with Intelligence saving throws. If you already had proficiency, you instead gain an expertise die.

Warded Mind

Your connection to the hivemind allows you to better ward yourself against psychic attacks. You gain proficiency in Wisdom saving throws (if you already had proficiency, you instead gain an expertise die) and gain an expertise die on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saves to resist psionic abilities.

Sipher Culture

Many philosophies must instill a sense of community and cooperation while pushing back against inherent selfish instincts. Siphers must strive in the opposite direction, learning how to be confident in themselves and their own self-worth as something more than a part of a whole. Siphers are honest, hardworking, and clever when working in a group under the comforting umbra of their hivemind. At an individual level, however, they are often plagued with insecurities, feeling small and unsure without their community behind them. This most often leads siphers who leave their people to settle in cultures that are incredibly close-knit, with pragmatic or well-meaning goals. Siphers are encouraged to take pilgrimages outside of the hivemind, to become more confident in their own abilities and to absorb new knowledge and culture to eventually bring back home. Often this leads them to take up voidrunning in order to experience a wide and exciting breadth of what the universe has to offer in a relatively short time. Siphers looking to prove their own abilities could hardly ask for a better chance, despite the dangers. Traditionally, siphers and the planets they live on share a mutually beneficial relationship: the siphers harvest excess energy from unstable planetary cores, keeping the planet running smoothly, and are in turn able to use that energy to support thriving underground networks. The hivemind is often responsible for mass migrations of siphers to planets that need help and for incredible technological discoveries occurring simultaneously on separate planets.

Suggested Cultures

While you can choose any culture for your sipher character, the following cultures are linked closely with this heritage: belter, technotronic, urbanite, virtual.

Naato Traits

Characters with the naato heritage share the following traits:

Age. Naato are long-lived, reaching adulthood at about the age of 30, and becoming old-aged at around 150 years. Naato typically live about 200 years.

Size. Naato stand about 6 feet in height, weighing around 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Cold-blooded. When you take cold damage you are slowed until the end of your next turn.

Balancing Tail. You get advantage on ability checks and saving throws made to balance or avoid falling prone. Scales. When you are not wearing armor, your AC is equal to 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use a shield and still gain this benefit.

Naato Gifts

In addition to the traits found in your naato heritage, select one of the following gifts.

Amphibious

You can breathe normally in both air and water and you have a swim speed of 30 feet.

Camouflage

While all naato have some ability to alter their coloring, you can use a bonus action to change the color of your scales to match your surroundings for a period of up to one minute. You gain advantage on Stealth checks. Once you have used this feature you cannot use it again until you have taken a long rest.

Spiky

When a creature grabs you it takes 1d6 piercing damage. Each turn it maintains the grab, it takes this damage again.

Tail Swipe

Your tail is edged with spikes, making it a potent weapon. You can use a bonus action to make an attack with your tail with a reach of 5 feet, and which counts as a natural weapon and does piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier. Alternatively, if you use it to trip your target with the knockdown basic maneuver, the target makes their saving throw at disadvantage.

Naato Paragon

Upon reaching 10th level, you become a personification of the ideals of your people. You gain one of the following paragon gifts.

Perfect Camouflage

Prerequisite: Camouflage

Your camouflage ability becomes more pronounced, enabling you to blend in perfectly with the environment. You can use a bonus action to become invisible. You remain invisible for as long as you continue to use your bonus actions to maintain your camouflage. If you take damage, you must make a Wisdom saving throw against a DC equal to 10 + the amount of damage, or your camouflage ends. Once you have used this feature you cannot use it again until you take a long rest.

Poison Breath

You are able to exhale poisonous fumes in a 15-foot cone in front of you. As an action, you exhale poisonous fumes, and all creatures (except yourself and other naato) in the area must make a Constitution saving throw or take poison damage equal to 3d8 + your Constitution modifier. The DC of this saving throw is 8+ your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, after which you must take a long rest before using it again.

Naato Culture

Naato do not traditionally form large communities, settling in smaller territorial or nomadic groups with fierce rivalries. As such, they make for natural wanderers and tend to be loners, often becoming bounty hunters or mercenaries for hire. This lack of evolutionary society has made naato very individualistic, and results in behavior which does not lend itself towards the benefit of the majority. Naato do not tend to form large societies, and as such rarely develop technology on their own. They do not have any trouble adapting to new technology, however, and a naato wearing a mismatched collection of powered armor, weapons, and other gear, is not an uncommon sight.

Suggested Cultures

While you can choose any culture for your naato character, the following cultures are linked closely with this heritage: drifter, rustic, underclass.

Hurrok Traits

All characters with hurroc heritage share the following traits:

Age. Hurrocs reach physical maturity at around 18–20 years of age and die of natural causes at around 150.

Size. Most hurroc have an imposing stature and stand between 6 and 7 feet tall and average about 250 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Lesser Darkvision. You have darkvision to 30 feet.

No Use For Doubt. You gain an expertise die on saving throws against fear effects.

Adrenal Burst. Hurroc can use their adrenaline to perform incredible feats of physical prowess. You can choose to gain advantage on any Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution check, attack roll, or death saving throw. Once you have done so, you cannot use this feature again until you have taken a short or long rest.

Hurroc Gifts

The hurrocs’ survival prowess does not present in only one form. Like all heritages, they are varied and adaptable, filling a wide range of roles across the cosmos. Choose one of the following gifts.

Adrenal Surge

The adrenal glands for which Hurroc are known are even more pronounced in your metabolism. You can use your Adrenal Burst feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus between long rests. If you do not already have the Adrenal Burst trait, you gain the Adrenal Burst trait instead.

Deadly Horns

Your horns are particularly sharp and are considered to be natural weapons with which you are proficient. You can make a horn attack which does piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength bonus, and if your target is a creature of your Size or smaller it must make a Strength saving throw vs. your maneuver DC or be knocked prone.

Indomitable

The adrenaline which permeates your body lends you courage. You are immune to the frightened condition. Additionally, if you have the Adrenal Burst trait, can use a bonus action to use your Adrenal Burst feature to recover a number of hit points equal to three times your proficiency bonus.

Resilient

While all hurroc are physically tenacious, you have a particularly tough physique and determined mindset that’s unusually difficult to harm. You gain the following traits:

Naturally Armored. While you aren’t wearing armor, your AC equals 13 + your Constitution modifier. You can use a shield and still gain this benefit.

Diehard. When you are reduced to 0 hit points, you are instead reduced to 1 hit point. You cannot use this trait again until you have taken a long rest.

Hurroc Paragon

The trials you encounter on your path to 10th level have made you one of the most impressive of your people. Choose one of the following paragon gifts.

Iron Core

Prerequisite: Resilient

Your adventures have made you one of the hardiest of your kind. You gain one additional hit point per level, as well as resistance to poison damage and an expertise die on saving throws against poison effects. Additionally, your Constitution score increases by 1, to a maximum of 20.

Unstoppable

Your tenacity and determination know no bounds. You are unaffected by difficult terrain, immune to the slowed condition, and your armor class increases by 1.

Relentless Pursuit

Like the greatest warriors and hunters of legend, your skill for pursuing your enemies knows little equal. Your base Speed increases by 10 feet. You gain both a climb speed and a swim speed equal to your base Speed. In addition, your dextrous grip means you can climb even on difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without having to make an ability check. Additionally, you gain an expertise die on Perception and Survival checks made to track.

Houseki Culture

Hurrocs are most often associated with militant cultures but they are more than just warriors. While hurrocs most often leave their planet of origin in vast armies, after the war and glory are won they are left to begin new families wherever their battles have ended. Even those not raised with such ethics often seek fulfillment in less traditional pursuits that still reward their hard-wired pugnacity, finding victory on virtual battlefields as hackers, in academia as single-minded researchers, or as (mostly) metaphorical raiders in corporate takeovers.

Suggested Cultures

The hurroc have traveled the cosmos as valued mercenaries, soldiers, diplomats, and even scholars and merchants. However, the following cultures are linked closely with this heritage: honorbound, imperium, militant, rebel.

Houseki Traits

All characters with the houseki heritage share the following traits.

Age. Houseki do not die of old age. They reach maturity somewhere between 40 and 150 years.

Size. The growth process of the houseki is not fully understood. Your size is based on your adventuring tier. At Tier 0 you are Small and weigh between 50 and 75 pounds; at Tier 1 you are Small and weigh about 100 pounds; at Tier 2 you are Medium and weigh between 200 and 300 pounds; at Tier 3 you are Medium and weigh between 300 and 400 pounds; and at Tier 4 you become Large and weigh in excess of 400 pounds.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Crystalline. As a crystalline creature, you do not need to breathe, and are unaffected by vacuum. Additionally, you are immune to poisons and poison damage, but when you take thunder damage you make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or become rattled until the end of your next turn.

Enervore. You consume energy instead of food. A small hand-held electronic device contains enough power to constitute 1 Supply for you.

Grinding. When you move, you cannot hide the tinkling and grinding noises of your crystalline joints. Unless you remain still, you make Stealth checks with disadvantage.

Houseki Gifts

Houseki characters may choose one of the following gifts.

Color-change

Whenever you take a long rest, you may alter the color of your crystalline body. You can only be one color all over, usually choosing from red, blue, green, and yellow. The color you choose grants you resistance to one damage type–fire (red), cold (blue), acid (green), or radiant (yellow).

Crystal Healing

Your crystalline body repairs itself at a rapid rate, visible as new crystals form and grow. You can use an action to expend one hit die, rolling it and adding your Constitution modifier. You recover that many hit points.

Implacable

Houseki are noted for their slow, ponderous nature. You have advantage on saving throws made to resist the charmed, confused, and frightened conditions.

Jagged Crystal

Jagged crystals protrude from your body. Creatures who hit you with a natural melee weapon take 1d4 piercing damage.

Houseki Paragon

When you reach 10th level, you have grown into a paragon of houseki-kind. Choose one of the following paragon gifts.

Hard As Diamond

Your crystalline body is as tough as diamond. You gain resistance to slashing and piercing damage.

Ponderous

You are so slow and deliberate in your thoughts that you rarely make mistakes. When you make an Intelligence or Wisdom check, any roll of less than 10 on the d20 counts as a 10. This does not apply to attack rolls or saving throws.

Shockwave

As a bonus action you can emit the energy you consume as a spherical shockwave emanating from you. All creatures within 10 feet of you must make a Strength saving throw with a DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier. On a failure, the target takes 6d8 force damage and is pushed 10 feet and knocked prone. On a success, the target takes half damage and is not pushed or knocked prone. Once you have used this feature you cannot use it again until you take a long rest.

Houseki Culture

The houseki don’t ask for a lot in life, do not tend to seek wealth or glory, and it is not uncommon to see a houseki perfectly content with a role as a laboror, engineer, or even a bartender. Houseki society is quiet, contemplative, and slow. Houseki are–usually–very good natured, and it is almost unheard of to see one lose their temper or display anger. Houseki are very at-home in space, need little in the way of excitement or company, and are generally unaffected by trivial details like atmosphere or temperature. They are often found on starship crews, asteroid mining outfits, and remote outposts. Comfortable with their own company, a houseki is able to spend extended periods of time alone, and it is unusual to find groups of houseki away from their homeworlds.

Suggested Cultures

The houseki can be found throughout known space. However, the following cultures are linked closely with this heritage: belter, enlightened, stoic, underclass.

Grey Traits

Characters with the grey heritage share a variety of traits in common.

Age. Greys are fairly long-lived, reaching adulthood at around 30 years of age, and entering old age at about 150.

Size. Greys stand about 5 feet in height, but their frames are very slender, weighing around 75lbs. Your size is Small.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Natural Psionics. All greys are born with inherent psionic abilities. You learn two psionic reflexes which do not count towards any limit to the number of reflexes you may know.

Telekinesis. You can freely telekinetically move and manipulate a single object which you can see within 30 feet, weighing up to 3 pounds, a distance of up to 30 feet. If the object is held by another creature, they can make a Strength saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your Wisdom ability modifier + your proficiency bonus to prevent you from moving it. If the object would normally require a Strength check to move, you must make a Wisdom check to move it against the same DC. You can only move one object at a time using this feature, and you cannot use it to make attacks.

Grey Gifts

Grey Gifts In addition to the traits found in your grey heritage, select one of the following gifts.

Improved Telekinesis

You can freely telekinetically move and manipulate a single object weighing 10 pounds or less which you can see within 60 feet. If the object is held by somebody else, they can make a Strength saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your Wisdom ability modifier + your proficiency bonus. If the object would normally require a Strength check to move, you must make a Wisdom check to move it against the same DC. You can only move one object at a time using this feature, and you cannot use it to make attacks.

Telekinetic Shield

You maintain a telekinetic shield to protect yourself from damage. When you are not using a shield, you can use your bonus action to gain temporary hit points equal to 3 times your proficiency bonus. The temporary hit points wear off after 1 minute. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. Your uses reset when you finish a long rest.

Grey Paragon

When you reach 10th level, you are an exemplar of greykind, and you gain one paragon gift from the following list.

Greater Shield

Prerequisite: Telekinetic Shield

Your telekinetic shield grants you even more protection. When you are not using a shield, the temporary hit points granted by your Telekinetic Shield feature are doubled to 6 times your proficiency bonus.

Greater Telekinesis

Prerequisite: Improved Telekinesis

You can freely telekinetically move and manipulate a single object weighing 30 pounds or less which you can see within 100 feet. If the object is held by somebody else, they can make a Strength saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your Wisdom ability modifier + your proficiency bonus. If the object would normally require a Strength check to move, you must make a Wisdom check to move it against the same DC. You can only move one object at a time using this feature, and you cannot use it to make attacks.

Grey Culture

If there is an original homeworld for the grey species, nobody knows what it is–except, perhaps, the greys themselves. Greys are found everywhere, and are prolific travelers and explorers–indeed many civilizations’ first contact with alien life is with a grey. A generally benevolent species, most greys avoid conflict when they can. Grey enclaves or exploration ships are the closest one usually comes to grey society. Greys are rarely found alone; they find comfort in the presence of other minds, and their innate psionic nature means that they become miserable and withdrawn when denied the company of others, and those left alone for too long can become ill, or even die.

Suggested Cultures

While you can choose any culture for your grey character, the following cultures are linked closely with this heritage: enlightened, stoic, technetronic.

Axon Traits

Characters with the axon heritage share a variety of traits in common.

Age. Axons mature at about the age of 40, and typically live about 200 years.

Size. Axons stand over 7 feet in height. Your size is Medium, Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Powerful Build. You count as size Large for the purposes of determining carrying capacities.

Fur Coat. Your thick fur protects you from cold environments. You have resistance to cold damage, and you gain an expertise die on Survival checks made in arctic environments.

Keen Senses. You gain an expertise die on skill checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Axon Gifts

In addition to the traits found in your axon heritage, select one of the following gifts.

Extendable Claws

Some axons sport sharp, extendable claws. The claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes that deal slashing damage equal to 1d8 + your Strength modifier.

Mighty Roar

As a bonus action you can bellow a loud and frightening roar. Your roar affects all creatures who are not allies within a 15-ft. cone. Targets within that area must make a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the end of its next turn. The DC of the saving throw is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier. Once you have used this feature you cannot use it again until you take a long rest.

Thick Fur

Your fur is thick enough to protect you from attacks. While you aren’t wearing armor, your AC equals 12 + your Constitution modifier. You can use a shield and still gain this benefit.

Axon Paragon

When you reach 10th level, you are an exemplar of axonkind, and you gain one paragon gift from the following list.

Bellowing Roar

Prerequisite: Mighty Roar

When you use your Mighty Roar feature, it affects all non-allied creatures within 30 feet of you. Additionally, you now regain use of your Mighty Roar feature whenever you complete a short rest.

Fierce Claws

Prerequisite: Extendable Claws

Your claws, and your fang-like teeth, are longer and sharper than many of your kind. Your claws and teeth are natural weapons which do damage equal to 1d10 + your Strength modifier. Your claws do slashing damage and your teeth do piercing damage.

Massive Build

All axons are strong, but some grow even larger as they get older. You have advantage on all Strength ability checks and saving throws.

Axon Culture

While axons are technologically advanced, they evolved in jungle environments and many still retain that innate natural connection. As such, axons often form very rustic communities which exist in harmony with nature; technology serves its purpose, but where possible it is hidden or as subtle as possible. Fierce-looking though they are, axons evolved for survival rather than warfare; indeed the oldest origin stories of the species rarely feature conflict. Those survival skills, and the physical prowess that comes along with them, however, make for fearsome foes should an axon or their community be threatened.

Suggested Cultures

While you can choose any culture for your axon character, the following cultures are linked closely with this heritage: backwater, belter, drifter, rustic, underclass.

Android Traits

All androids share common traits that set them apart from purely organic beings.

Age. An android’s lifespan varies widely depending on its purpose. Some are constructed with predetermined lifespans, some built on organic frames that face insurmountable aging challenges, and others are potentially immortal with proper maintenance, upgrades, and care.

Size. Androids are constructed to suit their function. Some from heavy, dense metals to give momentum and strength, others from lighter materials for dexterous movement or realistic skin feel. They vary in weight from 50 to 500 pounds. Your size is Small or Medium, unless otherwise stated by your gift.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Artificial Advantage. You have the construct creature type instead of humanoid. You are immune to poison damage and do not need to breathe. You do have to consume Supply, though this takes the form of power cells or other fuel, rather than food.

Constructed Constitution. Many standard healing methods for humanoids are completely ineffective on you, as in the case of psionic powers. Medical treatments utilizing nanobots work on you as normal, however, and specialized treatments exist (see Medicine in Chapter 3: Equipment). Most rolls that would call for a Medicine check for an organic creature are substituted for an Engineering check, depending on the condition and availability of parts. Additionally, you can still expend Hit Dice and regain hit points as normal on a short or long rest due to your self-repair functions.

Basic Programming. You gain proficiency in computers.

Android Gifts

An android’s eventual function and indeed personality is up to them, but is often guided by their construction. Any cybernetic construction type can be partially organic, and partially cybernetic. You gain the following heritage gift.

Integrated Systems

You have specialist systems integrated into your frame which enhance your performance or grant you unique capabilities. Choose two of the following traits.

Access Ports. You are able to plug into computer systems directly, granting you an expertise die on all computers checks when you are within reach of the target system.

Armored Chassis. You are built to withstand the violence of battle. While you wear no other armor your chassis provides an AC of 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You also have disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) rolls due to the clank of metal, the buzz of processors or the whirring of mechanized parts. You can use a shield and still gain this benefit. You can select this trait a second time to gain an AC of 14 + your Dexterity modifier instead.

Compact. Your size is Tiny. You gain a +1 to your Armor Class against creatures of a size category larger than you. You can select this trait a second time, gaining the ability to hover up to 5 feet off the ground and a fly speed equal to your normal Speed. Your carrying capacity is halved and you can’t carry bulky items. Additionally, you can’t use shields or armor that haven’t been made for you (this restriction doesn’t apply to force shields). Customizing items or equipment for your size generally costs three times as much as the item’s standard price. Your base Speed is 25 feet.

Enhanced Senses. You gain proficiency and an expertise die in Perception. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Expert Subroutines. You gain proficiency in one of the following skills: Culture, Engineering, History, Nature, Science, or Religion. In addition, you gain a specialty of your choice in the chosen skill. You can select this trait a second time to gain proficiency and a speciality in a second skill from the above list.

Integrated Transmitter. You are always considered to be carrying a personal communicator, which cannot be taken from you.

Integrated Weaponry. You have either an integrated ranged weapon or an integrated melee weapon. You may choose the appearance of this weapon. The weapon cannot be disarmed or thrown, and deals damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier (if it is a melee w eapon) or 1d4 + your Dexterity modifier (if it is a ranged weapon). Choose the damage type of this weapon when you first select this trait from the following list: slashing, piercing, bludgeoning, fire, lightning. If it is a ranged weapon, the integrated weapon has a range of 30/100.

Jump Jets. You can jump 30 feet vertically and horizontally. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, after which you must take a long rest in order to reset your uses.

Linguist. You are programmed with many languages. You can automatically speak, sign, understand, and write in any current language by making a DC 10 Culture check. Extinct languages require a DC 15 History check. This does not enable you to break codes, cyphers, or encryptions.

Mechanized Might. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and you can carry a number of additional bulky items equal to your proficiency bonus.

Mimic. You have a voice synthesizer which can mimic any voice or sound.

Organic Appearance. Your synthetic technological capabilities are subtle and not immediately apparent to the casual observer. Your inorganic systems are hidden beneath layers of skin-like polymers making you look wholly organic without close inspection. Creatures can discern your cybernetic nature if they observe you take lightning damage or if they succeed on a Medicine check against your passive Deception.

Reconnaissance Drone. You have the service of a utility drone (you may select any variety of utility drone), a robot you command with voice control or through one of your devices. Your drone normally rests in a docking port amidst your machinery, but you can deploy it as an action. In combat it takes its turn immediately after you. It follows your directions, but commanding it to Attack uses your action and its reaction. Repairing your drone is free if you have access to its remains and your gear over the course of a long rest. Otherwise, the materials to replace your drone cost 25 credits.

Sentinel. Your charge cycle does not require you to lose consciousness. This allows you to monitor systems and perform other low level activities and you remain fully conscious during rests.

Tractor Beam. You have the power to project a small tractor beam as an action. This beam can reach up to 30 feet, carry up to 10 pounds, and can be used to operate simple switches. You can move a held object 10 feet each round using your bonus action.

Tracks. You move on tracks rather than legs. You are able to ignore the effects of difficult terrain.

Wheels. You move on wheels rather than legs. Your base Speed increases by 5 feet.

Android Paragon

Your subroutines constantly suggest ways to enhance your performance. At 10th level you finally complete a significant upgrade. Choose one from the following list.

Cybernetically Superior

One of your ability scores increases by 2, to a maximum of 22.

Jet Propulsion

You gain a fly speed of 30 feet. Maintaining this speed requires a check after the first minute and every minute after as though you were undertaking a forced march. You gain an expertise die on these checks to avoid fatigue from a forced march.

Lore Upload

Choose four from the following: Arcana, Culture, Engineering, History, Nature, Religion, and Science. You gain an expertise die on checks using the chosen skills, as well as two specialities of your choice. These specialties must be selected from the chosen skills.

Systems Upgrade

Choose two more traits from the Android Gifts section.

Android Culture

While they may exist in the universe, pure android cultures are rare. However, shared experiences are almost pre-programmed into every android, as impossible to remove as a charge cycle protocol or a self-preservation sub routine.

Androids are usually accepted into the company of organic beings, whether by necessity or with enthusiasm, but they are not organic beings. As creatures of binary, data and neat lines, it is difficult, though not impossible, for an android to understand the tangled, illogical social messes of organic beings. It’s harder still to understand illness or the inevitable decay of organic bodies when almost any malady that could befall a cybernetic being is easily patched up or programmed out. Androids are very often a part of organic culture, but they are always apart from it.

Suggested Cultures

While you can choose any culture for your android character, the following cultures are linked closely with this heritage: artificial, programmed, technetronic, virtual.