D&D (2024) Help With Kitsune Species

[DragonLancer]

Hey all. I'm hoping that you good folks can help myself and one of my players out. My first 2024 campaign is in it's third month now (they are almost 5th) and one of the players initially asked to play a Kitsune since I do have a Asian themed continent off to the West for anyone who wanted to play a Samurai or Ninja...etc type character. At the time I said that was fine but as there were no Kitsune species rules he would have to reskin the Human species and the player was happy to do so.

Since then I have been looking online and found a couple fan made versions but nothing I felt was quite right. The best that I found was one that gave advantage on certain skill checks (Kistune Instincts: insight, perception..etc) and gave them a fixed human illusion form. But that feels a little underwhelming. I also looked at basically using the Changeling (Monsters of the Multiverse).

What would be your suggestions for a Kistune species in 2024 edition? Thanks for any advice.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Hey all. I'm hoping that you good folks can help myself and one of my players out. My first 2024 campaign is in it's third month now (they are almost 5th) and one of the players initially asked to play a Kitsune since I do have a Asian themed continent off to the West for anyone who wanted to play a Samurai or Ninja...etc type character. At the time I said that was fine but as there were no Kitsune species rules he would have to reskin the Human species and the player was happy to do so.

Since then I have been looking online and found a couple fan made versions but nothing I felt was quite right. The best that I found was one that gave advantage on certain skill checks (Kistune Instincts: insight, perception..etc) and gave them a fixed human illusion form. But that feels a little underwhelming. I also looked at basically using the Changeling (Monsters of the Multiverse).

What would be your suggestions for a Kistune species in 2024 edition? Thanks for any advice.

Could you adapt the Kitsune from Wrath of the Righteous to 5e?

 

[DragonLancer]

Could you adapt the Kitsune from Wrath of the Righteous to 5e?

I hadn't thought of looking at the Pathfinder version. Thanks. I'll take a look.

 

[Stormonu]

When I first played 5E, we used a reskinned elf as a kitsune; change the level 3 spell ability to disguise self and the 5th level spell ability to alter self in 2024.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The PF kitsune can be lifted whole cloth, with or without ability score mods. There is nothing gamebreaking or incompatible.

 

[Kobold Stew]

KITSUNE

• Creature Type. You are a Humanoid.
• Size. You are Medium.
• Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet.
• 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.
• Kitsune Magic. You know the Minor illusion cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Invisibility spell once and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting modifier for it.
• Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put you to sleep.
• Storyteller. You have proficiency in the Performance skill.
• Shapeshift. As a Bonus action, you may shapeshift between three forms: a Small fox, a Medium Human, or a Medium fox-humanoid hybrid. Other than your size, your game statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment you are wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. You may use this ability a number of times per long rest equal to your Proficiency Bonus. The fox form has a number of tails equal to the highest level spell slot you can cast; otherwise you have one.

This is the approach I would take (first draft). Kitsune Magic and Fey Ancestry similar to elves; Shapeshift adapted from the new MM's Jackalwere. Storyteller is just for RP.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The fox form does not have hands and cannot carry anything

I saw a fox carrying a naan bread just last week!

As for tails, I was thinking "if you have spell slots you have a number of tails equal to the highest level spell you can cast, otherwise you have one".

 

[DragonLancer]

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

I've saw a fox carrying a naan bread just last week!

As for tails, I was thinking "if you have spell slots you have a number of tails equal to the highest level spell you can cast, otherwise you have one".

I was so deep in pondering how to write them that I had completely forgotten the multi-tails aspect. That is great and I know my player would appreciate it.

So this is what I came up with last night. It is based on what PF did but with a couple tweaks and adding the tails idea in. If something seems wrong or what have you, let me know.


Size: Kitsune are Medium.
Creature Type: Kitsune are humanoids.
Speed: Kitsune have a base speed of 30 feet.
Agile: Kitsune have advantage on Acrobatics and Athletics checks.
Shapeshift: A kitsune can assume the appearance of a specific single human form of the same sex. The kitsune always takes this specific form when they use this ability. A kitsune in human form cannot use their bite attack, but have advantage on Disguise checks made to appear human. Changing shape is a Magic action.
Kitsune Magic: Choose one cantrip or 1st level Enchantment or Illusion spell from the Wizard/Sorcerer spell list. You can cast this spell 3/day. Charisma is your spell-casting ability.
Fox Of Nine Tails: If you have spell slots you have a number of tails equal to the highest level spell you can cast, otherwise you have one.
Natural Weapons: In their natural form, a kitsune has a bite attack that deals 1d4 points of piercing damage.
Low-Light Vision: You have low-lightvision up to a distance of 60 feet.
Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

 

[Shadowdweller00]

I would give them a Suggestion spell-like ability. (Maybe available at 5th level if you're making them into a PC race). And maybe add the following to their Shapeshifting ability: "Kitsune are unable to transform their tails when shapeshifting. And must hide their tails physically, such as inside loose garments like trousers, robes, or expansive dresses."

 

[DragonLancer]

"Kitsune are unable to transform their tails when shapeshifting. And must hide their tails physically, such as inside loose garments like trousers, robes, or expansive dresses."

My player had already worked something like this in. He chose as his trinket an amulet which while worn hides the tail through a very minor illusion. Any dispel magic or similar instantly shuts it off for several minutes. He has it for the character background as a Kitsune princess whose family was slain by an evil warlord and she fled into hiding, taking the trinket to help her hide from any pursuers - a future adventure idea or two.

As for the Suggestion spell idea, that is why I went with Kitsune Magic idea so that the player had something of their choice but still fitting with the enchantment/illusion concept.