Yuan-Ti Pureblood PC race with Shapechanger instead of Magic Resistance

[Kobold Avenger]

I know the PC races in the monstrous races section of Volo's Guide weren't as well thought out as the other races. Purebloods are in that section and are generally one of the stronger options for PC races because of Magic Resistance. So I feel that Pureblood PCs should get the Shapechanger ability instead of Magic Resistance.

Being able to transform into a snake is presented as a variant Pureblood ability and they used to be able to do that in previous editions. It's a more interesting ability than Magic Resistance, even if it's certainly a weaker one. Though I guess mentioning how one can transform into a Medium Poison Snake or Large Constrictor while using the same stats isn't a good thing to reference in a PC race entry. So anyone have any ideas to make Snake Form easier to format for PCs?

 

[jaelis]

I would just make the ability be to polymorph (as the spell) into a giant poisonous snake. Have to decide on a number of times/day, I think at will would be too much (at low levels anyway).

I agree that this seems like an improvement; magic resistance is quite strong.

 

[UnknownDyson]

WOTC said from the beginning that monster races are not meant to be balanced. Considering that Yuan-Ti are conventionally immortal snake men hailing from most settings oldest human civilizations that rings doubly true. There is nothing wrong with substituting magic resistance for shapechanger, they are almost equivalent as powerful abilities go (I would give the edge to magic resistance) and I actually really like the flavor.

1) You could have the snake shapechange work like a druid's wild shape but only allow the Yuan-Ti to take the forms of specific snakes (DM's choice).

2) Same as 1, but you have the shapechange ability scale with level. This would let the Yuan-ti take on more powerful snake forms as they advance and still be a lot less powerful than an actual druid because of the limited amount of serpent stat blocks.

3) This is more unconventional but you could just have a Yuan-Ti Pureblood that can use the shapechanger ability to morph into other humanoids, making their job as spies and infiltrators much easier.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

WOTC said from the beginning that monster races are not meant to be balanced. Considering that Yuan-Ti are conventionally immortal snake men hailing from most settings oldest human civilizations that rings doubly true. There is nothing wrong with substituting magic resistance for shapechanger, they are almost equivalent as powerful abilities go (I would give the edge to magic resistance) and I actually really like the flavor.

1) You could have the snake shapechange work like a druid's wild shape but only allow the Yuan-Ti to take the forms of specific snakes (DM's choice).

I don't feel that changing into a snake should effectively add temporary hit points, but some of the Wildshape guidelines might be useful. The monster entries of Yuan-Ti who have that ability general has lines like "they use the same stats" which I think they're referring to the Yuan-Ti stats and not snake stats, even though many of them have an entry for bite attacks. For a Pureblood it should probably be something like 1d4 piercing + 1d6 poison.

2) Same as 1, but you have the shapechange ability scale with level. This would let the Yuan-ti take on more powerful snake forms as they advance and still be a lot less powerful than an actual druid because of the limited amount of serpent stat blocks.

I wouldn't want it to scale with level, I know it'll probably mean it gets used less at higher levels, but it still has utility such as being able to fit through small spaces.

3) This is more unconventional but you could just have a Yuan-Ti Pureblood that can use the shapechanger ability to morph into other humanoids, making their job as spies and infiltrators much easier.

I feel that Changelings are the only race should have that ability right from the start, it's a significant part of their identity and appeal as a PC race.

Overall I feel they should be able to do it at will, but that fighting in Snake Form is generally a weaker option for some classes like Fighters but possibly a stronger one for classes like Wizards and Warlocks. I know this might open up a lot of things like "can they sneak attack with a snake bite" (maybe), or "can they the Monk's martial arts or flurry of blows" (no) or "can they use their spell-like abilities in snake form" (maybe).

 

[UnknownDyson]

It sounds like you'd be better served just copying the shapechanger ability from the yuan-ti malison.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

It sounds like you'd be better served just copying the shapechanger ability from the yuan-ti malison.

Probably what I'm going for just a weaker version, but since it's for PCs and not monsters it probably needs more clarifications that the monster entry doesn't have, and I think since it's just one form unlike Wildshape it shouldn't be a "refer to giant poisonous snake".

 

[Kobold Avenger]

So looking at the Malison/Half-Blood stats when they say "it uses the same statistics" they're referring to not using any of the snake statistics because a Malison gains a bite attack in snake form if they don't have a snake head as a Yuan-Ti, and can only make scimitar attacks in Yuan-Ti form. All that's needed to depict a Malison as a snake is already in their statblock.

But the same doesn't work for a Pureblood PC.

So first I take a look at the Giant Poisonous Snake stats, it has a bit that does 1d4 piercing and 3d6 poison with DC 11 save Con save for half and notice the bonus to hit and damage is based on the Snake's dexterity score. It's also noted that it has a swim speed of 30 which none of the Yuan-Ti have. A snake has blindsight 10 feet too. Despite the fact it's a snake it strangely enough doesn't have the ability to squeeze through small places, but it's not specific about how wide a size medium giant snake is so it's likely DM's decision if it could slither through a hole that other medium creatures like Human's couldn't (which I'd say is 2 feet for a Human of a lean build). A snake's (and a Malison's) AC is completely based on it's dex score.

So for snake form of a Pureblood PC I think the option should be a snake from that's Tiny or Medium size (3e I remember them being able to vary snake sizes), drop the blindsight that poisonous snakes have, and keep the swim speed snakes have (which isn't that useful without the ability to breath in water). The bite will remain as a finesse attack, but I'd reduce the poison damage down to 1d6 but with no saving throw like the variant Pureblood monster ability. I think for AC I'd just bother using what the PC has in humanoid form minus any bonus from using a shield or two weapon fighting.

So I think the entry for a Pureblood PC would be:
Snakeform: You may transform into a snake that's tiny or medium size at will. As a snake your speed is 30 feet walking and 30 feet swim, you lose all attacks you had but can make a single bite attack for 1d4 piercing if medium or 1 piercing if tiny with additional 1d6 poison damage as either size your bite attack is a finesse attack. You lose any AC bonuses from shields or weapons, but may retain your AC from equipment worn if you choose to have it merged into your form. Any equipment you have can be merged into your form or dropped into your space when your transform. Transforming to a snake or back into a humanoid form is an action, and you stay as a snake for as long as you want. If you die or become unconscious you remain in the form you were in.