I recently wrote on my blog topic “Race or Monster” and discussed the Krylites in Shadow World. Like the blog previous to that on the Neng, I wanted to explore the suitability of non PC races for use as player characters. Given that racial stats are provided for virtually all humanoid creatures, it doesn’t seem a stretch, even if playing a “monster” creates in-game social issues.
This time around I wanted to discuss an actual Shadow World race that may be ill-suited for PCs: the Hirazi. Here is some data from the Atlas:
Hírazi:
- No professional limitations.
- Large, muscular humans, with wide shoulders to support their wing structures.
- Their bones are hollow, their lungs are huge, and their muscles have a
unique structure which makes them very light. - This race is rather fragile.
- Their fabulous wings are covered with plush white feathery hairs like those of a bird—vary in color from blue to white to gold, often a shimmering combination of the above.
- A Híraz may fly at up to 30 mph for short periods (1 min/con pt)
- They may acquire skill in gliding and travel for hours on thermals.
- An adult Híraz can carry up to about half his/her weight for short distances at half-speed
Having a winged humanoid is interesting, but not only could it be potentially unbalancing, but the player would be severely limited in a variety of environments. In fact, when you examine their flying ability, they have some short-comings there as well. So they don’t seem very good underground, underwater, in cities, in small confined spaces and can’t really fly fast or for very long….
I’ve never used Hirazi in my SW campaigns. Not as PCs, NPCs or even as window dressing. So what’s everyone’s opinion?