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Race Builder / Creating a New Race / Step 3: Racial Traits / Magical Racial Traits

Standard Magical Traits

Source Advanced Race Guide pg. 227
Arcane Focus (1 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race gain a +2 racial bonus on concentration checks made to cast arcane spells defensively.

Change Shape, Greater (6 RP): Prerequisite: Aberration, dragon, fey, humanoid, or monstrous humanoid type; Benefit: Members of this race gain the following supernatural ability: a member of this race can assume the appearance of a Small or Medium humanoid as the alter self spell, save that it does not adjust its ability scores.

Change Shape, Lesser (3 RP): Prerequisite: Aberration, dragon, fey, humanoid, or monstrous humanoid type; Benefit: Members of this race gain the following supernatural ability: A member of this race can assume the appearance of a single form of a single humanoid race of its size. The form is static and cannot be changed each time it takes this form. The creature gains a +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear as the member of the race whose appearance it assumes. Changing its shape is a standard action. This trait otherwise functions as alter self, save that the creature does not adjust its ability scores.

Deep Magic (3 RP): Prerequisite: Native of the Darklands; Benefit: Members of this race gain a +2 racial bonus on caster level checks made to overcome spell resistance and a +2 racial bonus on dispel checks.

Dissolution’s Child (5 RP): Prerequisite: Outsider (native) with ties to the Shadow Plane, fey type, undead type, or half-undead subtype; Benefit: Members of this race gain the following supernatural ability: Once per day, a member of this race can change its appearance to look as if it were little more than a 4-foot-tall area of shadow. Its physical form still exists and it is not incorporeal—only its appearance changes. This racial trait works like invisibility, except the effect only lasts 1 round per level (maximum 5 rounds).

Dreamspeaker (2 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race gain a +1 bonus to the saving throw DCs of spells of the divination school and spells that produce sleep effects that they cast. In addition, members of this race with a Charisma score of 15 or higher may use dream once per day as a spell-like ability (caster level is equal to the user’s character level).

Elemental Affinity (1 RP): Prerequisite: Outsider (native) with ties to an elemental plane; Benefit: If a member of the race is a sorcerer with the elemental bloodline corresponding to the elemental plane it has ties to (i.e., air, earth, fire, or water), it treats its Charisma score as 2 points higher for all sorcerer spells and class abilities. Furthermore, a member of this race able to cast domain spells that correspond to the elemental plane the race has ties to casts its domain powers and spells at +1 caster level. This trait does not give members of this race early access to level-based powers; it only affects powers that they could already use without this trait.

Elemental Summoner (2 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Choose one of the following elemental subtypes— air, earth, fire, or water. When summoning a creature with the chosen subtype with a summon spell, increase the duration of that spell by 2 rounds.

Elven Magic (3 RP): Prerequisite: Elf subtype; Benefit: Members of this race gain a +2 bonus on caster level checks made to overcome spell resistance. In addition, they also receive a +2 racial bonus on Spellcraft checks made to identify the properties of magic items.

Enclave Protector (2 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race add +1 to the caster level of any abjuration spells they cast. Members of this race also gain the following spell-like abilities: constant—nondetection; 1/day—faerie fire, obscure object, sanctuary. The caster level for these effects is equal to the user’s character level.

Envoy (1 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race with an Intelligence score of 11 or higher gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—comprehend languages, detect magic, detect poison, read magic. The caster level for these effects is equal to the user’s character level.

Fell Magic (3 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race gain +1 to the DC of any saving throws against necromancy spells that they cast. Members of this race with a Wisdom score of 11 or higher also gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—bleed, chill touch, detect poison, touch of fatigue. The caster level for these effects is equal to the user’s character level. The DC for these spell-like abilities is equal to 10 + the spell’s level + the user’s Wisdom modifier.

Ferrous Growth (2 RP): Prerequisite: Outsider (native) with ties to the Plane of Earth; Benefit: Once per day, a member of this race can cause a touched piece of iron or steel to grow into an object weighing up to 10 pounds, such as a sword, crowbar, or light steel shield. This object remains in this form for 10 minutes or until broken or destroyed, at which point it shrinks back to its original size and shape.

Fertile Soil (2 RP): Prerequisite: Outsider (native) with ties to the Plane of Earth, fey type, or plant type; Benefit: Sorcerer members of this race with the verdant bloodline treat their Charisma score as 2 points higher for all sorcerer spells and class abilities. Clerics who are members of this race with the Plant domain use their domain powers and spells at +1 caster level. This trait does not give members of this race early access to level-based powers; it only affects powers that they could already use without this trait.

Fiendish Sorcery (1 RP): Prerequisite: Outsider (native) with ties to Abaddon, the Abyss, or Hell; Benefit: If a member of this race is a sorcerer with the Abyssal or Infernal bloodline, it treats its caster level as 1 higher when casting bonus spells and bloodline powers. This trait does not give members of this race early access to level-based powers; it only affects powers that they could already use without this trait.

Gnome Magic (2 RP): Prerequisite: Gnome subtype; Benefit: Members of this race gain a +1 bonus to the DC of any saving throws against illusion spells that they cast. Members of this race with a Charisma score of 11 or higher also gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/ day—dancing lights, ghost sounds, prestidigitation, speak with animals. The caster level for these effects is equal to the user’s level. The DC for the spell-like abilities is equal to 10 + the spell’s level + the user’s Charisma modifier.

Heavenborn (3 RP): Prerequisite: Outsider (native) with ties to Elysium, Heaven, or Nirvana; Benefit: Members of this race gain a +2 bonus on Knowledge (planes) checks, and they cast spells with the good or light descriptor at +1 caster level.

Hypnotic (2 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race add +1 to the DC for all saving throws against spells or effects they cast that inflict the fascinated condition. Once per day, when a creature rolls a saving throw against such an effect from a member of this race, the member of the race can force that creature to reroll the saving throw and use the second result, even if it is worse.

Hypnotic Gaze (3 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race gain the following supernatural ability: Once per day, a member of this race can attempt to hypnotize a single target as per the spell hypnotism (caster level equal to its character level). The effects of the hypnotic gaze last only 1 round.

Immortal Spark (7 RP): Prerequisite: Outsider (native) with ties to Elysium, Heaven, or Nirvana; Benefit: Members of this race gain a +2 bonus on Knowledge (history) checks and saving throws against death effects and can use lesser age resistance once per day as a spell-like ability.

Lightbringer (2 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race are immune to light-based blindness and dazzle effects, and are treated as one level higher when determining the effects of any light-based spells or effects they cast (including spell-like and supernatural abilities). If a member of this race has an Intelligence of 10 or higher, it may use light at will as a spell-like ability.

Magical Linguist (2 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race gain a +1 bonus to the DC of spells they cast that have the language-dependent descriptor or that create glyphs, symbols, or other magical writings. They also gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against such spells. Members of this race with a Charisma score of 11 or higher also gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—arcane mark, comprehend languages, message, read magic. The caster level for these spell-like abilities is equal to the user’s character level.

Nereid Fascination (3 RP): Prerequisite: Outsider (native) with ties to the Plane of Water or fey type; Benefit: Members of this race gain the following supernatural ability: Once per day, a member of this race can create a 20-foot-radius burst that causes humanoids within the aura’s range to become fascinated with the user (as the bard’s fascinate bardic performance). Affected humanoids may resist this effect by making a successful Will saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 the user’s character level + the user’s Charisma modifier).

Object of Desire (1 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race add +1 to their caster level when casting charm person and charm monster.

Pyromaniac (3 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race are treated as +1 level higher when casting spells with the fire descriptor, using granted powers of the Fire domain, using bloodline powers of the fire elemental bloodline, using the revelations of the oracle’s flame mystery, and determining the damage of alchemist bombs that deal fire damage. This trait does not give members of this race early access to level-based powers; it only affects powers that they could already use without this trait. If a member of this race has a Charisma score of 11 or higher, it also gains the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—dancing lights, flare, prestidigitation, produce flame. The caster level for these spell-like abilities is equal to the user’s character level.

Samsaran Magic (2 RP): Prerequisite: Samsaran subtype; Benefit: Members of this race with a Charisma score of 11 or higher gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—comprehend languages, deathwatch, stabilize. The caster level for these effects is equal to the user’s character level.

Seducer (2 RP): Prerequisite: The race has at least a +2 racial bonus to Charisma; Benefit: Members of this race add +1 to the saving throw DCs for their spells and spell-like abilities of the enchantment school. In addition, members of this race with a Wisdom score of 15 or higher may use charm person once per day as a spell-like ability (caster level is equal to the user’s character level).

Shadow Caster (2 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race add +1 to the saving throw DCs for their spells and spell-like abilities of the illusion (shadow) subschool.

Shadow Magic (2 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race add +1 to the DC of any saving throws against spells of the shadow subschool that they cast. Members of this race with a Charisma score of 11 or higher also gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/ day—ghost sound, pass without trace, ventriloquism. The caster level for these spell-like abilities is equal to the user’s character level.

Soul Seer (4 RP): Prerequisite: Outsider (native); Benefit: Members of this race gain the use of deathwatch as a constant spell-like ability.

Spell-Like Ability, Lesser (Variable, see Special): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Choose a 2nd-level or lower spell that does not attack a creature or deal damage. Members of this race can use this spell as a spell-like ability once per day. The caster level of the spell is equal to the user’s character level. Special: This trait costs as many RP as the level of the spell chosen (minimum 1 RP). This trait can be taken up to three times. Each time you take an additional spell, adjust the RP cost of this trait appropriately.

Stoneseer (2 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race add +1 to the caster level of any spells with the earth descriptor they cast. Members of this race also gain the following spell-like abilities: constant—nondetection; 1/ day—magic stone, stone shape, stone tell. The caster level for these spell-like abilities is equal to the user’s character level.

Stonesinger (1 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race are treated as 1 level higher when casting spells with the earth descriptor or using powers of the Earth domain, bloodline powers of the earth elemental bloodline, and revelations of the oracle’s stone mystery. This trait does not give members of this race early access to level-based powers; it only affects powers they could already use without this trait.

Svirfneblin Magic (2 RP): Prerequisite: Gnome subtype; Benefit: Members of this race add +1 to the DC of any illusion spells they cast. They also gain the following spell-like abilities: constant—nondetection; 1/day—blindness/deafness, blur, disguise self. The DC for the spells is equal to 10 + the spell’s level + the caster’s Charisma modifier.

Treacherous Earth (2 RP): Prerequisite: Outsider (native) with ties to the Plane of Earth or fey type; Benefit: Members of this race gain the following supernatural ability: Once per day, a member of this race can will the earth to rumble and shift, transforming a 10-foot-radius patch of earth, unworked stone, or sand into an area of difficult terrain centered on a square it can touch. This lasts for a number of minutes equal to the user’s level, after which the ground returns to normal.

Weather Savvy (1 RP): Prerequisite: Outsider (native) with ties to the Plane of Air or fey type; Benefit: Members of this race are so in tune with the air and sky they can sense the slightest change in atmospheric conditions. They can spend a full-round action to predict the weather in an area for the next 24 hours. This prediction is always accurate, but cannot account for spells or supernatural effects that might alter the forecast.

Archives of Nethys

Rules Index | GM Screen

Standard Magical Traits