Canin Sighthound (3.5e Template)

Author: Halloweenman33 (talk) Date Created: 2/22/17 Status: Finished, but open to improvement suggestions Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Canin Sighthound

Sighthounds rely on sight and speed far more than they do on smell and are some of the fastest and most agile of the Canin or other canine-like creatures.

Canin come in many different breeds and many of these breeds fall into different categories, similar to regular dogs. The hounds can be further divided into two subcategories: Scent Hound and Sighthound. Sighthounds rely on sight and speed far more than they do on smell and are some of the fastest and most agile of the Canin or other canine-like creatures. Canin Sighthounds have a very flexible back and long legs for a long stride, a deep chest to support an unusually (compared to other Canin) large heart, very efficient lungs for both anaerobic and aerobic sprints, and a lean, wiry body to keep their weight at a minimum. Sighthounds have unique anatomical and physiological features likely due to intentional selection for hunting by speed and sight. Their heads are long and slender, with the breadth being less than 75-80% of the length, giving them wider field of vision but smaller overlap between the eyes and therefore possibly poorer depth perception in some of their field of view than other Canin. Some hounds are born as Sighthounds while others, even if they are members of a breed that would technically qualify, obtain the template later through rigorous training to increase their abilities.

Creating a Canin Sighthound

Canin Sighthound is an inherited or acquired template that can be added to any Canin or dog-like humanoid or monstrous humanoid (hereafter referred to as the base creature) whose breed (chosen at character creation) is a hound that would qualify as a sighthound. A Sighthound uses all the base creatures statistics and abilities except as noted here.

Size and Type

The base creature’s size and type remains unchanged. Do not recalculate BAB, Fortitude or Will Saves, or Skill Points. They do gain an additional +2 to their Reflex Saves

Hit Dice

Same as base creature

Speed

+30 Base Speed

Armor Class

Same as base creature

Attack

Same as base creature

Full Attack

Same as base creature

Special Attacks

Same as base creature

Special Qualities

A Sighthound retains all of the special qualities of the base creature and also gains those as described below

Improved Low-Light Vision: A Canin Sighthound can see three as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. He retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

Environmental Intolerance: Due to their lack of body fat, Canin Sighthounds are very sensitive to extreme temperatures, both heat and cold. As soon as they suffer any damage from heat or cold environmental hazards, they are considered exhausted instead of fatigued. Additionally, a Sighthound not properly equipped to counteract the heat or cold must attempt a Fortitude saving throw every 30 minutes (DC 15, +1 for each previous check). Failure means that the character loses 2d4 hit points. Heavy clothing or armor provides a –8 penalty on saves against heat but grants a +4 equipment bonus on saves against cold. A character who succeeds at a Survival check (DC 15) gains a +4 competence bonus on the save (see the Survival skill). Searing heat or bitter cold (desert or arctic conditions) forces a character to make a Fortitude save every 5 minutes. Failure means that the character loses 2d6 hit points. Appropriate clothing and successful use of the Survival skill can modify the save, as noted above.

Poison Intolerance: Canin Sighthounds are very sensitive to poisons. They take -4 Penalty on all Saving Throws against Poison.

Improved Endurance: Canin Sighthounds may not all be hard workers, but they have some of the endurance of their larger cousins. They can run for a number of minutes equal to their Constitution Score before they have to start making Constitution checks to see if they must stop running and only have to make another check every minute. Note: Greyhounds (but not Italian Greyhounds) and Whippets, being Large and Standard Canin respectively, already have Great Endurance from their respective basic races, so they effectively already have this ability and do not benefit from it again.

Certain breeds also gain additional special qualities as described below

Italian Greyhound:

Slight Build: The physical stature of the Italian Greyhound lets them function in many ways as if they were one size category smaller. Whenever an Italian Greyhound is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as Hide), the Italian Greyhound is treated as one size smaller if doing so is advantageous to the character. An Italian Greyhound is also considered to be one size smaller when "squeezing" through a restrictive space. An Italian Greyhound can use weapons designed for a creature one size smaller without penalty. However, the space and reach of an Italian Greyhound remain those of a creature of their actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject's size category.

Fragile: Due to their builds, Italian Greyhounds can be injured more easily than other breeds. They subtract 1 from their hit points gained at each level, including first (to a minimum of 0)

Quick Reflexes: Italian Greyhounds gain Lightening Reflexes as a bonus feat

Fast Movement: Italian Greyhounds gain an additional +10 to their Base Speed. This stacks with increases to Base Speed from other sources

Greyhound:

Rapid Movement: Being the fastest of all of the Canin Sighthounds (and Canin in general), the Greyhound gains an additional +20 to their Base Speed. This stacks with increases to Base Speed from other sources (such as the Barbarian’s Fast Movement)

Quick Reflexes: Greyhounds gain Lightening Reflexes as a bonus feat

Improved Run: A Greyhound runs at 6 times his normal speed while running (if wearing medium, light, or no armor and carrying no more than a medium load) or 5 times his normal speed (if wearing heavy armor or carrying a heavy load) and gains a +8 Bonus to Jump checks if made after a running start

Whippet:

Bully Mutation: While the mutation is still rare, Whippets have a higher chance of being born with the mutation that causes the effects of Canin Bully Breed than other Canin Breeds. At character creation, Whippets have a 30% chance of having the Canin Bully Breed Template automatically applied (which would raise their Level Adjustment to +2)

Quick Reflexes: Whippets gain Lightening Reflexes as a Bonus Feat

Zippy: Whippets gain an additional +15 to their Base Speed. This stacks with increases to Base Speed from other sources

Abilities

+4 Dexterity: Canin Sighthounds are faster and more agile than most other Canin

Skills

4 Innate Bonus on Spot checks, +2 Racial Bonus on Escape Artist checks, +2 Racial Bonus on Search checks

Feats

Canin Scenthounds gain Run, Dash, Fleet of Foot, and Great Fortitude as bonus feats

Environment

Same as base creature

Organization

Same as base creature

Challenge Rating

+2

Treasure

Same as base creature

Alignment

Same as base creature

Advancement

By character class

Level Adjustment

+1

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