Nerds

Nerds

Small Monstrous Humanoid     HD: 1d8     Hp: 4
Init: +1     Spd: 20'     AC: 13 (+1 size, +1 Natural, +1 Dex); t: 11, ff: 12
Attacks: (BAB +1, Grap -3); +2 Unarmed Strike: 1d2 nonlethal or by weapon
SA: - -
SQ: Armless; Low-Light Vision
Align: Usually Good     Saves: Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +3
Str: 10, Dex: 13, Con: 10, Int: 10, Wis: 12, Cha: 10
Skills: Craft (Any) +4, Jump +4, Perform (Any one) +2, Tumble +3
Feats: Acrobatic

Environment: Temperate Plains or Hills
Organization: Company (1d3+1), Squad (2d4+2)
Challenge Rating: ½ 
Treasure: Standard
Advancement: by character class
Level Adjustment: - -

Nerds are a race of armless irregular gourd-shaped beings that stand between 2' and 3' tall. Their short, stumpy legs end in highly dexterous three-toed feet that can be used as hands.  Large bulbous eyes sit high atop their heads.  They have hard, glossy skin that comes in a variety of hues with pink, red, orange, yellow, green, and purple being the most prevalent.  Nerds speak Common.

Combat:

Nerds prefer to avoid fighting but if pressed to defend themselves or their companions, they will.  They use hit-and-run tactics, flanking, and missile weapons and will try to avoid direct hand-to-hand combat as they are aware of their physical limitations.

Armless (Ex): Despite being armless, Nerds are capable of carrying and manipulating objects with their feet as if they were hands.  While doing so, they move around by hopping on their “free foot” at ¾ normal speed and are unable to move while wielding a two-handed weapon.

Nerd Society:
Most Nerds live in the City of Harmony, located near the Prismatic Well.  The city has a mayor but by and large, the population is largely self-governing with most working toward what they believe to be a common good.  They are a peaceful folk who enjoy racing and tumbling competitions, art, gardening, and music and love bright, vibrant colors.  They tend to be group-oriented, disliking solitude as a whole.
The City of Harmony is surrounded by the Darkwood Forest and has two mountains that are within a short hiking distance: Mystery Mountain and Candy Mountain.  Areas of interest within the city include the Prism Academy, a school of arcane magic; the Monastery of Inspiration, the Critical Strike Combat School, and a Central Market.  The Circus of Illusion, one of the main entertainment venues in the city is located near the the Market.  The Sweet Spot Candy Shop is also found in the here and is home to a secret society of Lorekeepers.
The Darkwood Forest has its own secrets as well.  These include an abandoned mausoleum and a Temple of the Scarlet Sentinel and another of Miel.  An old grove of oak trees serve as a point of reference for many woodsmen.  The woods are bordered by a chasm known as the Lemondrop Ledges, named for the yellow hues of its walls.
      While it is functioning, the Prismatic Well provides a +2 morale bonus to all Charisma-based skill checks made by the Nerds.

Magic Items on the Body
Having fewer limbs than other humanoids and an irregular shape, Nerds can only make use of/wear the following magical items:
  • One headband, hat, helmet, or phylactery on the head - OR - One pair of eye lenses or goggles on or over the eyes
  • One amulet, brooch, medallion, necklace, periapt, scarab, cloak, cape, or mantle around the neck
  • One vest, vestment, or shirt on the torso
  • One robe or suit of armor on the body (worn over a vest, vestment, or shirt)
  • One pair of bracers or bracelets on the shins or ankles
  • One glove or pair of gloves on each foot
  • One ring on each foot
They may wear boots, shoes, sandals, or slippers on their feet but doing so negates their ability to manipulate objects.  Also, armor must be designed specifically to fit them.

This post was inspired by the Dungeons & Dragons and Nerds Candy Crossover.  I make no claims of ownership and all artwork belongs to its creators.  All information regarding the City of Harmony is taken from the seven part "Restoring Harmony" campaign.

Spoiler: There were no mimics in any of the adventures.


Comments

Post a Comment

Recent Posts

Smoke Powder Golem

Image
Smoke Powder Golem                                     CR13 (Original drawing of Smoke Powder Golem)   A Smoke Powder Golem is a blending of technology and the divine magic of Gond created to serve as temple guardians.   On average, the golem stands 12’ tall and weighs 8,000 pounds.   The smoke powder golem resembles the more common Iron Golem except its right arm has been replaced with the thick barrel of a bombard.   A large “backpack” has been built onto the golem and contains the ammunition for the golem’s cannon (internal magazine of six shells).   Firing the cannon causes the next shell to automatically, move into the firing chamber.   The golem smells of oil and sulfur.   N Large Construct Init: -1; Senses: Listen +0, Spot +0 Languages: Understands the langua...
Read more

Beldam (Other Mother from Coraline)

Image
I watched the movie “ Coraline ” for the first time this weekend.   Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen snippets of the film here and there over the years and I recognized the character when the movie started but I have never sat down and Watched the movie (or read the book).   By the time the show was over, I have to admit that I was fascinated by the entire thing.   The animation and pacing were incredibly well done and the main antagonist was delightfully wicked.   This is who I want to focus on today – Beldam, a.k.a. the Other Mother.   Some viewers may think that she was some sort of demon, offering children their heart’s desire in exchange for their souls, much like a crossroads demon but I feel like she more closely resembles a faerie, a member of the Unseelie Court who is allowed a great deal of independence in her operations.   I also think that since the protagonist, Coraline, was just a child that Beldam wouldn’t necessarily have been overly power...
Read more

The Magic of Mario-World Power-Ups for D&D

Image
Not so very long ago, one of my kids suggested that I write a blog post about using the Power-Ups from the Mario Brothers franchise.   Now, to be honest, the last Mario game I played was Super Mario 3 back whenever it came out but I thought, “Sure, why not?”   Well, it turns out that the number of Power-Ups has expanded exponentially in my almost 30 year absence.   Seriously, at the time of this writing, there’s like SEVENTY-NINE different ones available and that doesn’t even touch on the banana peels from Mario Kart. That said, instead of trying to stat out all of them, I’m just going to focus on the ones from the Super Mario Brothers game and call it good.   These include the Super Mushroom, the Fire Flower, the Invincibility Star, and the 1-Up Mushroom.   That’s it.   If you want the Penguin Suit, the Raccoon Suit, or a Yoshi, look somewhere else because I’m not going to cover those here. The Super Mushroom is pretty straightforward. ...
Read more

The EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle

Image
1976 GMC Motorhome Palm Beach model 26' Crew: 4     Passengers: 19 Cargo: 425 lbs.* Init: -4 Top Speed: 60 (6) - approximately 35 - 40 mph Defense: 6 (-4 size) Hardness: 10 SZ: G (8' wide x 26' long x 10' high) Purchase: 45     Restriction: Mil (+3) * each unused passenger slot allows the vehicle to carry an additional 100 lbs. of cargo. • 6 wheels with reinforced tires • Communications: High-Range Radio, Compass, GPS, Night Vision (via driver's periscope) • Back of vehicle opens for assault ramp Armaments: • 7.62mm Machine Guns (x2, forward arc) • Flamethrowers (4/side, fire-linked, over rear wheels) • Light Tank Gun (rear arc) • Rocket Rack (roof-mounted, retractable, 6 rockets) Despite performing well on its one and only (unauthorized) mission , the prototype EM-50 was decommissioned and flown back to the United States and placed in storage at the Sierra Army D...
Read more

A Horse By Any Other Name (Part 6)

Image
One Month after the Summer Solstice (Seventh Moon, 1000 ALB) Ra'ziir follows along beside Foil Hat, "What makes you think this 'Abacus' knows anything about planar travel?" The conspiracy theorist replies, "Oh, he's a wizard, knows all kinds of things about conjurations and summonings. If he doesn't have your answers, he'll probably know who to ask." "My little ponies!" Grotto winnies, "The confection shop is this way! How can we expect to confront this unknown on the word of the paranoid pony? We should surely go to this confectionery and get some information from another source. Are we to trust this one only because it was the first we encountered? More information is needed! We should fill our bellies, get reliable corroborating information there! Are we to blindly trust this one to lead us to a trap in the vulnerable state we are in?!" Grotto insists. "Plus that is where these phillies are!" Grotto thinks to ...
Read more

🎶 🎶 He's a Were-House 🎶 🎶 (to the tune of "Brick House")

Image
One of my players recently tagged me in this picture, more or less daring me to see what I could come up with. There are already other versions of this concept out there (I really like this one ). I know that larger versions of Mimics exist and I could convert them to whatever edition of the game we are playing but that would be cheating and doesn't fit the "spirit" of the post. This is what I came up with... Faizard Skitterbrook the Were-House CR: 3     Medium Humanoid (Human/Shapechanger) HD: 3d4    Hp: 8 Init: +1     Spd: 30' AC: 11 (+1 Dex), t: 11, ff: 10 or 15 (+1 Dex, +4 Mage Armor spell) Attacks: (BAB+1/Grap +1) ; +1 Staff: 1d6 (20/x2) or +2 Light Crossbow: 1d8 (19-20/×2, 80') SA: Arcane Spells (CL3; DC12 + spell level; 4/3/2); Improvised Weapons SQ: Transformation Align: CN    Saves: Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4 Str: 11, Dex: 13, Con: 11, Int: 15, Wi...
Read more