| Racial Traits | Race Point Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Humanoid (garlean) | 0 |
| Size | Medium | 0 |
| Base Speed | Normal | 0 |
| Ability Score Modifiers | Standard (+2 Con, +2 Int, -2 Wis) | 0 |
| Languages | Standard | 0 |
| Defense | Fearless | 1 |
| Defense | Hardy | 3 |
| Defense | Magitek Training | 1 |
| Feat and Skill | Keen Senses | 2 |
| Feat and Skill | Noble Upbringing | 4 |
| Feat and Skill | Sovereignty of The Nation | 2 |
| Feat and Skill | Technologically Advanced | 6 |
| Magical | Third Eye | 1 |
| Weakness | Magic Ineptitude | -5 |
| Total | 15 | |
The Garlean race presents a compelling and unique option, rooted in their distinct physiology and technological prowess. Unlike other races who manipulate aether for traditional spellcasting, Garleans possess a biological inability to wield magic directly. This inherent limitation, however, has fueled their ingenuity, leading them to master the science of magitek – a blend of advanced technology and harnessed ceruleum to replicate and surpass the effects of magic. Recognizable by the small, often obscured, third eye on their forehead, Garleans are a people defined by their rigorous discipline, strategic brilliance, and an unwavering belief in the superiority of scientific advancement and technological order.
Hailing from the northern continent of Ilsabard, Garlean society is a highly militaristic and efficient empire, predicated on rigid hierarchies and the relentless expansion of their dominion. They view other races, particularly those reliant on ancient traditions or susceptible to primal summoning, as barbaric and undisciplined, believing their “enlightened” conquest brings prosperity and liberation from superstition. In an FFd20 campaign, a Garlean character offers a fascinating blend of strengths and challenges: players might gain bonuses to Intelligence or Strength, proficiency in Technology or Lore (Military) skills, and unique racial features tied to their magitek affinity – such as advantage on checks involving magitek devices or proficiency with specific Garlean armaments. Conversely, their inability to cast traditional spells would necessitate creative problem-solving and a reliance on their intellect, engineering, or brute force, making for a distinct and engaging roleplaying experience as they navigate a world often wary or openly hostile to their imperialistic reputation.
Standard Racial Traits
- Ability Score Racial Traits: Garleans are hardy and very intelligent, but have difficulty deciding if their actions are wise. As a result, garleans gain a +2 bonus to Constitution and Intelligence, but suffer a –2 penalty to Wisdom.
- Size: Garleans are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
- Type: Garleans are Humanoid creatures with the garlean subtype.
- Base Speed: Garleans have a base speed of 30 feet.
- Languages: Garleans begin play speaking Common. Garleans with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Elvaan, Galkan, Goblin, Lalafellan, and Mithran. See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.
Defense Racial Traits
- Fearless: Garleans gain a +2 racial bonus on all saving throws against fear effects.
- Hardy: Garleans gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, spells, and spell-like abilities.
- Magitek Training: Garleans gain a +4 dodge bonus to AC against constructs of the robot subtype and magiteks.
Feat and Skill Racial Traits
- Keen Senses: Garleans receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
- Noble Upbringing: Garleans take great pride in their history, culture, and government. They receive a +2 bonus on Knowledge (nobility) and Knowledge (history) checks and treat these skills as class skills.
- Sovereignty of The Nation: Garleans are highly efficient with firearms. They can gain Firearms (Simple) or a single Gun Arm Exotic Weapon Proficiency.
- Technologically Advanced: Garleans are very proficient with all things technology. They gain a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (Technology), Repair, and any one Craft skill that involves building something technological.
Magical Racial Traits
- Third Eye (Su): Garleans, while magically inept, can physically open a third eye in their forehead, which shines like a white gem, and are able to use detect magic at will as a spell-like ability (caster level equal to the garlean‘s class level).
Weakness Racial Traits
- Magic Ineptitude: Garleans are inept with magic. They are unable to obtain a magic pool nor can they use spell-trigger items, spell-completion items, command word activated item, or use activated items. Garleans can use alchemical items and may activate and deactivate their magic weapons and armor without issue as well as gain bonuses from static magical wondrous items and rings like belts of giant strength.
Alternate Racial Traits
The following racial traits replace existing garlean racial traits. Consult your GM before selecting any of these new options.
- Before Their Time: Many garleans that are born outside their empire still become savants with advanced machinery, despite their relatively austere upbringing. Garleans with this racial trait gain Technologist as a bonus feat as well as a +2 racial bonus to Craft (Mechanical) and Repair checks. This racial trait replaces technologically advanced.
- Engineer: Garlean engineers tinker endlessly with fire, explosives, and the engines of war. Garleans with this racial trait gain a +2 racial bonus on Craft (alchemy) and Knowledge (engineering) checks. This racial trait replaces noble upbringing.
- Magic Resistant: Some garleans are particularly resistant to magic. Garleans with this racial trait gain spell resistance equal to 11 + their character level. This resistance can be lowered for 1 round as a standard action. This racial trait replaces hardy and third eye.
- Magic User: A rare few garleans are able to utilize magic. Garleans with this racial trait are able to obtain a magic pool and can use spell-trigger items, spell-completion items, command word activated item, and use activated items. This racial trait replaces hardy, keen senses, and magic ineptitude.
- Master Tinker: Garleans experiment with all manner of mechanical devices. Garleans with this racial trait gain a +2 bonus on Disable Device and Knowledge (engineering) checks. This racial trait replaces noble upbringing.
- Physically Inspired: Some garleans prefer being physically superior to others. Garleans with this racial trait gains a +2 racial bonus on Acrobatics, Climb, and Swim checks. This racial trait replaces technologically advanced.
- Wary: Many garleans have spent their long lives moving from place to place, often driven out by the hostility of others. Such experiences have made them wary of others’ motivations. Garleans with this trait gain a +2 racial bonus on Sense Motive and Bluff checks. This racial trait replaces noble upbringing.
- Wright: Some garleans prefer to use their natural talents with mechanisms to drive machines. These garleans gain a +2 racial bonus on Drive checks and on Craft and Repair checks to build or repair vehicles. This racial trait replaces technologically advanced.
- Xenophobia Extremis: Some garleans see themselves so high and mighty over other races, it seeps into every part of their beings. Garleans with this racial trait get -2 to Charisma instead of Wisdom, and cannot learn bonus languages based on their Intelligence modifier. This racial trait modifies the ability score and languages racial traits.
Variant Garlean Heritages
Although many garleans follow the general model of the standard garlean, many more do not. Those of different lineages may evince dramatically different manifestations of their heritage, both in appearance and in ability. Here are 3 different potential heritages for garlean PCs. If you choose to use a specific bloodline instead of the general rules for creating a garlean, you should work with your GM to ensure that your character’s appearance reflects that bloodline.
- Alternate Ability: While most garleans focus on their training against magitek, those of the variant heritages listed below gain a different ability.
Table: Variant Garlean Heritages
| Heritage | Ability Modifiers | Alternate Ability | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baelsar | +2 STR, +2 WIS, -2 CHA | +4 dodge bonus to AC against monstrous humanoids. | "Might makes right" is the philosophy of these Garleans, using their strength and experience to subjugate any who oppose them. |
| Galvus | +2 CON, +2 CHA, -2 INT | +2 racial bonus on saving throws against death effects and energy drain. | Staunch fortitude and firmness of their orders, these royal Garleans lead their Empire to greatness, and the ends justify the means. |
| Garlond | +2 DEX, +2 INT, -2 WIS | +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saving throw against traps. | Fast on their feet and quick of wit, these visionary Garleans are at the forefront of technology and science explorations. |
Racial Archetypes
The following racial archetypes are available to garleans:
- Commandant (Knight; Garlean)
- Legionnaire (Gunbreaker; Garlean)
Favored Class Options
The following favored class options are available to all characters of this race who have the listed favored class, and unless otherwise stated, the bonus applies each time you select the favored class reward.
- Chemist: Add +1/2 to bomb damage.
- Engineer: Add +1/4 to the number of Repair daily uses.
- Gunbreaker: Add +1/6 of a new gun arm technique.
- Gunner: Add +1/3rd of an additional use of Gun Fix per day.
- Knight: Add +1/6 to gain a new knight talent.
- Medic: The medic gains +1/6 of a new medical practice.
- Ninja: Add +1/4 point to the ninja’s ki pool.
- Warrior: Add +1 to the warrior’s CMD when resisting a bull rush or dirty trick.