u/Hyakynthator

I always really liked tribes in pretty much all games. I find the idea of such a different society fascinating. Time periods like the one from Imperator Rome are especially interesting, because there are tribes in many places that would later adopt other systems, but also already interactions between them and other systems.

Suffice to say, I like playing tribes. And I appreciate how much content there is for tribal nations, that they aren't neglected entirely. But one thing that bothers me is that the endgame for every tribe seems to be either Republic or Monarchy.

Now, I get the idea. Historically it was in most nations' interest to de-tribalize and adopt a more static system of government, if they wanted to endure. And I'm fine with being penalized in that regard if I want to stay tribal, having to work a lot harder to adapt new technologies, enforce the loyalty of mighty chiefs and create a strong economy.

But I'd like to have the option at least.

For almost every Invictus mission tree for tribal nations you have to adapt a different form of government to experience the entire tree. I understand that I can just not do those missions, but I believe everyone understands the frustration of being presented an interesting option in a game and refusing it with no interesting alternative.

The only nations I'm aware of being able to stay tribal and have a fulfilling path are the Scythians and Androphagia. Pretty much every other tribal nations has to turn tribal through their mission tree or a decision (e.g. Indo-Germanic Kingdom).

Now, I get that different people have different tastes and that I understand the probable reasoning behind that decision, but I wanted to see if others feel the same.

While coming up with character concepts I stumbled onto this feat. It's pretty unqiue, so I'd like to think about how it could be used. However there are several questions that come regarding it.

As a basis I'd say that I'd try to access it through the racial heritage feat.

1. What ways are there, except for a permanency enlarge person, to become large for the prerequiste? Ideally it would be permanent - but I'd also be interested if there are any options with no permanent magic (instantaneuos magic that permanently alters you would be fine). Just because otherwise the entire concept would be turned useless by a single dispel - and I don't want the DM to make the enemies intentionally dimwitted and avoid useful spells just to preserve a player's build.
2. What even is the damage for this version of swallow whole? The swallow whole ability page says that the damage is described in the ability entry. But it isn't for this.
3. What things would apply to a swallowed creature/make swallowing them more useful? The only one I found so far is Consume Essence, which would be available to evil Aasimars and such - outsiders that have a racial trait to count as humans (for the racial heritage ogre)
4. What things would you use to protect your belly from being cut open? This could go from spells/abilties that make the opponent unable to act while swallowed, to abilities that punish them for attacking you with light/unarmed weapons, to things that somehow could increase your natural armor bonus to viable levels, to anything else you can think of really.

I want this thread to be open not only about the character I have in mind, but also discussion about the feat in general, as I could find astoundingly little about it online. So feel free to talk about any of your thoughts relating to it.

Bonus question: If you were to play a game with mythic rules - what would mythic racial heritage do for something like ogre? Would it just not be available/do nothing, or do some of its abilities count as racial traits?