Other Races At the DM’s option, players may choose almost any manner of being as a player character. For example, the Dark Sun� campaign allows players to run half-giant characters, dwarf/human crossbreeds, or feral halflings—all with ability scores ranging from 5 to 20 instead of 3 to 18. If a player has a specific character race from an unusual campaign world that he wishes to use, DMs can simply skip the selection of Racial Abilities and take the character race with all its benefits and hindrances exactly as it appears. Generally, players may not customize these unusual races, and they receive zero character points for selecting a non-standard race.

For the DM’s convenience, a short list of common humanoid and monstrous character races is provided on page 42, with standard abilities and hindrances. These creatures appear in The Complete Book of Humanoids and The Monstrous Manual™, and more detailed descriptions of their lifestyles and societies can be found in those books. A player can choose one of these races for his character if the DM agrees, but the character gains no additional character points in this step.

The races described here include: aarakocra, alaghi, bugbear, bullywug, centaur, flind, giff, githzerai, gnoll, goblin, hobgoblin, kobold, lizard man, minotaur, mongrelman, ogre, orc, satyr, swanmay, thri-kreen, and wemic.

Ability Score Requirements

Just like demihumans, characters must qualify for these optional races by meeting certain ability score criteria. The ability score adjustments noted are applied after a character has met the required scores. Some of these adjustments can elevate a humanoid or monstrous character to ability scores of 19 or 20, or reduce a characteristic to 2.

Race Str Dex Con Int Wis Cha

Aarakocra 4/17 7/17 6/17 3/18 3/17 3/18

Alaghi 10/17 3/17 12/18 5/18 3/16 3/16

Bugbear 7/17 8/17 8/18 4/17 3/18 4/15

Bullywug 6/18 4/18 6/18 4/15 3/16 4/15

Centaur 11/18 5/18 10/17 3/16 3/17 3/18

Flind 7/17 6/18 6/18 3/16 3/16 4/17

Giff 14/18 3/15 10/18 3/15 3/16 3/17

Githzerai 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/18

Gnoll 5/17 5/18 5/18 4/15 3/16 4/15

Goblin 5/16 4/17 5/16 3/18 3/18 4/13

Hobgoblin 6/18 6/18 5/18 3/18 3/18 4/15

Kobold 4/17 4/18 5/16 3/17 3/18 3/14

Lizard man 8/18 3/18 6/18 3/17 3/18 3/16

Minotaur 10/18 5/14 10/18 5/14 5/18 5/18

Mongrelman 6/17 6/18 8/18 4/18 3/18 3/9

Ogre 14/18 3/8 12/18 4/10 3/9 4/10

Orc 5/17 3/17 8/18 3/16 3/16 5/14

Satyr 6/18 8/18 6/17 4/18 3/18 3/17

Swanmay 13/18 12/17 14/18 9/18 13/17 9/18

Thri-kreen 8/18 12/18 5/18 5/18 5/18 3/15

Wemic 10/17 7/18 11/18 3/18 3/18 3/18

Racial Ability Score Adjustments

After selecting a race, modify the character’s ability scores as shown below.

Race Adjustments

Aarakocra +1 Dexterity,-1 Strength, –1 Constitution

Alaghi +2 Strength, –2 Intelligence

Bugbear +1 Strength,-1 Intelligence, –1 Charisma

Bullywug +1 Dexterity,-1 Intelligence, –1 Charisma

Centaur +1 Constitution, +1 Wisdom, –2 Dexterity

Flind +1 Strength, –1 Charisma

Giff +2 Strength, –1 Dexterity, –1 Intelligence

Githzerai None

Gnoll +1 Strength, –1 Intelligence, –1 Charisma

Goblin –1 Strength, –1 Charisma

Hobgoblin –1 Charisma

Kobold –1 Strength, –1 Constitution

Lizard man None

Minotaur +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, –2 Wisdom, –2 Charisma

Mongrelman –1 Intelligence, –1 Charisma, +1 one other score

Ogre +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, –2 Intelligence, –2 Charisma

Orc +1 Strength, –2 Charisma

Satyr +1 Dexterity, +1 Constitution, –1 Intelligence, –1 Charisma

Swanmay +1 Dexterity, +1 Wisdom

Thri-kreen +1 Dexterity, +1 Wisdom, –1 Intelligence, –1 Charisma

Wemic +1 Strength, –1 Dexterity

Race Fighter Ranger Priest Wizard Thief Bard

Aarakocra 11 – 7 – 11 –

Alaghi 12 – Druid 12 – – –

Bugbear 12 – Cleric 8 – 9 –

Bullywug 10 – 7 – 9 –

Centaur 12 10 Druid 14 12 – 12

Flind 12 – Cleric 9 – 11 –

Giff 11 – Cleric 8 – 9 –

Githzerai 9 – – 12 15 –

Gnoll 11 – Cleric 9 – 11 –

Goblin 10 – Cleric 9 – 12 –

Hobgoblin 11 – Cleric 9 – 12 –

Kobold 8 – Cleric 9 – 12 –

Lizard man 12 – 7 – 9 –

Minotaur 12 8 7 8 10 –

Mongrelman 10 – Cleric 10 10 8 8

Ogre 12 – 3 – – –

Orc 10 – Cleric 9 – 11 –

Satyr 11 7 – – 11 –

Swanmay – 14 Druid 12 – – –

Thri-kreen 16 12 12 – – –

Wemic 12 – 7 – – 10

Abilities and Restrictions

a. Charge Attack: The creature is capable of making a charge attack, gaining a +2 bonus to attack and inflicting double damage with an impaling weapon such as a spear, javelin, or lance. Aarakocra perform a diving attack, centaurs charge like knights, and bullywugs leap at their enemies.

b. Move Silently: The creature can move silently, as the thief ability, with a base success of 40%, +5% per level.

c. Hide in natural settings: The creature can hide in natural settings, just as a thief can hide in shadows. The base success chance is 35%, plus 5% per level. If a flat percentage score appears next to this ability, use this score instead; for example, a satyr’s abilities include c(90%), which means that a satyr has this ability with a 90% success chance.

d. Infravision: The character possesses infravision (the ability to see in the dark) to a range of 60 feet.

e. Surprise opponents: When alone or with a group of similarly stealthy creatures, the character gains a bonus on his chance to surprise his enemies. Bugbears inflict a –3 penalty on opponents’ surprise checks. A bullywug using its chameleon power inflicts a –2 penalty to opponent’s surprise checks, or a –6 if the bullywug attacks with a leap from a place of concealment.

f. Amphibious: The character is at home in either water or air environments. Combat penalties for fighting in water do not apply to the character, although using Type S or B weapons underwater is still very difficult. Bullywugs are true amphibians and can breathe water; lizard men are still air-breathers, but they can hold their breath for a number of rounds equal to 2_3 their Constitution score before checking for drowning.

g. Leap: The character’s powerful leg muscles enable him to make astounding leaps, bounding up to 30 feet forward or 10 feet into the air. Leaping to close with an enemy is considered a charge attack, and the character suffers double damage if he lands on a spear or similar weapon set against a charge. Bullywugs gain the special ability to inflict double damage with a leap. Note that thri-kreen can actually leap 50 feet forward or 20 feet in the air, but they do not gain this ability until they reach 3rd level.

h. Detect new construction: The creature has natural skills for mining, and can spot new or unusual construction with the percentage score noted. This is similar to the dwarven or gnome abilities as described earlier in this chapter.

i. Detect sloping passages: The creature can note subtle grades or slopes in underground passageways and chambers with the percentage score noted.

j. Detect sliding or shifting walls: The creature can detect walls that move or shift with the percentage score noted.

k. Attacked last: The character comes from a race notorious for its cowardice and ineffectiveness in combat. Consequently, enemies are likely to dismiss the character as a negligible threat and concentrate their attacks on other, more impressive, members of the character’s party unless the character displays some unusual prowess, powerful magic, or skill.

l. Hard to surprise: The monstrous character’s keen senses make it very difficult to surprise him. The character receives a +2 bonus to all surprise checks.

m. Tracking: The character’s sense of smell is so acute that he can track, as per the tracking proficiency, with a 50% chance of success. Normal modifiers for old or confused trails may apply.

n. Spell immunity: Minotaurs have the unique power of immunity to maze spells, due to their familiarity with labyrinths and other such places.

o. Fearlessness: Minotaurs also enjoy a +3 saving throw bonus versus fear, including fear, scare, cause fear, or emotion spells, dragon fear, and similar effects.

p. Sound mimicry: Mongrelmen have the ability to perfectly imitate any sound they hear. They cannot create magical effects such as a harpy’s song, a sphinx’s roar, or a shout spell by imitating these sounds, although they can duplicate the non-magical aspects of these sounds exactly.

q. Pick pockets: Mongrelmen also have the ability to pick pockets as the thief ability, with a success chance of 70% plus 5% per level.

r. Create magical pipes: Satyrs can create pan pipes that can cast charm, sleep, or cause fear effects within a 60 foot radius. To gain this ability, the satyr must invest 4 character points in the music/instrument trait when first created, and then devote 2 character points to the Music proficiency at least three times. He can’t spend more than 2 character points per level on the proficiency, so the earliest he can gain this ability is at 3rd level. The pipes themselves are easily crafted and have no magical properties; it’s the satyr’s unearthly skill that creates the magical effects.

s. Magic resistance: The character is magic resistant. Giff have a flat 10% magic resistance, while githzerai have a magic resistance of 5% per level—for example, a 6th-level githzerai has a magic resistance of 30%.

t. Antennae: A thri-kreen’s antennae give it a sensitivity to motion and serve to lessen darkness-based combat penalties by 1 point while fighting enemies within 15 feet.

u. Paralyzing bite: At 5th level, a thri-kreen gains the ability to paralyze its prey with a bite. The victim must save versus poison or be paralyzed 2–16 rounds (1–8 rounds if larger than man-sized, or only 1 round if size H or larger.)

v. Dodge missiles: At 7th level, a thri-kreen gains the ability to dodge thrown or fired missiles with a roll of 9 or better on a d20.

w. Racial weapons: At 5th level, a thri-kreen automatically gains proficiency in the chatkcha, a crystalline throwing wedge commonly used by the mantis warriors. At 7th level, the character gains proficiency in the gythka, a thri-kreen polearm. Consider these weapons to be equal to a javelin and a bill-guisarme respectively for damage, range modifiers, etc.—but note that the chatkcha returns to its thrower if it misses its target.

x. Swan form: Swanmays may polymorph themselves into a swan form at will. While in swan form, they can only be struck by +1 or better weapons, can fly at the listed rate, and have a magic resistance of 2% per level. A swanmay’s equipment and belongings remain behind when she transforms. The swanmay requires a magical token (a cloak, ring, or similar item) to perform her transformation, and if she loses it she can no longer transform until she gets it back.

Penalties

y. Claustrophobia: Aarakocra are extremely claustrophobic and are uncomfortable indoors or underground. An aarakocra character suffers a –3 penalty to attack rolls in such settings.

z. Size: A number of monstrous characters enjoy the mixed blessings of being a Size Large (L) creature. While this permits them to wield large weapons in a single hand, or even use huge weapons with both hands, it also means that they suffer damage as large creatures.

aa. Dehydration: A character with this restriction is vulnerable to dehydration if he spends too much time out of the water. The character must wet his entire body (a water skin full will do) three times per day, or lose 2 points of Constitution per missed bath. If the character’s Constitution falls to 0, he dies of dehydration.

bb. Light: Many humanoids are accustomed to darkness, and they find bright light to be disorienting and painful. A character with this weakness suffers a –1 penalty to attacks in daylight or within the radius of continual light spells.

cc. Racial enmity: Some humanoids are the natural enemies of common demihuman races, who have evolved special fighting techniques to combat them. Dwarves gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls against orcs, goblins, and hobgoblins; gnomes gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls against kobolds and goblins. In addition, ogres suffer a –4 penalty to hit dwarves, and ogres, bugbears, and gnolls suffer a –4 penalty to hit gnomes.

dd. Hideous appearance: Mongrelmen are so warped in appearance that they have an effective Charisma of 1 (a –7 penalty) for purposes of Reaction Checks.

ee. Easily distracted: Satyrs are very susceptible to distraction. Encountering a female of 15 or higher Charisma causes the satyr to forget everything except the idea of wooing the woman for 1–6 full turns, or even more if she is at all friendly. Even a bitter enemy can fascinate the satyr if she makes any effort at all, and in all circumstances satyrs have to succeed in a saving throw versus spells to consciously harm a beautiful woman—or ignore her. A bottle of strong drink can have the same effect.

ff. Inhuman form: Some monstrous characters are restricted from wearing armor or some magical items by their body form. For example, thri-kreen and alaghi cannot wear armor; centaurs, wemics, or bullywugs can’t wear magical boots or magical armor due to their unusual shapes; and so on. In a questionable case, the DM should decide if a character can use a piece of equipment or not using his best judgment of the situation.

The Races

 Aarakocra

Aarakocra are a race of intelligent bird-men who live among the highest mountain peaks. The average aarakocra stands about five feet tall, with a wingspan of nearly 20 feet. An aarakocra’s feet are powerful talons that can be used to grasp and manipulate objects, and it also has small wing-hands about halfway along the leading edge of each wing. Like all true avians, aarakocra have hollow bones, and most weigh no more than 80 or 90 pounds. The aarakocras’ voices are not well-suited for common, and they punctuate their speech with caws, screeches, and whistles.

Aarakocra are strong and swift fliers, and they can make a special diving attack with a drop of 200 feet or more. They receive no penalties for aerial missile fire. Aarakocra avoid grappling or combat on the ground, but their talons and beak serve as formidable weapons in a pinch. As a race, aarakocra are extremely claustrophobic, and dislike being indoors or underground.

Alaghi

Distant cousins of the yeti, alaghi are forest-dwelling humanoids with barrel chests, short legs, and long, powerful arms. Their necks are thick and short, and their heads tend to be broad and flat with wide jaws. Alaghi are covered from toe to crown in long, thick hair ranging in hue from charcoal gray to reddish brown. Alaghi stand well over six feet tall and weigh more than 300 pounds.

Most alaghi live as semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers. They tend to be shy and peaceful creatures, with a driving sense of curiosity. Alaghi love riddles and games of strategy, especially a good game of chess. Alaghi tend to hoot and hiss when they speak, and their fearsome size and power can often frighten people who are not used to them.

Bugbear

Bugbears are the largest variety of goblinkind, standing about seven feet tall with muscular frames. They have light yellow to light brown hides, with thick coarse hair and bestial eyes. Their ears are large and prominent, and their mouths are full of sharp fangs. Bugbears are true carnivores, with keen sight and hearing, and they can move with amazing stealth when they try.

Most bugbears live by plundering and ambush, taking slaves and eating anything they kill. A player character bugbear is an extremely unusual representative of his species who must struggle to control a vicious temperament and natural inclination to bully those weaker than himself. Even the most honorable bugbears can be fatally misled by avariciousness and hunger for power.

Bullywug

Bullywugs are bipedal frog-like amphibians inhabiting swamps, marshes, and other dank locations. They are covered with smooth, mottled green hide, with huge frog-like faces and bulging eyes. Bullywugs are strong swimmers and comfortable in water or out of it, but they are vulnerable to dehydration once they leave their native swamps.

A player character bullywug is actually a member of an advanced variety of this species, since most bullywugs are savages and marauders of the worst sort. Common bullywugs are scarcely able to wield a stone spear or club, but advanced bullywugs are able to wear armor and use most human weapons with little trouble.

Centaur

These powerful and noble creatures have the torso and upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. They are a strong and proud race, easily offended and impulsive. Centaurs can make use of any human weapon, but they’re especially fond of oaken clubs, longbows, and medium lances, the latter of which they can wield in the same fashion as a human rider on a medium warhorse.

Centaur society is generally pastoral and peaceful, but they can be fierce warriors when the need arises. Like many woodland creatures, they have a great respect for nature’s balance, and try not to disturb the world they live in. Centaurs are on good terms with elves, gnomes, and halflings, but they are suspicious of humans and dwarves.

Flind

Flinds are warlike humanoids with many of the worst traits of hyenas and similar scavengers. They are covered with mangy brown or reddish-brown fur, with bestial muzzles and long, muscular limbs. Flinds are closely related to gnolls, but are stronger, smarter, and more fierce than their cousins. Gnolls look upon flinds as leaders, heroes, and champions.

Unlike the chaotic pack-like society of most gnolls, flind society tends to be organized and less savage. Flinds are quick to resort to violence, just like gnolls, but unlike their lesser cousins they’re much more likely to consider the consequences and risks first, and then carefully plan their attack.

Giff

The giff are a race of hulking, powerfully-muscled mercenaries that resemble bipedal hippopotami. Their legs are cylindrical and stocky, with a heavy torso and clumsy but strong thick-fingered hands. Their faces are very hippopotamus-like, with small eyes and ears, and their skulls are exceedingly dense and strong. Giff are not known as towering intellectuals, but they are immensely strong and loyal to their employers.

The life of soldiering has become the only occupation in giff society, and bands of giff hire out their services to all causes. Therefore, a giff considers it his only purpose in life to keep himself fit, strong, and ready for action. They are fascinated by weapons (the more complicated, the better) and the trappings of military life, such as regimental histories, parades, and other forms of spit and polish.

Githzerai

Native to the chaotic plane of Limbo, the githzerai are a monastic race of travelers and traders who can be found in almost all the infinite planes. Githzerai appear human, but they tend to be thin and gaunt, with drawn faces and sharp features. They favor plain clothing and conservative tones.

Githzerai society is extremely chaotic, but it is not without its own laws and mores. An individual githzerai is usually strongly loyal to his race, even if he is completely out of contact with his fellows. It is not unusual for a githzerai to spend years at a time in a single plane, wandering and adventuring.

Gnoll

Gnolls are hyena-like humanoids with mangy yellow or brown fur, drooling muzzles full of long, sharp teeth, and gaunt but powerful frames. They give the impression of starving scavengers, with the disposition to match, and they are among the most chaotic and faithless of all humanoids. Gnolls have a hard time seeing past the moment, and patience is a virtue unheard of in gnoll society.

Player character gnolls must work hard to overcome the strong (and generally well-justified) prejudices they will encounter in the world outside their band. Their short tempers and bestial habits are not much help in dispelling these beliefs. Despite these distasteful qualities, gnolls can be brave and fierce fighters and valuable companions—provided they’re not given too many tests of honor, honesty, or loyalty.

Goblin

Goblins are small humanoids standing about four feet tall, with long arms, bandy legs, and harsh mannerisms. A goblin’s face is broad and flat, with a wide fang-filled mouth, pointed ears, and an olive or dull yellow coloration. Goblins are generally cowardly, opportunistic, and untrustworthy.

Goblin society is fairly savage, and each tribe has an exact pecking order. Moving up this ladder by pulling down those above them is the typical dream of most goblins, and cooperation with others of their kind is always halfhearted. Typically, a goblin will let others do his work or fighting for him any time he can, and then strike from ambush only after he’s sure his enemies have been weakened to the point where they can’t threaten him. Or, if the wrong side is winning the fight, a goblin isn’t above reevaluating his allegiances in the middle of a battle.

Hobgoblin

Hobgoblins are stocky humanoids with hairy hides of dark red to gray, and they stand about six and a half feet tall. They have yellow eyes and sharp yellow teeth, and favor dressing in brightly colored outfits. Hobgoblins wage a perpetual war with all other intelligent creatures, especially the other humanoid races. And they are proud of their status as the pariahs of the humanoid cultures. They feel that they are only weakened by alliances or treaties with other creatures.

Hobgoblin society is built around war, with military organization, and they seek out conflict wherever they can find it. Unlike the giff, who believe in the "rules" of warfare, hobgoblins seek to terrify and antagonize their enemies at all times. A player character hobgoblin is a rare individual indeed, since association with "weaklings" and "inferiors" is taken as a sign of weakness and decadence in hobgoblin society.

Kobold

The smallest and weakest race of goblinkind is the race of kobolds. A kobold stands about three feet in height, with a scaly hide of dark brown to rusty black, and glowing red eyes in a vaguely dog-like face. Kobolds tend to be cowards and whiners, but are quick to turn on their enemies when they find themselves with an advantage of numbers or position. Due to their lack of physical prowess, kobolds specialize in dirty tricks, distractions, and traps, using these to incapacitate or distract larger foes.

Kobolds strive to be taken seriously by larger races, and often try to make up for their shortcomings with ferocity and tenacity. Kobold PCs are unusual examples of the race, but even the most pleasant kobolds are still mean-spirited and spiteful from time to time.

Lizard man

A lizard man is a reptilian humanoid standing between six and seven feet tall. They weigh between 200 and 250 pounds, and their hides are covered with tough scales of dark green to brown. Lizard men have long, dangerous claws and thick, powerful tails up to four feet in length. They are exceptional swimmers and can hold their breath twice as long as most other air-breathing creatures, but they are slow and somewhat clumsy on land.

Generally, lizard men are dim savages who have not even mastered the use of the most basic tools and weapons, but PC lizard men are members of a more advanced variety that is capable of using weapons and armor. Despite this, lizard men are barbarians by any definition of the word, and human society and behavior is baffling to them. Unlike some other barbarians, lizard men are likely to react to this with violence instead of curiosity.

Minotaur

These are not the minotaurs of the Dragonlance� game setting, but instead standard minotaurs as described in the Monstrous Manual. Most are cursed humans, or the offspring of minotaurs and humans. Minotaurs are powerfully built and tower more than seven feet in height, with the head of a bull and the body of a human male. Minotaurs revere physical strength above all else, and they believe that the strong should naturally rule the weak. Minotaurs view surrender as an admission of weakness, and are likely to fight to the death regardless of the circumstances.

Many minotaurs are brutal savages, but they are not always mindless killers. They are ruthless, harsh, and stubborn, but they can be surprisingly intelligent and introspective.

Mongrelman

Mongrelmen combine the worst features of many species, including humans, orcs, gnolls, ogres, bugbears, and more questionable heritages. No two look alike, but all appear to be poorly constructed combinations of various humanoid races, with misshapen limbs of different shapes and proportions. Without exception, mongrelmen are hideously ugly, and most are ashamed of their appearance and go to great lengths to conceal their bodies from others.

Mongrelmen are often enslaved by evil societies, and ostracized even by good ones. Without a place in the world, they have developed great patience and a surprising degree of human kindness and compassion within their misshapen forms. They tend to avoid bloodshed when they can, staying in the shadows and living by petty theft and scavenging.

Ogre

Ogres are great brutes standing more than nine feet tall, with thick torsos, heavy limbs, stringy hair, and warty hides. They are usually ill-tempered beings who enjoy violence for its own sake, indulging in all manner of cruelty to entertain themselves. Ogres are extremely strong and hardy, but their lack of mental prowess is the stuff of legend.

Ogres live by raiding and scavenging, taking what they want from those too weak to defend themselves. A player character ogre is rare in the extreme—the intelligence and character necessary to rise beyond the petty cruelties and appetites of their kind just isn’t found in many ogres.

Orc

Orcs resemble primitive humans, with gray-green skin and coarse hair. They stoop slightly, have low, jutting foreheads, snouts, canine teeth, and short pointed ears. They stand between five and a half and six feet tall, and often have powerful, stocky builds. Orcs are aggressive hunters and raiders who constantly seek to expand their territory at the expense of their neighbors.

Orcs respect skill in battle, and from time to time an orc champion approaches human standards of bravery and honor in battle. A player character orc is one of these heroes. Even the best orcs are quick to take offense and are somewhat bloodthirsty.

Satyr

The half-human, half-goat satyrs are a race of pleasure-loving beings, Like the sylvan locations they dwell in, satyrs are personifications of nature, embodiments of all that is wild and carefree. Satyrs have the head, torso, and arms of a human, with the hind legs of a goat. Two sharp black horns jut through the coarse, curly hair on top of the head. They love to spend their days and nights in sport, and they never miss an opportunity to chase after wood nymphs or other comely creatures.

Satyrs are an inoffensive race—they just want to have fun. And when one takes up the life of an adventurer, he’s usually looking for entertainment. They don’t understand seriousness or violence, and while they can fight with the best, they’re more likely to view a battle as just another kind of contest or game. Satyrs are very impulsive, and are generally unreliable companions despite their good intentions.

Swanmay

Swanmays are human females who are gifted with the magical power to transform themselves into swans. In human form, they are indistinguishable from other people, although they’re frequently women of striking looks and grace. In swan form, they are great white birds of extraordinary beauty. All swanmays carry a magical token of some kind—a ring, cloak, or belt, for instance—that allows them to change shape.

Swanmays belong to a special sisterhood of druids and rangers, living in communal lodges in hidden forests. Their homes are always near silent lakes or marshes. They oppose poachers, raiders, and others who disturb the natural order of the land, and they act as friends and protectors of the forest folk. Many swanmays give up routine adventuring to guard their homes against the forces of evil, but a few—player character swanmays—wander the land to fight evil wherever they find it.

Thri-kreen

The thri-kreen are a race of large, intelligent insects often referred to as mantis warriors. They roam the deserts and savannas, existing as nomadic hunters. Mature thri-kreen are roughly seven feet tall at the shoulder, with six limbs and a tough, sandy-colored exoskeleton. They have black compound eyes, short antennae, and a complicated jaw structure. The thri-kreen’s uppermost four limbs are equipped with opposable claws that can grasp tools or weapons, or serve as weapons themselves. The thri-kreen language is made up of clicks and grindings, and they have difficulty learning the common tongue.

Thri-kreen are organized into hunting packs, and they constantly roam their territory. It’s unusual for a thri-kreen to leave its pack-mates and travel alone, and even more unusual for one to take up with others not of its kind. A PC thri-kreen has probably lost its true family in some disaster or another, and accepts its companions as a substitute family.

Wemic

Wemics are part human and part lion, combining the two as centaurs combine human and horse. The wemic’s leonine body has a human torso where the lion’s neck and head would be. The leonine body is covered with dusky golden fur, with a white underbelly, while the human half tends toward a tawny skin tone and a slight catlike cast to the face and eyes. Wemics are aboriginal nomads who live through hunting—they use fire and craft weapons and tools, but rarely build any kind of permanent dwelling. Wemics believe that everything in the world is a living thing, from the skies to the sun or earth, and they are very superstitious.

Wemics are playful and curious as cubs, and a small number never grow out of this stage. Wemic adventurers are most often characters of this sort, although other wemics may choose to trade with humans or sell their services as guides, and come into contact with a player character party in that fashion.

Racial Abilities and Restrictions

Naturally, each of the unique races described in this section have their own special powers, benefits, and hindrances. When a player selects a character, he must accept the standard abilities and restrictions of that race—there are no optional variations or abilities, such as those described for dwarves, elves, or the other standard demihuman races. The racial abilities are summed up on the chart below.

Race AC hp MV Natural Attacks Characteristics

Aarakocra 7 +0 6, Fl 36(C) 1d3/1d3/1d3 a, y, ff

(talons, beak)

Alaghi 4 +9 12 2d6 (fist) b, c, ff, z

Bugbear 10 +3 9 — d, e, z

Bullywug 6 +0 6, Sw 15 — a, c (75%), e, f, g, aa

Centaur 5 +4 18 1d6/1d6 (hooves) a, z, ff

Flind 10 +2 12 — c

Giff 6 +4 6 2d6 (head butt) s (10%), z

Githzerai 10 +0 12 — d, s

Gnoll 10 +2 12 — cc

Goblin 10 +0 6 — d, h (25%), bb, cc

Hobgoblin 10 +0 9 — d, h(40%), i(40%),

j(40%),cc

Kobold 10 +0 6 — d, k, bb, cc

Lizard man 5 +0 6, Sw 12 1d3/1d3/1d6 f, aa

(claws, tail)

Minotaur 6 +6 12 2d6 (head butt) d, l, m, n, o, z

Mongrelman 5 +0 9 — c (80%), p, q, dd

Ogre 5 +4 9 — z

Orc 10 +0 12 — d, h(35%), i(25%),

bb, cc

Satyr 5 +0 18 2d4 (head butt) c (90%), d, l, r, ee

Swanmay 7 +0 15, Fl 19(D) — x

Thri-kreen 5 +0 18 1d4 (x4), 2–5 g, t, u, v, w, ff

(claws, bite)

Wemic 6 +5 12 1d4/1d4 (claws) g (50'), z, ff

AC is the creature’s natural Armor Class. If the creature wears armor that is superior to its natural defenses, it may use the better value as its AC. If the creature wears armor that is inferior to its natural AC, its AC improves by only 1 place. For example, a lizard man (AC 5) in leather armor (AC 8) is actually AC 4, since the leather armor provides a small measure of extra protection. However, a lizard man in plate mail (AC 3) is AC 3.

HP is the creature’s bonus hit points at first level. After the character determines his hit points normally for his class and level, he may add this number to his hit point total.

MV is the creature’s normal movement rate while unencumbered. Several monstrous character races allow flying or swimming as alternative means of movement.

Natural attacks describe any natural attacks the character can make without any weapons. Generally, a character must choose to either use his natural attacks or fight with a weapon in a round, but there are three exceptions: centaurs and wemics can attack with a weapon and use their natural attacks at the same time, and thri-kreen can attack with a weapon and use their bite at the same time.