D&D 3.5 Hero Builder's Guidebook PDF

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HerO Builder’s GuidebOOk

Credits
Designers: Ryan S. Dancey, David Noonan, and John D. Rateliff
Editor: David Noonan
Creative Director: Ed Stark
Art Director: Dawn Murin
Cover Illustration: Brom
Interior Illustrations: Dennis Cramer
Typographer: Victoria L. Ausland
Graphic Design: Sherry Floyd and Sean Glenn
Project Manager: Josh Fischer
Production Manger: Chas DeLong
Dedication: All for one! One for all!
Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and the new DUNGEONS
& DRAGONS game designed by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Selecting Your Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Rolling Your Ability Scores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Planning Your Future Career. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Choosing Your Race and Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Appendix: The Rule of Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Creating Your Personal History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
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INTRODUCTION
Creating a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® character is a process of evolution.
IntrOductiOn
The D&D® game is a game about heroes. Through
We’ll start where all D&D characters traditionally
start: with six numbers between 3 and 18 written on
scratch paper. The Rolling Your Ability Scores chapter
imagination, storytelling and fellowship, you can helps you make those difficult choices. You’ll learn
explore what it means to be a hero. One of the most just what the odds are on rolling that 18, what to do if
exciting and rewarding parts of the game is listening you get unusually low scores, and suggestions on how
to the quiet voice of your inner hero, allowing some to roleplay a character whose abilities are much dif-
part of your own special potential to rise to the sur- ferent than your own.
face and reveal itself. At the heart of the character generation process is
Your character is more than just a collection of sta- the Choosing Your Race and Class chapter. After all,
tistics, random numbers, and equipment lists. He or when most people are asked what kind of D&D char-
she is a mirror that can reveal the bright spark within acter they have, they reply “I’m an elven thief ” or “I’m
you. Do not be content to simply copy an image from a human barbarian.” This chapter discusses each of
a movie or a book. Don’t feel constrained to follow the the race/class combinations available to 1st-level
easy formulaic heroes found in dozens of novels and characters, providing tips for maximizing your char-
any number of trite movies. Give your character a part acter’s potential, tips for roleplaying them, and some
of your own heroic potential. The reward will cer- unusual variants for each race and class.
tainly be worth the effort. The Creating Your Personal History chapter delves
into your character’s pre-adventurer past. You’ll
decide what your family is like, where you grew up,
WHAT’S INSIDE and what friends and enemies you made along the
The Hero Builder’s Guidebook provides something extra way. More than two dozen tables guide you through
during each step of the character generation process. your character’s childhood and adolescence, and you
In short, you’ll develop everything that happened to can either choose the results you like or let the dice
your character before his or her first adventure. You’ll decide.
2 have a better handle on how you view the world— Your character’s alignment functions as a moral and
and what the world thinks of you. And you’ll know ethical compass, and the Selecting an Alignment
what goals you’re working toward. chapter helps you figure out which way the needle is
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INTRODUCTION
pointing. There’s a quiz you can take to help decide characters, like clerics, paladins, and monks. And this
the alignment that’s right for you, and suggestions for guidebook can assist your DM, working with you, to
meshing your alignment with your character’s per- create a whole range of nonplayer characters with
sonality—and keeping it fun. some connection to your character: friends, enemies,
We conclude our tour through character genera- kin, acquaintances, lieges, etc.
tion with a glance at the future in the Planning Your The objective of this material is to enrich your role-
Future Career chapter. After all, the skills and feats playing experience. Nothing within these pages
you choose as a 1st-level character become the foun- should be seen as a way to get between you and the
dation for your later choices. Like a swords-and-sor- hero you want to play. If a die roll produces a result
cery guidance counselor, this chapter points you in you don’t like, consult your DM, then reroll or simply
the right direction if you want to eventually become pick a more palatable option. If you don’t like the
the ultimate gladiator, gadgetmaster, or stealthy choices your previous selections have produced, back
sneak. up and take a different path. If you develop material
Finally, veteran D&D players will tell you that on your own, integrate it. In other words, do what it
deciding on a name for your character can sometimes takes to make sure that when the game begins, you’ll
be the toughest task of all. The Rule of Names appen- be ready to meet the challenge.
dix lists hundreds of names you can use or adapt for
your character, and it explains the dos and don’ts of
D&D character names. BEGINNING
All great stories have a beginning. Through the
medium of the D&D game, you will tell an epic story
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK by creating the actions and dialog of a character
The Hero Builder’s Guidebook is a companion to the uniquely your own. Your character’s story begins
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Player’s Handbook. You will here.
need a copy of that book to use the tools provided in Be sure you have the necessary implements handy:
this product. dice, paper, and pencil. If you’re using the DUNGEONS
The Player’s Handbook makes certain assumptions & DRAGONS Character Generator software, be sure you
about your character: The character has been trained know how the program’s many features work.
to a basic level of competence in some field. The If you’re going to be creating characters as a group,
character has established a personal moral code. The make sure that you have enough space for everyone
character has been the beneficiary of some financial to write, roll dice, write and make notes, erase and
largess to purchase basic equipment and supplies. rewrite. If you plan to create your character with your
Perhaps the biggest assumption the Player’s Handbook DM on hand, provide space for her and her books and
makes is that your character is a hero. The Player’s notes as well.
Handbook has no rules for creating player characters Now, open your Player’s Handbook and turn to the
who will be farmers, or swineherds, or household section on generating ability scores. Are you ready?
servants. Unlike the common person in the world Adventure awaits!
your Dungeon Master has created, your character is
about to embark on the most exciting, most danger-
ous profession the world has ever known: adven-
turer!
The Hero Builder’s Guidebook is designed to help you
answer some of the many questions you may have
about your character. It will assist you in developing a
rich history, a context for your storytelling more
sophisticated than “I’m a fighter” or “I’m a wizard.”
This book will also walk you through the character
creation process, step by step. It provides advice for
setting your starting ability scores. You have at your
fingertips dozens of ready-to-go character hooks
awaiting only the spark of life you’ll bring to them.
Inside you’ll find systems for developing the neces-
sary social structures required for certain types of
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ROLLING YOUR ABILITY SCORES
ROlling average are better than the chance to get a score near
either of the two extremes. This probability sequence
is known as a bell curve because if you plot the various
YOur Ability chances for various totals, the resulting shape looks
like a church bell.
ScOres
Your character’s ability scores provide a roadmap
In case you were curious, the odds of rolling an 18
on 3d6 are about 1 in 200 rolls (about .5%). On aver-
indicating what types of adventuring classes your age, only 3% of all characters created using this
character is suited for, and what classes you may system should have an 18 in any ability score.
want to avoid. The game allows you to choose any Over many years, it became common practice with
class you wish for your character regardless of the many groups to change the basic system to create
value of your ability scores. However, setting up characters that were slightly better than average.
your ability scores to match your goals helps your After all, these characters are heroes! After watching
character survive and thrive in a world of danger that practice develop and become fairly widespread,
and adventure. we decided to embrace it with this edition of the
rules.
You will roll 4d6 and keep the best three results.
ABILITY SCORES This has the effect of raising the average total to 11.5.
This doesn’t seem like a huge increase, but due to the
AND BELL CURVES way the math of probabilities expresses itself, it
Within D&D, the average human being is assumed to tends to create characters with one or two abilities
have a value of 10.5 in each score. The normal human that are substantially higher than average, and few if
range is from 3 to 18, and the average score is related any that are lower. In short, it tends to shift and flat-
to the roll of three six-sided dice (3d6). In prior ver- ten the bell curve slightly in your favor, making
sions of D&D, 3d6 was the standard way to create abil- your character far more likely to be exceptional than
ity scores for player characters. Due to the way that average.
probability is expressed by three tumbling dice, the The odds of getting an 18 using this system are
chances of getting a score close to the much better—about 3 times better than using the
4
Each character has something extra—something beyond the norm.
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The same die rolls can result in very different characters.
3d6 system, in fact. About 9% of all characters should elevated importance. Consider care-
have an 18 as an ability score before they apply racial fully which scores to assign to those Oh, No! I Rolled a 3!
modifiers. Under the 4d6 system, your odds of getting abilities. If you were unlucky enough to
a 15, 16, or 17 are substantially better as well. And Mental Ability Scores. Spellcasting roll a 3, and your character
your odds of getting a 3, 4, or 5 are commensurately characters will base the power and wasn’t “hopeless” (or you’re
reduced. number of spells they can cast on one of going ahead anyway), you
the mental attributes. Wizards use Intel- should strongly consider be-
Starting Ability Scores ligence. Clerics, druids, paladins, and coming a half-orc. The half-orc
To begin making a D&D character, follow the rangers use Wisdom. Bards and sorcer- race imposes a –2 penalty to
instructions in the Player’s Handbook. Generate six sets ers use Charisma. Intelligence, but the minimum
of die rolls, rolling four dice and keeping the total of The “Hopeless” Rule. Remember, if intelligence for a character is 3.
the best three. Record each total on a set of scratch your total modifiers are 0 or less, or if If you become a half-orc and
paper. your highest score is 13 or lower, you put your low score into Intelli-
You are now ready to make the first deliberate can ditch those rolls and try again. Don’t gence, the half-orc Intelligence
choices about your character: which scores will go feel bad about scrapping a character penalty has no effect!
into each ability. Ability scores of 12 or higher will who qualifies as “hopeless.” But you may
provide a bonus to various die rolls in the game, while want to consider playing such a character in spite of
ability scores of 9 or lower apply a penalty to various these problems. Heroes who have to overcome basic
die rolls in the game. weaknesses can be some of the most rewarding and
Here are some things to consider: memorable characters to play.
Physical Ability Scores. Some scores are more
valuable to adventurers over the long term than Heroes with Low Scores
others. Because so many D&D adventures involve There have been a lot of characters presented in D&D 5
combat, the physical attributes like Strength, fiction over the years. In the DRAGONLANCE® world, a
Dexterity, and to a lesser degree Constitution have character named Raistlin has one of the most serious
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drawbacks we’ve ever given a heroic character: His with his hands,” or “sharp as a tack.” Sometimes neg-
Constitution had been shattered by the tests he was ative experiences are formative too. Don’t neglect to
forced to undergo in the Tower of High Sorcery. think about what it would feel like to be considered
Raistlin’s ill health, his constant need to pause and ungainly, sickly, or a little slow. Real people are the
catch his breath, and his susceptibility to minor chills sum total of their aspirations, experiences, and ances-
and fevers would normally make such a character try. Your imaginary character needs your help to fill
unplayable. in those details. The more work you do at this level,
When the original DRAGONLANCE adventures were the more real your hero will seem when the game
being designed, playtesters used the characters who commences.
would later appear in the novels in the game sessions.
Instead of being a failure, the character of Raistlin Your Character Isn’t You
became a dark, brooding presence in the adventure. Some players have trouble keeping their own person-
He tried to stand apart from his brother on whom he alities separate from those of their character. The
depended so greatly for physical support and protec- problem lies in the very nature of roleplaying itself.
tion, and he sought magical power to replace that Because you provide the character’s personality,
stolen from him by his frail body. By thinking about inevitably it’ll be based on aspects of your own. The
what it would be like to be so sickly, and yet still problem is greater with mental characteristics than
striving to become great, the character of Raistlin physical ones, for obvious reasons. It’s easy to imagine
was transformed from a bit part to one of the most what it’d be like to be faster, tougher, and stronger
popular and enduring characters in all of heroic fan- than you really are (or clumsier, punier, and weaker).
tasy. But it’s hard for smart people to put themselves in the
Don’t fall into the trap of downplaying or ignoring mindset of stupid people and vice versa. It’s hard for
your character’s flaws. Those same liabilities can be someone without much common sense to fake it;
the hook on which you can hang a magnificent story insight into the world around you isn’t something
of overcoming adversity in the face of incredible that assigning an 18 to Wisdom will teach you. And
odds! it’s especially hard for a player with a forceful person-
ality to roleplay an unimpressive, unassuming charac-
Wrapping up the Ability Scores ter—often the player’s force of personality will be
Once you’ve gotten this far, you should feel pretty what gets played, not the character’s.
comfortable with the arrangement of ability scores The solution, fortunately, is a simple one. Keep
you’ve chosen. Take a few minutes to reexamine the asking yourself, “What would [insert character name
work you’ve done to make sure that your character is here] do?” Your character very likely has a different
shaping up to be the kind of hero you want to play, race, alignment, and possibly even sex than you do.
that your group needs for mutual support, and that His or her world is a radically different place from the
your DM will be happy to allow into the game. one you live in. Why should your approaches to prob-
You should be able to see the rough outlines of lems be the same? If you’re willing to make the
your character emerging from the randomness of stretch to play a character in a different world, with
the die rolls. The character isn’t well defined yet, but skills and abilities you don’t actually possess, the rest
you can already discern certain traits. Notably, your should be easy. This approach also helps you distin-
character probably excels at a few areas and may guish one character from another, rather than playing
have a drawback or two. You may want to spend essentially the same character over and over under
some time writing down a few different names.
thoughts about what this means After all, playing characters who aren’t like you and
for your character. who regularly do things you wouldn’t dream of doing
Imagine how it would yourself (not in the real world at least) is part of the
feel to be strong as an fun. A shy player can play an outgoing character, a
ox growing up, or law-abiding player can rip loose in all kinds of
being known as mayhem, and a gentle player can enjoy a knock-down,
a person who drag-out fight. Escapism is a valuable part of fantasy: a
is “good chance to walk in somebody else’s shoes, so to speak,
and see the world in an entirely different way. Take
advantage of the change to take a different route.
Enjoy the ride.
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CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS
ChOOsing Race
Standard Racial Types
Archetype
Aiming for 20
YOur Race Human
Dwarf
Flexible, social, curious, lucky
Dour, hearty, stalwart, focused
Right off the bat, you may no-
tice a potential for something
extraordinary. If you got lucky
and Class Elf
Gnome
Graceful, carefree, timeless, magical
Earthy, tricky, quiet, hardy
enough to roll an 18 for an abil-
ity score, you may end up with a
The two most important choices you will make Halfling Quick, sneaky, acquisitive, aware
final score that is higher than the
during character creation are selecting your charac- Orc* Savage, strong, wild, brutal
normal range if you match it
ter’s race and first class. *The orc is provided above to make the chart
with the right racial modifier!
The eleven basic classes of D&D (barbarian, bard, complete. Orcs are a bestial and evil race and
There’s nothing wrong with
cleric, druid, fighter, monk, paladin, ranger, rogue, they don’t make for very good characters. But
that. There are always extraordi-
sorcerer, and wizard) are each designed to provide in a world of fantasy, they sometimes make for nary individuals in any given
some, but not all, of the skills and ability scores interesting parents! population. While there are not
needed to thrive and survive in a land of fantasy too many half-orcs with a 20
adventure. Likewise, the seven races (human, dwarf, The next thing you will want to con- Strength (less than 2% of the
elf, gnome, half-elf, half-orc, and halfling) each have sider are the effects that the racial abil- total half-orc population), they
advantages and disadvantages. ity score modifiers will have on your are not totally unheard of. If you
These guidelines work best if you will be playing as character. These are: have a 20, that means you are
a part of a group. Your character will have stalwart the absolute pinnacle of your
companions (the characters of your fellow players) Racial Modifiers race. That might mean they’re
who will work together to overcome obstacles, slay Ability expecting great things from you.
hideous monsters, and seek incredible treasure. Race Adjustments Effects
If you are creating a character by yourself or you have Human None Humans define the average
no way of knowing what other kinds of heroes your char- Dwarf +2 Con, –2 Cha +1 hp per level, 10% penalty
acter might meet during an adventure, you need to pay during social interactions
special attention to the areas where your character is Elf +2 Dex, –2 Con +1 to AC, +1 attack with ranged
strong and where your character is weak. Then you can weapons, –1 hp per level
make the best use of the opportunities you find as you Gnome +2 Con, –2 Str +1 hp per level, –1 attack and
adventure. damage in melee, reduced car-
rying capacity
Half-Elf None Essentially human in this
CHOOSING A RACE Half-Orc +2 Str, –2 Int,
respect
+1 attack and damage in
AND CLASS –2 Cha melee, enhanced carrying
The following sections provide advice for each capacity, lowered arcane spell-
race/ class combination. Simply find the race you’re casting potential, fewer skill
interested in, then choose a class. We’ll suggest points, 10% penalty during
where to put your ability scores and provide guid- social interactions
ance for feat and skill selection. More importantly, Halfling +2 Dex, –2 Str +1 to AC, +1 attack with ranged
we’ll explain how that sort of character might view weapons, –1 attack and damage
the world—and variants that lead to different role- in melee, reduced carrying
playing opportunities. capacity
Selecting a Race Beyond the statistics and rules, there are social reasons
There are a host of things that will change about that you may want to select a particular race. Talk to
your character as time progresses. Ability scores your DM about how the races are perceived in your
will improve, your character might choose many campaign world. Find out about the races’ histories and
different classes, and will master an arsenal of skills. current conflicts. You may find numerous roleplaying
But there is one thing that will never change: your hooks in the epic story of your character’s race.
character’s race. Depending on current conditions in the game, and
When you consider a race for your character, think where the adventure begins, there may be more direct
about the way the various racial modifiers and special benefits. Perhaps you know the language of the locals,
abilities combine to focus the character down those or you can call on family or clan for assistance.
various paths. 7
Selecting a Class
Once you know what race you want to be—or even if
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you’ve narrowed it down to a few choices—turn to the Young Brave (Variant): You are a young warrior
corresponding section in this chapter to learn how who seeks to gain fame and fortune, avenge a wrong,
your race interacts with each class in the D&D game. or defend the tribe against raids. You live off the land,
making clothing from tanned hides, finding safe food
Using the and water, and creating weapons from wood, stone,
Starting Packages HUMANS and bone. Tattoos, colorful paint, feathers, and intri-
In general, Hero Builder’s Guide- Humans are the most varied race. They cate hair braids show your individualism. You have a
book uses the starting packages exist in almost every environment, and strong sense of honor, but you only obey the com-
from the Player’s Handbook as a they explore the world with great enthu- mands of the elders and the wise ones out of respect.
baseline. Each class entry in siasm. Human settlements and farms Intricate rituals and tribal law don’t interest you.
Chapter 3: Classes of the Player’s spring up quickly in the explorers’ wake. Suggested Skills: Handle Animal, Intuit Direction,
Handbook includes a ready- Humans excel in commerce, the study of Listen, Move Silently, Ride, Wilderness Lore.
made selection of skills, feats, the arcane arts, and military campaigns. Castaway (Variant): Lost or left behind, you have
and equipment. In general, the They worship every god, follow every survived against all odds by learning the ways of the
starting packages give your char- alignment, and have a thousand myths of land. Now hardened by experience and focused by
acter solid choices for the tradi- their own origins and creation. solitude and danger, you have become a uniquely dan-
tional role of each class. Human characters are the standout gerous opponent while on familiar ground. If rescued
If you’re an experienced player members of their race. Successful humans or returned to civilized lands, you will have to relearn
and you want to create an un- often become vastly powerful, ruling entire the basic rules of society and find a way to use the
usual character, you may want to nations or becoming the counselors of skills from one hostile world to thrive in another.
consider forgoing the use of kings and generals. Human characters are Suggested Skills: Climb, Heal, Hide, Jump, Listen,
the starting packages. For each drawn from many backgrounds. Some are Swim, Tumble.
class, you’ll find suggestions in raised for a life of adventure, while others
Chapter 3 of the Player’s Hand- find the path as escaped slaves, runaway Human Bard
book if you’re making a charac- apprentices, or simply farmers’ children The human bard can
ter without using the starting who hear the call of their heroic hearts. be an entertainer, a
packages. Your human character can come from teacher of social values
almost any background; the decision is up and important history,
to you. The following class descriptions assume that a source of passion and
your character is a young adult, with some very basic pride—or some com-
training in a common profession or craft. bination of all three. In
some human cultures,
Human Barbarian bards are viewed as one
There are three basic of the lowest social
ways for a human to classes; being a mere
become a barbarian: Be “entertainer” has little
born as one, be adopted real value to society. In
into a group of them others, bards are among the most respected members
and follow their ways, of the society, unique individuals who preserve and
or become isolated and protect the cultural identity of the people.
survive by learning the At some point, your human bard has become skilled
harsh lessons of the in the performing arts: song, musicianship, the com-
wilderness. position and reading of poetry, or storytelling. You
As a human barbar- should compose a short tale that describes how your
ian, you are in tune character found this calling, then decide what types of
with the wilderness performance you have a natural flair for.
and your own wild nature. You might be a member of Racial Advantage: Extra feat. Improved Initiative,
a small tribe, a large clan, or none at all—a solitary Skill Focus (Perform), and Dodge would be good
hunter with ties to no one. choices.
Racial Advantage: Extra feat. Good choices for a Racial Disadvantage: None.
barbarian include Alertness, Blind-Fight, Dodge, Ability Score Advice: The key attribute for you is
Power Attack, and Track. Charisma. Intelligence and Dexterity enhance some
Racial Disadvantage: None. of your special abilities and common bard skills. The
8 Ability Score Advice: Your key ability scores are least useful attributes for a human bard are Strength
Strength and Constitution. The least useful are Intel- and Constitution.
ligence and Charisma. Jester (Variant): The jester survives by wit and
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witticism. Performing either in public or in the court Suggested Skills: Concentration, Handle Animal, Heal,
of some noble, you find ways to exert a subtle influ- Knowledge (religion), Ride, Scry, Spellcraft, Swim.
ence on those around you. Those who recognize the
power of that influence also recognize the value of a Human Druid
good relationship with the jester. You may become Human communities
embroiled in plots and counterplots, so you’re always tend to both shun and
ready to flee if things go badly. The best defense respect the druids in
against an enraged monarch is to be gone before the their midst. Abundant
guards come pounding on the door. harvests and healthy
Suggested Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Informa- crops are important,
tion, Innuendo, Perform (many kinds), Tumble. and the depredations
Skald (Variant): You are a lorekeeper, the living of wild animals can be
record of your people’s history and legends. The skald terrifying. But a person
memorizes long poems and songs that recount the who has embraced the
great deeds of years past and teach lessons about wildness of nature
morals and ethics. You often provide counsel for a rather than the com-
decision by those who understand the value of forts of home is some-
remembering the past. By adventuring, you ensure what frightening. While you can expect a certain
that the great deeds of today will never be forgotten. measure of respect, you will always be viewed as an out-
Suggested Skills: Diplomacy, Gather Information, sider to your own people.
Heal, Knowledge (many kinds), Perform (Storytelling Racial Advantage: Extra feat. Many feats are solid
or Song), Wilderness Lore. choices for a druid, but Alertness and Scribe Scroll
are two of the best.
Human Cleric Racial Disadvantage: None.
Everyone knows that there are many gods and god- Ability Score Advice: The key ability score for a
desses. Interceding between the unseen powers of the human druid is Wisdom. Your least useful ability
universe and the common man is the job of the cleric. score is Intelligence.
By explaining the desires and commandments of the Hedge Druid (Variant): Living at the very edge of
gods, the cleric aids the people and shields them from civilized lands, you provide healing potions, salves for
the gods’ wrath. The cleric also heals the sick and insect stings, and other medicines. Nearby communities
stands firm against the unholy forces at work in the usually ignore you—except when someone is ill or a
world. crop has become infested with parasites or disease. From
Racial Advantage: Extra feat. Clerics favor Martial time to time, a local will come to you for advice about
Weapon Proficiency, Alertness, Combat Casting, planting or dealing with vermin or a large predator.
Power Attack, and Scribe Scroll. Hedge Druids know the local farms, forests, streams and
Racial Disadvantage: None. other territory well, so they try to keep development and
Ability Score Advice: You should focus on erosion to a minimum. You’re always watching for signs
Wisdom and Charisma. If you have to put a low score of malevolent magic or evil monsters.
somewhere, choose Dexterity. Suggested Skills: Alchemy, Animal Empathy, Handle
Village Priest (Variant): Every small community Animal, Knowledge (nature), Scry, Swim, Wilderness
looks to a member of the clergy to attend to their spir- Lore.
itual needs. You are usually consulted in matters of
moral or ethical conflict, and you may even serve as Human Fighter
judge in minor disputes. Most importantly, you are a The world is a danger-
patient listener to confessions and provider of advice. ous place, and men-at-
Bandits and those intent on evil often take you for arms are ever in
granted—until confronted by clerical magic and the demand. Fighter may
unshakable knowledge of your divine support. be the most basic call-
Suggested Skills: Alchemy, Concentration, Diplomacy, ing for adventurers.
Gather Information, Knowledge (religion), Scry. One need only strap
Crusader (Variant): Called by and inner voice or on sword, dagger, or
exhortations of the church elders, the crusader leaves bow and venture forth
home to do battle in the name of a god or goddess. to find fame and for-
You’re crusading to right a wrong, recover a lost relic, tune. Great generals, 9
or retake holy ground. You expect to see a lot of in fact, begin as simple
combat and to be on campaign for months or years. soldiers with a basic
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competence in weapons and armor—and a long, dan- experience the world directly and increase your
gerous road ahead. knowledge of all things under heaven. Part of your
As the years pass and battles are won and lost, you test is learning to resist the call of temptation. You
will become a master of many weapons and a compe- must eat only simple meals, avoid intoxicants, and
tent leader who can defeat a dragon or lay siege to a suppress the desires of the body. By mastering your
castle. own inner nature, you can earn great control and self-
Racial Advantage: Extra feat. You have a wide discipline. You seek out challenges to see how far
selection, and some good ones at 1st level are Weapon your body and mind may be pushed.
Focus, Dodge, Mounted Combat, Point Blank Shot, Suggested Skills: Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Escape
and Power Attack. Artist, Hide, Jump, Tumble.
Racial Disadvantage: None.
Ability Score Advice: Strength and Constitution Human Paladin
are your bread and butter. If you have to cut corners From time to time, the
somewhere, choose Intelligence or Wisdom. divine hand of one of
Caravan Guard (Variant): There are many things the good gods stretches
in the world worth keeping safe. And from time to forth and marks a soul
time those things need to be moved from place to for greatness. Paladins
place. From jewelry to princesses, when value is on are not simply fighters
the road there is always work for a ready sword arm with some clerical skill.
like yours. You are willing to travel to far lands and They are holy warriors
risk life and limb for a hard day’s pay. This is a fantas- imbued with divine
tic way to begin a life of adventure, because you’re power and asked to
comfortable as part of a larger group that can provide walk the world as both
protection and instruction. a physical manifesta-
Suggested Skills: Handle Animal, Heal, Intimidate, tion of the god’s power
Listen, Ride, Spot, Swim. and an agent of justice, honor, and respect. Everyone in
the human lands respects the paladin, even those who
Human Monk are the paladin’s natural enemies. The common people
From time to time, a lonely wanderer from the nearly love paladins because when the need is dire, a paladin
forgotten monasteries is seen taking shelter from the will give selflessly to overcome oppression and evil
rain in the village inn. The common people know intent. But with a paladin also comes great danger, for a
these sojourners to be calm and focused individuals paladin’s soul is a prize in the battle between good and
of few words. Those who seek the way to enlighten- evil, law and chaos.
ment and self-discipline are directed to begin the Ever the peacemaker, but rarely at peace, your lot is
journey of a thousand miles with a single perfect a lonely one. Only the most stalwart, courageous, and
step. honorable are worthy of carrying the tremendous
As a monk, you play an important role in human burden.
societies. From time to time, rulers try to control the Racial Advantage: Extra feat. Good paladin feats
population by forbidding the ownership or use of include Alertness, Improved Initiative, Mounted
martial weapons. But you and the rest of your order, Combat, Trample, Ride-By Attack, and Power Attack.
through training and ancient techniques, have Racial Disadvantage: None.
learned to use the body itself as a weapon. Not a few Ability Score Advice: Paladin is another class that
forgotten despots have found their rule coming to an can take advantage of good scores in almost every
inglorious end through the whirling kicks and ability. Strength, Constitution, Wisdom, and
smashing fists from the local monastery. Charisma are the most important; if there is an abil-
Racial Advantage: Extra feat. Take a look at ity where you don’t need a good score, it is probably
Ambidexterity, Blind-Fight, Dodge, Mobility, and Intelligence.
Two-Weapon Fighting. Knight Divine (Variant): When a crusade is
Racial Disadvantage: None. called, paladins of many faiths sympathetic to the
Ability Score Advice: Monks are demanding in aims of the crusade may join the campaign for the
terms of ability scores. Strength, Dexterity, and duration. These knights divine serve their respective
Wisdom should be your top priorities, while the least gods by assisting in the great work of the crusade
useful are Intelligence and Charisma. and lending their visible support to the cause. As a
10 Initiate (Variant): You are a low-ranking member knight divine, you are available to confront super-
of the monastic order who left the cloistered world natural enemies and undertake missions of particu-
inside the walls of the brotherhood or sisterhood to lar difficulty.
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Suggested Skills: Concentration, Handle Animal, the protection of all. A quick flash of an official writ or
Heal, Knowledge (various types), Ride. sigil can open many doors and loosen many lips.
Suggested Skills: Bluff, Climb, Gather Information,
Human Ranger Handle Animal, Intimidate, Listen, Ride, Search,
Across the frontier lie Sense Motive, Spot, Use Rope, Wilderness Lore.
lands of mystery and
trackless wilderness. Human Rogue
As the human lands Once any civilized area
expand, the ranger goes grows large enough, it
first into the unknown. will attract those who
In more civilized lands, make their living at the
the ranger is often an edges of society. Not
agent of justice sent to just common thieves,
track down the crimi- rogues are also known
nal element and bring as confidence men, cat
them home to face pun- burglars, spies, and
ishment for their blockade-runners. The
deeds. The ranger is an individual warrior, relying greatest rogues are
more on personal ability than strength in numbers. known throughout the
As guide, scout, or skirmisher, the ranger can be a land both for audacity
great asset to a military force. As a solitary hunter or and competence.
tracker, the ranger can move farther and faster than Ordinary citizens rarely trust a rogue, so finding
others untrained in the ways of the wild. shelter, medical aid, or a way to fence goods can be a
You are not a barbarian or druid, though you share challenge. The law is always watchful, and the pun-
some common ground with both. You are, at heart, a ishment for aiding and abetting crimes is steep. But
member of society, standing with it rather than apart among adventurers, the rogue is a necessary member
from it—no matter how far from home the ranger’s of any adventuring group, especially when descend-
trail takes you. ing into lost ruins and forgotten mines where unseen
Racial Advantage: Extra feat. When you’re far danger lurks around every corner.
from home, such feats as Alertness, Dodge, Mounted As a rogue, you combine skill with confidence.
Combat, Point Blank Shot, Far Shot, and Precise Shot Operating alone or in a group, you can penetrate
will be of help. defenses, sneak past guards, disarm traps, and escape
Racial Disadvantage: None. with the prize unnoticed. And despite your somewhat
Ability Score Advice: The human ranger’s most unsavory activities, you are a boon companion.
important ability scores are Strength, Dexterity, and Common wisdom might say that there is no honor
Wisdom. The least useful ability of a human ranger is among thieves, but every good rogue knows the value
Charisma. of a trusted friend.
Skirmisher (Variant): The ability to move swiftly Racial Advantage: Extra feat. Rogues benefit from
and strike with powerful force makes you an effective Alertness, Ambidexterity, Blind-Fight, Dodge, Improved
part of any army. Ranging far to the front and sides of Initiative, Mobility, Expertise, and Point Blank Shot.
the main force, or on detachment for reconnaissance, Racial Disadvantage: None.
you can harry the enemy, scout his positions, and con- Ability Score Advice: You should favor Dexterity
duct hit-and-run raids on supplies or enemy com- above all other ability scores. Constitution is the least
mand posts. You move with little trace and strike from important ability score for you.
the shadows without warning. Then you vanish into Spy (Variant): Yours is a life of danger, for spies are
the night until the time is right for the next slashing usually executed swiftly when caught. You must be a
attack. master of disguise, appraise information quickly and
Suggested Skills: Climb, Gather Information, Handle accurately, and maintain a network of associates to
Animal, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Ride, Search, uncover secrets and get them back home. You live a
Spot, Swim, Wilderness Lore. double life, keeping up the appearance of propriety
Bounty Hunter (Variant): Sometimes, all the but engaging in all manner of candlelit skullduggery
forces of the authorities are unable to bring a criminal out of the sight of curious eyes.
to justice. When that happens, rulers turn to you to Suggested Skills: Appraise, Bluff, Climb, Diplomacy,
track down these miscreants and return them to face disguise, escape Artist, Forgery, Gather Information, 11
justice, dead or alive. Most people respect you Innuendo, Intimidate, Listen, Move Silently, Open
because you work for the betterment of society and Locks, Read Lips, Search, Sense Motive.
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Joat (Variant): The “jack of all trades” is a specializ- might wear fetishes of bones and feathers, for you are
ing nonspecialist. You have a hand in many areas of trying to build an understanding of your own magical
expertise, so you add a array of capabilities to any power from rumor, guesses, legends, and old wives’
team—at the price of more extensive experience or tales.
skill. While you cannot match any expert in a given Suggested Skills: Alchemy, Craft (various basic skills
field, sometimes, having “just enough” knowledge or such as tanning or cooking), Gather Information, Pro-
ability makes all the difference between success and fession, Scry, Spellcraft, Use Magical Device.
failure. The variety of challenges you’ll face while
adventuring means that you’ll have ample opportu- Human Wizard
nity to let luck and chance carry the day. You might Potentially the most powerful individuals on the
have to guess whether a plant is toxic, identify the cut planet, wizards are feared, respected, distrusted and
of a noblewoman’s gown, or try “just one more thing” misunderstood by most people in human lands. The
to open a stubborn lock. You are constantly trying to accumulation of power through dark pacts and secret
slip between the limits and find loopholes just in research is thought to corrupt the soul of the practi-
time to save the day. tioners of wizardry.
Suggested Skills: As many as you can get. That’s the Becoming a wizard takes courage; confronting the
point, after all. power of magic and the madness and destruction it
can bring is not for the faint of heart. Many wizards
Human Sorcerer die young in accidents or through experimentation
The magic-touched with forces beyond their control. But the rewards are
are both feared and tremendous for those who persevere. Calling on the
respected in human might of arcane powers, a wizard can rip the fabric of
lands. There are two reality, summon creatures from the foulest pit and
main ways a human bind them to service, and more.
becomes a sorcerer. Most wizards like you are apprenticed to a master
Some are “wild talent” prior to setting off on their own to seek adventure.
known from child- You should spend some time creating information
hood for their eerie about your instructor, including the terms of your
ways, while others dismissal and any oaths you accepted as a part of
develop their powers
as a result of a shock-
ing, traumatic experi-
ence later in life. Most people are surprised and
somewhat fearful to discover that they have an innate
magical talent when others do not. The flow of magic
is a strange and somewhat uncontrollable feeling; it is
a reminder that there are forces in the universe vastly
larger and more powerful than the free will of any
single individual.
You should prepare some notes about how you first
tapped into innate magical powers, what you think
about magic, and how you intend to treat those
powers now that they have been revealed.
Racial Advantage: Extra feat. Combat Casting,
Improved Initiative, Toughness, and Scribe Scroll are
solid choices.
Ability Score Advice: Charisma powers your
spells, of course. Many of your skills use Intelligence
or Wisdom. The least important ability scores for you
are Strength and Dexterity.
Wild One (Variant): Shunned by family and
friends after manifesting sorcerous power, you now
12 wander the earth in search of a place of refuge and
acceptance. You use your powers for defense and pro-
tection, not for arcane study or personal gain. You The wild one
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your study. You may find your previous master a Dwarven Barbarian
valuable resource for help, direction, or advice. Or There are two kinds of dwarven barbarians: dwarves
you may find a rival who will brook no upstart who have lost their civilization due to some calamity,
apprentice seeking to usurp the master’s titled posi- and dwarves who are berserk warriors raised in more
tion in the social order. normal surroundings.
Racial Advantage: Extra feat. Wizards often choose From time to time, a dwarven settlement will be over-
Combat Casting, and Weapon Focus (rays). run or will fail due to famine, disease, or natural disas-
Racial Disadvantage: None. ter. Normally, any surviving dwarves will make their
Ability Score Advice: Your most important ability way to other delves. But from time to time a few fami-
score is Intelligence, because it affects your magic. lies or maybe a child or two are lost to the wilderness.
Strength and Charisma are least important to human You are one such dwarf. It wasn’t easy to survive, but you
wizards. became an incredibly tough, wild creature capable of
Professional (Variant): Using magic rather than surviving in lands inhospitable to any others.
mundane methods, you can be sneakier than a rogue Racial Advantage: A good Constitution provides
and more deadly than an assassin. You use spells such extra hit points and makes the dwarf barbarian an
as spider climb, invisibility, and knock to move quickly excellent warrior.
through any mission. You are paid well for your Racial Disadvantage: The general tendency of
efforts, so only those patrons who are willing to pay a dwarves to favor lawful alignments means that dwar-
premium for excellence choose you. ven barbarians are out of synch with the ethics and
Suggested Skills: Climb, Concentration, Disable morals of their communities.
Device, Disguise, Escape Artist, Hide, Intuit Direc- Ability Score Advice: The dwarven barbarian’s
tion, Knowledge (many types), Listen, Move Silently, most important ability scores are Strength and Consti-
Spot. tution. Intelligence and Wisdom are least important.
Lost One (Variant): Clothed in skins rather than
mail, and wielding weapons made of wood, stone and
DWARVES bone rather than steel, others think you a pretty poor
Dwarves are the most stalwart race. They lead lives of example of a dwarf. But if they look below the surface,
duty and obligation, living in underground com- they’ll find the same passionate, focused heart of all of
plexes mining ore, smithing a wide variety of metal dwarvenkind. You have no hearth and no delve; you
goods, and defending themselves against the evil pay homage to no king, and you may not even know
creatures that lurk deep in the earth. the lore of Moradin. But as the ultimate survivor in
The center of every dwarven community is the lands deadly to most, you have proved your mettle to
hearth, the individual home of a dwarven family. The anyone’s satisfaction.
ties that bind each family together are strong and Returning to civilized lands is hard for you. Rather
deep. Dwarves have few children, and those born to than accept the confines of a delve, often you will
the stout folk are cherished but raised with strict dis- return to the harsh lands of your birth, or seek ad-
cipline and a strong work ethic. venture in the lands under the sun.
Monarchs rule most dwarven settlements, often Suggested Skills: Climb, Handle Animal, Heal,
known as delves. Most monarchs pay homage to Hide, Jump, Listen,
Moradin, the deity of the dwarves whom they call Move Silently,
“Soulforger.” Each hearth swears allegiance to the Ride, Search,
monarch, and the monarch rules by divine right, Spot, Swim,
counseled by the wise priests of Moradin. Tumble.
Martial training is common among the dwarves.
Monsters such as beholders and mind flayers, and
evil races like the drow are a constant threat from
below. Every family has a defense plan, and every
able-bodied dwarf is expected to stand firm in
defense of the delve in times of trouble.
The dwarves have an innate suspicion of arcane
magic and rarely tolerate sorcerers or wizards. While
they are willing to admit to the occasional practical
application of spellcraft, dwarves will usually not vol-
untarily seek out its practitioners. 13
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Battlerager (Variant): Favoring spiked armor and Dwarven Cleric

weapons of blunt destruction, you are one of the elite The blessed of Moradin
shock troops of a dwarven army. When goaded into a are the stout heart of
rage, you throw your own body at an opponent and lash every dwarven com-
out with every ounce of energy, doing maximum munity. Moradin is a
damage in minimal time. Most battleragers prefer to simple deity. He de-
live life with great passion, singing loud songs of vic- mands respect and
tory, consuming massive amounts of ale, and carousing honor. In return, he
long into the night. Before entering the fray, battler- offers the promise of
agers are known to toast one another with a vile con- eternal life in the
coction known as “gutshaker”—a drink so potent that Halls of Judgment in
even the average dwarf will politely decline when the afterlife.
offered a sip. Clerics in dwarven
Suggested Feats: Power Attack. society are involved in
Suggested Skills: Intimidate, Tumble. all the important rituals and ceremonies of the delve.
They bless major new construction, provide solace to
Dwarven Bard those who are injured or grieving, and oversee happier
The role of bard is well respected among the dwarves, occasions such as weddings, naming ceremonies, and
though most bards also work at some other occupa- coronations.
tion and “moonlight” as performers. In battle, bards The keepers of the faith of the Soulforger are intol-
raise the spirits and morale of dwarven forces erant of evil, so you stand fast with the rest of the delve
through songs of great victories and glorious deeds. when combat is imminent. You are always ready to
Around the hearth, the bards tell softer tales of love confront enemy spellcasters, undead, and extraplanar
and romance in times free of danger. horrors, holding forth the holy sign of Moradin and
You’ll often provide structure to official functions calling down vast power in his name and by his will.
such as marriages and naming ceremonies, providing Racial Advantage: High Constitution aids the
music, prose, and storytelling to frame the religious cleric in combat.
aspects handled by the clergy of Moradin. Perhaps Racial Disadvantage: The Charisma penalty chal-
you left the delve to find an audience in human lands. lenges all dwarven clerics as they carry out their
Racial Advantage: None. duties on Moradin’s behalf.
Racial Disadvantage: The Charisma penalty Ability Score Advice: Wisdom is the most impor-
reduces average effectiveness of dwarven bards, and tant ability for a dwarven cleric, followed closely by
the need to follow a nonlawful alignment is also Strength. A dwarven cleric has little use for Dexterity.
slightly at odds with dwarven society. Runeweaver (Variant): Using auguries and other
Ability Score Advice: Dwarves take a penalty to tools of fortune telling, you give the dwarves
Charisma, so dwarven bards often have a good score in glimpses of the future and divine Moradin’s will
an ability other than Charisma. Minimizing the impact regarding various plans and decisions. With a set of
of a low Charisma is important; if necessary, just about inscribed tiles marked with the dwarven script, you
any other ability should be assigned the lowest score. unravel the mystical and mysterious meanings of the
Heartbeat Drummer (Variant): You practice the runes. The common dwarf pays more heed to your
dwarven art of the heartbeat drum. In the forge and in predictions than more experienced leaders. But when
the mine, this deep, echoing instrument sets the pace times are dire and all hope has fled, even the most
for the work at hand, keeping the delve in rhythm. In powerful member of the delve may turn to you.
combat, the heartbeat drum is used to set the tempo Suggested Skills: Alchemy, Appraise, Gather Informa-
for advances and retreats, to signal certain types of tion, Intuit Direction, Scry, Sense Motive.
action, and to inspire courage in the doughty fighters
of the delve. A good heartbeat drummer sings a bari- Dwarven Druid
tone chant at just the right frequency to create a sym- The dwarven druid is almost always an outcast, wan-
pathetic resonance with the heartbeat drum, making dering the trackless caverns and lightless galleries of
each beat sing as if the voice of a thousand dwarves the underdark. Though few can sense it, the under-
were echoing the roll of the beat. ground world has an ecology, natural cycles, and sea-
Suggested Feats: Two-Weapon Fighting, as you’ll sons just like the surface world. Sometimes, a dwarf
often have two sticks in hand. is drawn to the wilds below ground, finding a con-
14 Suggested Skills: Concentration, Intimidate, Knowl- nection to the raw, untapped power of the rocks
edge (history), Perform, Profession (mining or themselves.
smithing). Placing the good of the regional environment
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above the needs of the delve puts the dwarven druid Racial Disadvantage: None.
in opposition to the basic nature of dwarven society. Ability Score Advice: Dwarven fighters put high
As long as the druid takes no action other than argu- scores in Strength and Constitution to good use. The
ment and dissent, there will be no problems. But if mental ability scores of Intelligence, Wisdom, and
the druid’s actions extend to sabotage or outright vio- Charisma are less valuable.
lence, the vengeance of the delve can be swift. Dwarven Archer (Variant): The ability to use
That said, the elders of the delve recognize the ranged attacks in the close and confined spaces
value of information druids like you can impart. You underground requires a special set of talents and
know the movements of hostile races and dangerous strategies. You have mastered this complex art and are
monsters, and the need to take care to avoid pockets an able component of any delve’s defenses. Your job is
of gas, underground streams, or other dangers while to deliver as much damage at as great a distance as
mining—to say nothing of the stalwart defense that possible under poor visibility of the underground
you lend to the delve when under attack. battlefield. Whenever possible, you forges his or her
Racial Advantage: Darkvision allows you to see own arrows from raw ore, believing that the sweat
the terrain without torch or spell. and blood imparted to the metal through the manu-
Racial Disadvantage: The famed druidic neutral- facturing process gives those weapons a taste of the
ity always creates a distance between the druid and dwarf ’s own fortitude and courage.
the rest of dwarven society. Suggested Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot.
Ability Score Advice: You favor Wisdom, Suggested Skills: Climb, Hide, Jump, Listen, Search,
Strength, and Constitution, but you have little use for Spot.
Intelligence.
Mountain Druid (Variant): Dwarven druids are Dwarven Monk
rare, and those who find a bond to the lands above the What would drive a dwarf to leave the delve behind
ground are even rarer. But many delves are located in and seek out a human monastery for training? Only
rocky, mountainous lands far from other civilized the individual dwarves who do so know the reasons,
areas, so dwarves are often the only inhabitants. You though the discipline and focus of the monastic
have adopted the mountains or hills surrounding the orders is appealing to the lawful nature of many
delve as your protected lands. You are seen so rarely dwarves.
that you have become a legend, but if the area comes Perhaps in time dwarven monks like you will
under some evil influence, you may seek out the found their own, uniquely dwarven orders to expand
delve and petition for assistance. the teachings of enlightenment and combine them
Suggested Skills: Alchemy, Animal Empathy, Climb, with the faith of Moradin. But for now, most dwarven
Handle Animal, Hide, Intuit Direction, Listen, Move monks learn their skills in the human lands.
Silently, Ride, Scry, Search, Spot. Racial Advantage: Darkvision gives dwarven
monks the advantage in the dark.
Dwarven Fighter Racial Disadvantage: Dwarven monks are usually
The phrase “dwarven a long way from home in very unfamiliar surround-
fighter” is almost a re- ings. This can prove disconcerting and distracting to a
dundant term. Most hero seeking oneness with the universe.
dwarves receive some Ability Score Advice: The most important ability
martial training and scores for a dwarven monk are Wisdom and Dexter-
combat experience, so ity. The least important is Charisma.
virtually every dwarf is a Uniqueness: The very concept of a dwarven
fighter of some greater monk is so unusual that you should develop a unique
or lesser skill. Fighter is story of how you came to the monastery, what your
the favored class of goals are, and why you have set out on the path of
dwarves, after all. enlightenment.
The honor and glory
of combat is central to Dwarven Paladin
the myths and rituals of dwarven life. Kings are In a society that reveres duty, honor, and responsibil-
known more for their prowess with armor and axe ity, the occasional dwarven paladin is truly a paragon
than they are for crown and scepter. Even clerics are of virtue.
martial in nature and often advance in skill as both Touched by Moradin and set on a perilous path to
cleric and fighter. smite evil and defend the realms of the dwarves, the 15
Racial Advantage: Your Constitution bonus, and paladin owes allegiance to no king and all kings at the
your bonuses against giants and goblinoid foes. same time. Such a paladin is a servant of a higher
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Dwarven Ranger
An able-bodied warrior in every sense of the word,
the dwarven ranger serves as scout and skirmisher in
the defense of the delve. Often, he is as comfortable
in the wild lands above the ground as he is in the sun-
less depths of the earth.
Dwarven society rarely produces criminals of the
same nature as the human lands, but dwarven mon-
archs have been known to place a price on the heads
of particularly vile and vicious orc or goblinoid chief-
tains. You or another dwarven ranger set forth to
bring back the head or ears of these dangerous oppo-
nents both to gain stature and to serve the needs of
the dwarven people.
Racial Advantage: A dwarf ’s bonuses against cer-
power, always tain opponents match well with a ranger’s favored
traveling into danger or rousing the dwarves to fight enemies.
for their own safety and salvation. Racial Disadvantage: None.
Your lot as a dwarven paladin is a lonely one. Rarely, Ability Score Advice: Strength, Dexterity, and
if ever, do two or more dwarven paladins meet and Wisdom serve the dwarven ranger well. Less crucial
adventure together. While you share a great kinship are Intelligence and Charisma.
with your brethren, they are few in number and the Exotic Monster Slayer (Variant): You are a master
tasks before them numerous. An occasional meeting at killing dangerous underdark monsters known to
on the road or as armies combine before battle may be menace delves. When confronted with these crea-
the only sense of true comradeship you will ever tures, the call will go out through the dwarven com-
know. munities, and sooner rather than later, you appear to
Racial Advantage: Various combat bonuses and a deal with the problem. At first, you’ll concentrate on
Constitution bonus make dwarven paladins excellent common but dangerous opponents, but later you’ll
warriors. face more deadly foes. Eventually, you may become so
Racial Disadvantage: The only drawback to being effective that merely appearing on the scene will
a dwarven paladin is the Charisma penalty, which will drive an intelligent monster from the area, fearing for
negatively affect some paladin powers. its life.
Ability Score Advice: Dwarven paladins need Suggested Skills: Bluff, Intimidate, Listen, Search,
good Strength, Constitution, and Wisdom to thrive. Spot, Wilderness Lore.
The Charisma penalty is a factor in considering
which ability scores should be lowest. If possible, put Dwarven Rogue
the lowest score in Dexterity or Intelligence. Organized crime is essentially unknown within the
Champion of Heironeous (Variant): Virtually community of civilized dwarves. The actions of a
all dwarves revere Moradin the Soulforger, but criminal syndicate simply would not be tolerated, and
Heironeous will call a dwarven paladin to his service in the close confines of a delve, it is nearly impossible
once in a great while. Perhaps there is an arrange- to keep illicit activity secret. So most dwarven rogues
ment between Moradin and Heironeous that is live in human lands, follow human ways, and some-
unknown to mortals; it is known that Moradin does times integrate completely with the surrounding
not begrudge Heironeous the occasional dwarven human culture.
champion. Champions like you are most often found As such an outsider, you rarely pay homage to
in the armies of the surface kingdoms fighting Moradin, never recognize the divine right of dwarven
against incursions of orcs or other evil monsters. monarchs, and have no love for mining or smithing.
When the campaign is over and the foes vanquished, Instead, you put your racial heritage to work as a very
Heironeous will often relinquish his call, usually focused thief and fence. Your long life and long
with some unearthly boon or reward, and dwarves memory make you a bad enemy to cross. Many a
like you will return to the delve, wise in the ways of thieves’ guild has been slowly taken over by a small
the surface world. group of dwarven rogues who simply outlive and out-
Suggested Skills: Concentration, Diplomacy, Handle last all the competition.
16 Animal, Heal, Ride, Search, Spot, Wilderness Lore. Racial Advantage: Bonuses to saves against poison
come in handy when Disable Device fails.
Racial Disadvantage: Low to average Charisma
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can interfere with running a good con or convincing some relief. Since you are an obviously ill member of
authorities that someone else did it. the community, the delve is more willing to accept
Ability Score Advice: Dexterity is the be-all and your eccentricities and allow you to remain at home
end-all ability score for you. Your lowest ability score with the comfort of family and hearth. And in time of
is probably Wisdom. need, even you may be called to defend the delve, for
Lurker (Variant): Strong dwarven leaders recog- ravers are the only acceptable arcane magic spellcast-
nize the value of a few dwarves like you who do not ers used by the dwarven forces. Yet if a raver chooses
bang hammer on shield and stand forth ready to to leave home in spite of this consideration, the
engage in melee at the drop of a pick. Instead, you family often feels a guilty sense of relief.
skulk about the caves surrounding the delve, quietly Suggested Skills: Alchemy, Concentration, Heal,
watching the movements of underdark creatures and Hide, Listen, Scry, Sense Motive, Spellcraft.
evil races. Lurkers are an inclusive group, because
most dwarves consider it an inglorious position. But Dwarven Wizard
you have unusual knowledge of the underdark and Only the most unusually gifted, stubborn, and antiso-
experience fighting and surviving many perils that cial dwarves become wizards. Going against thou-
average dwarves will never see. sands of years of tradition and innate magical
Suggested Skills: Balance, Climb, Disable Device, resistance is simply too much to ask. The dwarven
Gather Information, Hide, Intuit Direction, Jump, elders usually treat interest in matters arcane as a
Listen, Move Silently, Search, Spot. form of mental illness, and no family would volunteer
a child as a wizard’s apprentice.
Dwarven Sorcerer So the dwarven wizards who do master the craft of
The shock of discovering an innate magical ability spells are some of the most focused, determined wizards
renders a certain portion of dwarven sorcerers insane. on the planet. They have persevered against incredible
Those who survive the experience often leave the odds and have successfully mastered their own inner
delve simply from a deep sense of shame, even if they natures, demonstrating a capacity for learning, insight,
are not driven out. and commitment second to none. For those advantages,
The dwarven prejudice against arcane spell use is the permanent exile from home, the loss of ties to
deeply ingrained in the community. The spell- family, and the knowledge that your own peers consider
touched are looked on with some sympathy; the com- you an abject failure and disgrace are a small price to pay.
munity generally acknowledges that sorcery is an
unsought ability. Still, most dwarven sorcerers know
that they are destined to leave home and find a new
place in the wider world above.
The distrust of magic may have caused you to hide
your abilities. A few dwarves discover their sorcery as
youths and cover it up, following another class path as
soon as they are able to arrange training. In any event,
if you try to remain in the delve, you’ll have to cope
daily with a subtle, pervasive social pressure to leave
and never return, a considerable stress to place on
someone from a culture of regimented order and duty.
Racial Advantage: None.
Racial Disadvantage: There are lots of disadvan-
tages. The Charisma penalty will limit spellcasting
effectiveness. The social stigma will cause stress or
force you to leave home. Only experienced players
should attempt to play such a challenging character.
Ability Score Advice: Compensating for the
Charisma penalty by using the highest available score
for Charisma is probably the best choice despite the
obvious drawbacks. The least important ability scores
for a sorcerer are Strength and Dexterity.
Raver (Variant): The shock of innate sorcerous
power was too much for you. Partially insane, you 17
exhibit facial or body twitching, strange phobias, or
uncontrollable laughter. But this madness offers The dwarven wizard
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The shock of a spellcasting dwarf alone is some- rudiments of civilization. And among the civilized
times enough to carry the day. The orc warband leader nations, a crazed, blood-lusting elven berserker is
who laughs when the unarmored dwarf with the silly unheard of.
robes starts weaving her hands doesn’t laugh long But what if through some strange circumstance of
when hit with a searing bolt of electrical power! abandonment or personal inclination you were able
Racial Advantage: None. to attain that state?
Racial Disadvantage: Loss of the +2 saving throw You would be so at home in the wilderness that you
bonus against spells is just the beginning of the draw- would almost become one with nature itself. You will
backs for dwarven wizards. The social costs are high as move without sound, pass without trace, and strike
well. without warning. A whirlwind of flashing swords,
Ability Score Advice: Your Intelligence will carry stabbing spears, and thrown daggers, you can create
the day for you, but you don’t need a high Strength armor and weapons out of the materials at hand.
score. Illiterate perhaps, you may have created an active
Uniqueness: Your choice to be a dwarven wizard is mythology based on the patterns in the stars and the
a choice to violate some of the most deep-seated spirits of the land. You probably have wild hair, body
assumptions in the game. Your character will be adornments of every kind, and clothing made of
unique and will have a unique personal story and an feather, shell, antler, and hide. Yet you wear it with
ambiguous future. This is another race and class com- dignity, for the elven barbarian is an elf nonetheless.
bination for experienced roleplayers. Racial Advantage: Elven low-light vision allows
you to move both day and night. The bonuses to
Search, Spot and Listen checks make you a preternat-
ELVES urally aware hunter and tracker.
They are ancient. They are the living essence of magic Racial Disadvantage: The Constitution penalty
itself. They are elves. reduces hit points and makes the fatigue state follow-
Unlike the other player character races, who begin ing a barbarian rage more dangerous.
the game with perhaps one or two decades of life Ability Score Advice: A high Dexterity and
experience, the long-lived elves consider their chil- Strength best serve the elven barbarian. The least
dren to be too young to leave home for many decades, useful ability scores are Intelligence and Charisma.
or perhaps even a hundred years. So you see life dif- Drowslayer (Variant): There is one part of elven
ferently than most other characters. Knowing that society where the ability to rage without pause is con-
you will live to see the trees grow tall and the bright sidered valuable: The battles against the ebon-
sparks of most nonelven friends fade and die has a skinned evil elves known as drow. The elves raised
profound effect on your outlook and worldview. you from birth to hunt other elves. Careful to learn
Compensating for this longevity is the elven ten- the ways of the deep caverns and twisting passages,
dency to chase various passions and pursuits with you train endlessly for the day when you will be
wild abandon. The elf is at one moment enraptured needed to confront the evil forces that lurk beneath
by the beauty of the landscape and the next dis- the earth.
tracted by a witty and scandalous bit of verse. Elves Suggested Skills: Balance, Climb, Heal, Hide, Jump,
don’t have short attention spans, and they focus on Knowledge (local), Listen, Move Silently, Search,
the task at hand when required. But when left to Spot, Tumble, Wilderness Lore.
their own desires, their quick minds and good humor
lead to lives of entertainment and a search for posi- Elven Bard
tive experiences. The songs and epic
A beginning elven character is schooled in the poems of the elves are
arts and literature of the elven people. All characters some of the most beau-
receive basic training in the favored weapons of the tiful ever heard. Elven
elves: the swords and bows of so many elven leg- bards have started and
ends. As an elf, your imagination is fired with tales ended wars, broken
of great heroes of the past and the promise of a and sealed alliances,
bright future. and wooed and lost
great romances. All
Elven Barbarian that is elven is music,
The concept of an elven barbarian is a bit of a reach. poetry, song, and story.
18 Where other cultures may rise and fall with time, the Among a talented
length of elven history is such that rarely has any people, the elven bard
group of elves been separated long enough to lose the is a standout indeed.
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In court or the market, elven bards like you can Racial Disadvantage: None.
negotiate a good deal, charm the locals, make the king Ability Score Advice: Wisdom is your most
laugh, and bear witness to great deeds and great important ability score, followed by Charisma. Your
heroes. When the mood is tense, a subtle jest or a least important ability score is Dexterity.
minor prestidigitation can ease the moment. When Swordfellow (Variant): You are a wandering cleric
the mood is lighthearted, a clever song or bit of verse who works with a group of other characters to explore
can enhance the joy of all. And in times of peril, you the world, fight evil, and slay vicious monsters. An
are quick to stand with friends against danger. expert healer, you practice the use of martial magic to
Racial Advantage: The respect that elves generally improve your prowess in battle. Any party of adven-
give their bards can work to your advantage. turers would be glad to be joined by a swordfellow
Racial Disadvantage: None. before tackling any great challenge.
Ability Score Advice: The most important ability Suggested Skills: Concentration, Heal, Intuit Direc-
for elven bards is Charisma; a high Intelligence is a tion, Listen, Ride, Scry, Spellcraft.
benefit as well. Strength does not matter much, nor
does Constitution. Elven Druid
Harper (Variant): You are an elven bard who seeks For those elves who long for the companionship of
to gain influence in the political arena. Partially, this the trees more than the friendship of their brothers,
influence comes from the knowledge, rumors, and the path of the druid beckons. Because they are so
innuendo you gather in your travels. The rest of it much a part of the natural world, the elves make
comes from reputation as a deadly duelist and a exceptional druids—once they learn to temper
worthy adversary in games of wit and chance. You are their chaotic feelings and find a balance within
a courier of messages, a keeper of secrets, and a wit- themselves.
ness to deeds that must be remembered, but not dis- The lands tended by elven druids like you are near
closed. You’re always on the move, and you’ve always paradises. Everything within is in harmony, and the
got a plan. natural cycles are gentle and rhythmic. When all is in
Suggested Skills: Appraise, Bluff, Decipher Script, balance, the natural symphony of the land is as beau-
Diplomacy, Forgery, Gather Information, Innuendo, tiful as any bard’s song.
Listen, Perform, Sense Motive. You are known by names such as “Windrider” or
“Riverking” throughout the land you reserve as your
Elven Cleric own. And as an elven druid, you work actively to pro-
Those elves who serve tect your lands, using spell, weapon, ally, or natural
Corellon Larethian are force to defend the area.
indeed the blessed Racial Advantage: The Search, Spot, and Listen
among the blessed. bonuses make the you very aware of the wilderness
Corellon watches his around you, and low-light vision lets you do your
people carefully and work in twilight.
chooses from their Racial Disadvantage: None.
number those with Ability Score Advice: Wisdom and Charisma are
whom he is most most important to you. The least useful ability score is
pleased. Constitution.
Elven religion is both Treetender (Variant): Some elven communities
martial and peaceful, are built into the branches of trees deep in the forest.
forbidding violence ex- You are an elven druid who takes such a grove as your
cept as a last resort against tyranny, oppression, or protected land, working with the trees themselves to
evil. Corellon’s clerics minister to the spiritual needs accommodate the elven settlement. In return, the
of their long-lived brethren and keep careful watch elves who live there protect the forest and work in
on the drow and the hated orc tribes. harmony with the natural world. Over time you learn
The elves know that their creator set them on the to experience the world as a mighty tree does,
earth as the First People, to nurture the beauty of the through the slow passage of days, the turn of the sea-
world, appreciate it, and to create beauty of their sons, and the warmth of the sun. You are a patient
own. As a member of the elven clergy, you’ll help mediator and excellent diplomat; your inner calm
advance the protection of life, the natural world, and smoothes difficult situations and engenders trust.
the arts. Suggested Skills: Animal Empathy, Balance, Climb,
Racial Advantage: The elven proficiency with Concentration, Diplomacy, Gather Information, 19
swords and bows allows you to use these weapons Handle Animal, Knowledge (nature), Listen, Scry,
without selecting a Martial Weapon Proficiency feat. Sense Motive.
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Elven Fighter Elven monks are a rarity, though over time their
While a peaceful people, the elves have a long history of numbers will surely increase due to their long lives.
conflict with monsters, evil races, and schisms in their Combining elven grace and fluidity with the teach-
own lands. Perhaps it is their basic nature to seek resolu- ings of the path of enlightenment, these monks nearly
tion to conflicts by force of arms, or perhaps those battles transcend the mortal plane in their delicate motions,
are thrust on them unwillingly. In either case, martial effortless actions, and intense concentration.
power is so respected that every elven child is taught The standard practice of the monk is to simplify,
from birth to use the sword and the bow, and their stories simplify, and simplify some more. Thus you probably
are filled with tales of brave warriors and powerful mages shaved your head bald and removed gaudy clothes
fighting desperate battles against overwhelming odds. and symbols when you became a monk.
As an elven fighter, you are a graceful, deadly Over time, you may find your way back to your
expert. You prefer an active style of combat involving forest homes to found a uniquely elven monastery.
many thrusts and lunges, and you favor lighter armor The students in such a place might find cohesion
that allows free movement. Unlike dwarves who between the elven ways and the mysterious path of
armor themselves from head to toe and stand in for the human monks. Only time will tell.
brutal melee, you practice a more refined strike-and- Racial Advantage: The elven Dexterity bonus
dodge method of warfare. raises the Armor Class of unarmored monks.
Racial Advantage: Low-light vision helps you Racial Disadvantage: A lower Constitution makes
fight at night, and a Dexterity bonus helps your you more fragile than your human counterparts.
defense and ranged attacks. Ability Score Advice: Wisdom is the most impor-
Racial Disadvantage: The Constitution penalty tant ability score for all monks. A low Intelligence
makes you more fragile than other fighters. score won’t impede your progress too much.
Ability Score Advice: The most important ability Uniqueness: The very concept of an elven monk is
scores are Strength and Dexterity. Intelligence and so unusual that you should develop a unique story of
Wisdom matter little to you. how you came to the monastery, what your goals are,
Rake (Variant): Something of a pejorative term, a and why you have set out on the path of enlightenment.
rake is a master duelist who prefers the supple rapier to
the stiff longsword. Sometimes quick to take offense to Elven Paladin
minor insults, you back up your attitude with whip- The world is a very, very dangerous place. Most com-
quick reflexes and incredible displays of swordplay. moners have no idea how many horrors lurk just on
Most of your duels are to first blood, demonstrating the other side of reality—hideous outsiders known
who is superior with a blade. If pressed, however, you as demons and devils. Against these terrors stands a
can bring home the attack and draw far more than just line of shining, armored elven paladins that stretch
first blood. You pay attention to clothes, manners, and back into the mists of history. Elves consider the
accoutrements to project a certain sophisticated image. decision to assume the duties of the paladin a
Even in the wilderness, you are likely to produce a tremendous step. Such a choice rejects the chaotic
packet of delicate herbs for tea or wipe the blood from inclination of the elven people, accepts the burden
your blade with a blindingly white handkerchief. of a lifetime of danger, and earns the elf the enmity
Suggested Feats: Weapon Finesse (rapier). of some of the most powerful evil gods in the
Suggested Skills: Bluff, Innuendo, Intimidate, Ride, cosmos.
Sense Motive, Tumble. Corellon makes no call for paladins; those elves
who step forward voluntarily are accepted so long as
Elven Monk they remain pure of body, mind and spirit. Perhaps
There are those rare Corellon cannot force himself to do to his children
exceptions to the elven that which they should accept as their own burdens.
character who seek In any case, elven paladins like you are respected,
focus, discipline, and honored and loved by all good people. And when that
the path of enlighten- fateful day comes when the forces arrayed against you
ment. Those few some- prove too much to overcome, you will walk into the
times find themselves afterlife followed by the prayers and memories of
standing before the thousands.
gates of the monaster- Racial Advantage: Low-light vision is helpful in
ies in the human lands, conducting battles at night.
20 seeking admission to Racial Disadvantage: A lower Constitution makes
the secret rites prac- you more fragile than paladins of other races.
ticed within. Ability Score Advice: You have a long list of ability
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scores that need to be high: Strength, Dexterity,

Wisdom, and Charisma. If you can be said to have a
least important ability score, it is probably Intelligence.
Gruumshbane (Variant): While many elven pal-
adins hunt demons and oppose drow, Corellon has
another sworn enemy who works always for the
destruction of the elves: Gruumsh, deity of the orcs.
You are a dedicated orc-slayer, focusing all your atten-
tion on driving back the hordes of orcs that menace
the lands of the elves. You long to strike deep into
their foul lands to destroy evil temples, strike fear
into their hearts as you charge into battle, and engage
their vile kings in solo combat. You bear the crest of
the Punctured Eye, a reminder to all orcs that when
Corellon and Gruumsh clashed long ago, the elven
lord proved triumphant.
Suggested Skills: Heal, Intimidate, Knowledge (reli- people of the underdark. However, until the drow
gion), Listen, Move Silently, Ride, Search, Speak Lan- abandon their evil ways, the Silver Swords will give
guage (orc), Wilderness Lore. them no quarter.
Suggested Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Informa-
Elven Ranger tion, Intimidate, Ride, Sense Motive.
Perhaps the most respected of all elven heroes are the
rangers. While others pursue epic challenges and oth- Elven Rogue
erworldly foes, the elven rangers are the champions Elven rogues are not unknown among the First
of ordinary people. They seek to protect the settle- People. In the larger cities and the lands of the
ments of the elves and are known to work for the bet- humans, some elves find that their dexterous fingers
terment of the community as a whole. The elven and quick wits allow them to survive and prosper in
ranger is the swift sword of justice along the frontier, trades that are less than honorable.
and the guarantor of integrity and fairness in the Some of the world’s best rogues are probably elves,
settled lands. gifted by their racial heritage with extraordinary
The stories of their deeds are so numerous that you Dexterity. That quickness and their long life span
learned the lore of the elven ranger as a child. You’re provide them with an incredible edge in the shad-
part of a long tradition; rangers have been active in ows. However, few elves turn to this path, so these
the forests and hills of the elves since the dawn of extraordinary individuals are still few and far
elven history. It is whispered around the campfire between.
that Corellon himself is a ranger, and the lands under Racial Advantage: Dexterity bonus allows a high
his protection include all the world under the sky. starting Dexterity, and your low-light vision makes
Racial Advantage: Low-light vision allows you to the shadows your friend.
operate at night. Racial Disadvantage: None.
Racial Disadvantage: Lower than average Consti- Ability Score Advice: Dexterity matters most.
tution makes you more fragile than other races’ Charisma and Wisdom are good places to put low
rangers. ability scores.
Ability Score Advice: The most important ability Tombseeker (Variant): Much elven heritage is
scores for elven rangers are Strength, Dexterity, and buried and forgotten in lost tombs and vanished
Wisdom. Charisma matters least to you. ruins. You are a master at disarming traps, finding
Silver Swords (Variant): Part of a group of elven secret doors, and uncovering the locations of fabulous
rangers who have sworn to uphold peace among all treasures. Sometimes you work for the betterment of
elves, you ride hard to any sign of conflict among the the elven people, restoring what was lost, and making
First People. Few elven monarchs would take the field a record of histories long forgotten. Other times,
knowing that they face the wrath of the Silver Swords; you’re simply interested in the profit that various
the mere appearance of one or more of their number relics will bring on the open market.
is often sufficient to bring both factions to the negoti- Suggested Skills: Appraise, Balance, Climb, Decipher
ating table. It is the secret, long-term hope of the Script, Disable Device, Gather Information, Intuit
Silver Swords that the elven people will someday find Direction, Knowledge (various types), Listen, Open 21
a way to reunite with the drow and heal the rift Lock, Pick Pocket, Search, Sense Motive, Spot, Use
between the people of the surface world and the Magic Device.
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Elven Sorcerer Racial Advantage: Use of swords and bows with-

Among a people im- out selecting the Martial Weapons Proficiency feat.
bued with a magical Racial Disadvantage: None.
nature, discovering that Ability Score Advice: The most important ability
you have the ability to is Intelligence, of course. Your Strength score will
channel raw magical rarely come into play.
power is a delight. Sor- Traveler Beyond (Variant): You seek to uncover
cery among the elves is the mysteries of the wider world, and you’re eager to
a talent to be developed wander beyond your forest home. Armed with spells
and cherished, so you that keep you safe and make travel easy, you seek out
will be asked many arcane mysteries wherever they may be hidden.
questions by other elves Eventually, you hope to master spells that will take
who would love to dis- you beyond this plane of existence, where who
cover their own innate knows what wonders and terrors you’ll find? Until
magical powers. that day, you wrest as many secrets as possible from
Elven sorcerers rarely develop focused lists of forgotten cities, hidden libraries, and ancient treasure
spells, but instead seem to accumulate fairly random troves.
repertoires based on interesting things they observe, Suggested Skills: Concentration, Gather Information,
old texts they read, and suggestions from other arcane Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (geography), Knowl-
spellcasters. Flashy and exciting spells are usually edge (the planes), Spellcraft.
more interesting to you than carefully developing a
magical specialty.
Racial Advantage: None. GNOMES
Racial Disadvantage: None. Beneath the wooded hills lie the burrows of the
Ability Score Advice: The most important ability gnomes. Given to elaborate pranks and tricks, with a
for the elven sorcerer is Charisma. Strength matters natural bent toward mechanical aptitude and a love of
little. gems and jewelry, gnomes choose pleasant and beau-
Uniqueness: Elven society has many wizards, but tiful (if cleverly hidden) homes.
few sorcerers. Elves are so accustomed to learning The gnomes present many aspects to the world.
arcane spells through careful study and preparation that They are at times seen as slightly obtuse, interested in
an improvisational caster like you is unusual. You should matters of cogs, wheels, and levers so arcane they
develop your own story that explains how you came to verge on the magical. Then, in the blink of a dancing
learn your magic differently from everyone else. eye, they can strike up a quick tune on the instru-
ments found in every gnome burrow—or produce as
Elven Wizard if from thin air a bounty of sweets and stout ale!
The study of magic They are a people of the surface world, though they
comes so easily to most dwell just below in snug holes between the roots of
elves that virtually all great trees. They are a small people; their homes, fur-
become at least some- niture, and various tools are scaled as though for
what familiar with wiz- human children. And they are a people of illusion.
ardry as they age. The natural talent for minor magic flows easily from
Their magical nature their merry souls.
and inherent ability If you’re a gnome, you may find the road not so
scores allow elves to pleasant when adventure calls, and the lands far from
take wizard as a favored home might be mean and dark of spirit. Nevertheless,
class, and many do so. you always carry a bit of home with you no matter
The combination of where the long road may go.
wizard ability scores
with other classes produces a wide range of elven Gnome Barbarian
characters. In some remote corners of the world where the land
If you dedicate future experience to the study of the has rarely if ever felt the tread of the bigger races,
arcane arts, there is no telling how powerful you will there are gnomes of such an unusual temper and
eventually become. Certainly the legends of the elven background that they can almost be considered a sep-
22 people are filled with stories of the crafting of incred- arate race from their more genteel cousins.
ible magical gems, travels to unknown planes, and the These barbaric gnomes are truly a people of the
founding of great kingdoms. land. Their constructions are of wood and vine, and
T11647_620_00Hero.qxd 8/7/00 2:18 PM Page 23
their music heeds the beat of the drum and the earthy minor illusions, and well-known call and repeat
tones of the woodwinds. These people live in close cadences, the gnome bard can perform a very com-
touch with all the spirits of nature, serving and pro- plex performance with little in the way of staging or
tecting the unspoiled beauty that surrounds them. Yet props.
those who have seen these gnomes whisper tales of Gnome bards tend to focus their magical aptitude
shrunken heads, pits of bone, and strange tribal on illusions of sound and image, slowly developing a
totems made from the ears of their enemies. No civi- repertoire of signature images that distinguish the
lized person would give credence to any such fantas- true talents from the merely artistically inclined.
tic story! Though they are very long-lived, gnome bards don’t
In times of great need, the barbaric gnome becomes dwell overlong on matters of history, preferring
as enraged as a thunderstorm, screaming defiance and instead to immortalize great tricks and jests—the
capable of incredible feats of strength and endurance. really inspired mad genius of standout gnome humor.
When moving through the shadows of the trees, the Needless to say, this makes the gnome bard a fairly
barbaric gnome is fleet of foot and sure of every step. interesting (if slightly hard to take) companion for
Able to pass through gaps and openings far too small the road.
for the larger races, the barbaric gnome seems to shift Racial Advantage: A racial bonus to Listen checks
mysteriously from point to point, pausing only to aids you in dealing with various sound-based chal-
sense the clues on the wind and watch for motion in lenges.
the distance. Racial Disadvantage: None.
Racial Advantage: The Constitution bonus keeps Ability Score Advice: Your highest ability scores
you raging longer. Low-light vision allows you to see should be Charisma, Intelligence, and Dexterity.
day and night, and to see even in the darkest shadows Strength and Constitution are good places to put a
of the forest. Your bonus to Listen checks makes you low score.
hyperaware of your surroundings, so you are hard to Member of the Piper Corps in Good Standing
surprise. (Variant): The largest gnome communities practice
Racial Disadvantage: The gnome’s Strength the basics of defense, from time to time, usually for
penalty affects your prowess in combat. the pomp and ceremony of it all. During these times,
Ability Score Advice: Constitution and Dexterity your Piper Corps is called to set the beat for the
are valuable, and you don’t want your Strength too marches and to stir the doughty spirits of the gnomes,
low, despite the racial penalty. Intelligence is the least especially if actual combat is in the offing. Playing an
important ability score. infernal contraption of tubes, various air bladders,
Member of the Well Respected Order of the valves, and an unimaginably complex multitiered
Badger (Variant): Even in the civilized lands, there keyboard, you create a cacophony of sound which,
are times when the gnomes require defense beyond amazingly enough, is actually quite stirring once the
the occasional crossbow or hatchet. You are part of whole corps really gets their wind up. With these
small group trained in the Way of the Badger, taking instruments, you use the full range of your sound-
as your guide the ferocious defense that creature based bard abilities to inspire the troops or counter
makes of its den when cornered. Members of your sound-based attacks.
order, though possessing all the standard barbarian Suggested Skills: Con-
ability scores, are generally indistinguishable from centration, Perform,
other members of gnome society, save for the Spot.
badger paw tattoo on the palm of each hand. A
battle-scarred veteran leads the order in each com-
munity, speaking in gruff tones and tolerating no
disobedience. Someday, that wily veteran may be
you.
Suggested Skills: Always spend two skill points to
counteract class-linked illiteracy. Balance, Climb,
Heal, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Search,
Spot, Swim, Tumble.
Gnome Bard
Among a people so filled with curiosity and natural
talent, the bards are a much beloved and respected 23
part of the community. Combining song, verse,
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Gnome Cleric are usually orphans or people who just can’t seem to fit in
Garl Glittergold is a benevolent protector of all things with the rest of the gnome population.
gnome. Of all the creator deities, he may have come With their advanced age and long memories,
closest to achieving his true objectives with his gnome druids can sense the changing of the seasons,
people. They are generally at peace and live lives of remember the surrounding trees as seedlings, and tap
bounty and practical happiness. From time to time, the great power of the natural world for magic, heal-
they even amaze him with the ingenuity they show in ing, and protection. Older gnome druids leave their
devising one clever device after another. protected ground only when the situation is dire, and
His trickster priests are some of the worst of the gnome they usually do not travel far. But young gnomes who
mischief-makers. Gnome clerics like you have some itch- become druid “sprouts” wander far before finally
ing dust, a buzzing handshaker, or some other minor choosing a place to settle. During those years of wan-
trick, bauble, or distraction with you at all times. You’re dering, you’ll see much of the world and undertake
also intimately connected with the wealth of the commu- your fair share of adventure.
nity. You appraise gems, estimate the value of jewelry, con- Racial Advantage: None.
vert currencies, and ensure that scales are accurate. Racial Disadvantage: None.
The religious ceremonies you organize range from Ability Score Advice: The gnome druid’s most
simple to incredibly complex. Most gnome churches important ability scores are Wisdom and Charisma.
are filled with a seemingly endless set of contraptions Least important are Strength and Intelligence.
designed to pay homage to their creator. Even your Urban Druid (Variant): Unbelievably (at least to
holy symbol will have more clippers, tweezers, bolt- other druids), there are occasional gnomes who adopt
holders, pin-lockers, files, and plumb bobs than the bustling cities as their protected ground. Perhaps it
average human carpenter’s building kit! was your natural bent towards complex machinery, or
Racial Advantage: None. some great jest you are playing on the rest of the
Racial Disadvantage: None. world, but you’re one of these druids tending to the
Ability Score Advice: Wisdom and Charisma help urban environment. You care for flower boxes on
you do Garl Glittergold’s work. Dexterity and Intelli- many sills, the city’s parks and gardens, and an infi-
gence don’t affect your cleric functions much. nite number of mice, rats, pigeons, dogs, and cats.
The Regretful Office of the Penitent (Variant): Suggested Skills: Animal Empathy, Appraise, Handle
Even though your religion teaches that tricks, traps, Animal, Search, Sense Motive.
and minor jokes are supposed to remind everyone to
be humble, you are guilty of letting things get out of Gnome Fighter
hand. Accordingly, you have lost your love of the jest Some gnome communities live close enough to
and left the community. Maybe you’ll wander until danger that they must maintain a standing militia.
you recover your composure, or maybe you’ll be gone Other times, a young gnome seeking adventure will
for good. In any case, you walk the world looking for find work as a diminutive, but respectable warrior.
the true nature of your faith in lands where things are Though gnomes are rarely violent, and few are well
not so easy and life is not always lived long and hap- versed in the military arts, individual gnome fighters
pily. Perhaps in time you’ll find your smile again. can be accomplished and capable members of any
Suggested Skills: Alchemy, Appraise, Concentration, troop.
Handle Animal, Heal, Ride, Speak Language, Wilder- Keeping with their love for contraptions and crazy
ness Lore. devices, gnomes are often drawn to mechanical weap-
ons: crossbows, swords with spring-loaded blades, etc.
Gnome Druid If given a choice, you will gravitate to the most com-
In inner forest groves plex and challenging weapon available.
far from the bustle of Racial Advantage: Low-light vision is a useful
the outside world, there attribute when you draw night-watch duty. Your Con-
are quiet homes occu- stitution bonus makes you a resilient and tough
pied by wizened mas- fighter. Your small size makes you hard to hit, and
ters of woodlore and conversely you live in a world of big targets.
natural insight. Racial Disadvantage: Small size makes you
Gnomes take to druid- slower, so gnomes on foot often have to hustle to keep
hood late in life, often up with larger companions. The Strength penalty has
after tiring of farming clear drawbacks for fighters.
24 the land or retiring from Ability Score Advice: Put your best scores in
some other profession. Strength and Constitution. Intelligence and Wisdom
Younger gnome druids are good places to put low ability scores.
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Esteemed Member of the Siegemaster’s Society

(Variant): From time to time, an army will encamp
around a fortified position and lay siege. There are no
better masters of the various siege engines and strate-
gies for systematically reducing static defenses than
gnome siegemasters like you. Your natural interest in
mechanical devices gives you a unique knowledge of
the principles of ballistics, weight and counterweight,
and leverage. You know how to build catapults, rams,
trebuchets, siege towers, and other large engines of
war. You can manage small construction crews, draft
plans, and explain strategy and tactics to generals and
troops alike.
Suggested Skills: Craft (Carpentry), Knowledge
(architecture and engineering), Profession (siege
engineer), Spot.
Gnome Monk and other signs of a

One of the most unusual members of any monastic long, wearying battle against evil.
order is the occasional gnome. Their natural inclina- But the average visitor to the gnome lands will
tion and lives far from human lands provide little probably never know that the friendly local constable
opportunity for gnomes to become interested in the or sheriff they met when entering the county was a
study of enlightenment. paladin. Gnome paladins serve to keep the peace,
Those few who find themselves in monk’s robes head off trouble before it begins, ensure that disputes
face interesting challenges. Their small stature means don’t get too far out of hand, and generally remind the
that they are forced to alter the lessons of their larger community that gnome lands are not a place for trou-
brethren. blemakers.
A few of you have returned to your homelands and Garl Glittergold calls his paladins quietly. There are
are spreading your teachings. Perhaps in a few gener- no lavish investment ceremonies and no high-rank-
ations gnome monks like you will band together and ing court appointments. But if Glittergold finds you
use your knowledge, accumulated over so many worthy, you’ll find yourself in situations where you
adventures, to found your own unique monastic can prove your dedication to his principles and to the
orders. long-term interests of his people. If you act accord-
Racial Advantage: None. ingly, Glittergold infuses you with divine power and
Racial Disadvantage: Your small size and outlines your duties and responsibilities in a spiritual
Strength penalty impose some drawbacks. message.
Ability Score Advice: Dexterity and Wisdom are Many communities are so accustomed to these
your key ability scores. Intelligence is least important individuals establishing their authority through
to you. deeds rather than declarations that when a new pal-
Acolyte of the Unseen (Variant): You are part of a adin is made, the locals naturally start calling their
small group of gnome monks who have developed a new protector “Sheriff.”
regimen that combines the gnome talents for illusion Racial Advantage: High Constitution makes for
with the monk’s fighting prowess. This system tough paladins. Bonuses to Listen checks make them
stresses the value of distraction, using the sounds, hard to surprise, and bonuses to saves against illu-
lights, and prestidigitation effects of gnome illusion sions make them hard to deceive.
to distract opponents and create opportunities. Your Racial Disadvantage: Your lower than ideal
foes often don’t see you until it’s too late. And even Strength can be a liability in a fight.
when they do, they’re not sure just what they saw. Ability Score Advice: Wisdom and Charisma
Suggested Skills: Bluff, Concentration, Innuendo, matter most to you, and Intelligence is something
Intimidate, Sense Motive. you find little use for.
Oathsworn Servant of the High One in Lands
Gnome Paladin Most Distant (Variant): As a part of the unending
The paladins from most other races are obvious at first battles between good and evil, you found it necessary to
sight. They are armed and armored in the finest equip- leave home and take a more direct hand in the world’s 25
ment available. They command the respect and atten- affairs. When word spread that the sheriff was leaving
tion of all who travel with them. They bear the scars on a crusade, the community quietly assembled in a
T11647_620_00Hero.qxd 8/7/00 2:19 PM Page 26
show of respect as you saddled up. You left home with Suggested Skills: Animal Empathy, Handle Animal,
bursting saddlebags and the promise of whatever fur- Listen, Ride, Spot, Wilderness Lore.
ther assistance your community could pro-
More About the vide. But you know many of the villagers Gnome Rogue
assume that you will not return, so your No civilized gnome would ever want to be associated
Mysterious
departure was as sad as it was festive. with a profession as unsavory as “thief,” and even the
Congregation Suggested Skills: Handle Animal, Heal, slightly more acceptable “rogue” is pushing a bound-
The members of the Mysterious
Ride, Knowledge (geography). ary that makes them uncomfortable.
Congregation are demon-hunters,
pure and simple. They know that
Because “the shady side of town” in a gnome com-
the ripe, content civilization of
Gnome Ranger munity usually refers to those homes under the
the gnomes is a perfect target for
The lands between gnome communities are largest trees, gnome communities rarely worry about
the minions of evil Outsiders generally left wild and unmonitored. These organized crime, and thieves’ guilds are unknown in
who seek to corrupt all that is swaths of natural forest and wilderness are their lands.
right and proper. often home to various predators such as But gnomes make excellent “locksmiths” or “secu-
As a new member of the Con- bears, wolves, and more dangerous mon- rity device installers,” and anyone involved in such a
gregation, the inductee will be sters. Travel between the various gnome civic-minded trade will certainly have to occasionally
shown irrefutable proof of the groups is thus somewhat dangerous. disarm, disable, remove, or otherwise circumvent
existence of hostile Outsiders As an aid to travelers and a check on such devices!
and of the nefarious plots they any threat from these wild tracts, the Racial Advantage: Listen bonuses make you very
weave in gnome lands. gnomes have a rich tradition of people aware of your surroundings. Constitution bonuses
From that point forward, the like you becoming rangers. You are help with saves against poisons when you trigger a
new sorcerer’s life will be forever responsible for knowing the lay of the trap by mistake.
changed. For in this important land, monitoring the creatures that live Racial Disadvantage: There are no significant
duty is also found the seeds of within it, and ensuring the safety of those drawbacks for gnome rogues.
fear, constant danger, and a life- traveling through it. The sight of a ranger Ability Score Advice: Dexterity and Intelligence
time commitment to a battle that striding confidently up the trail with a are the ability scores you should focus on. The least
no others in the community will merry “How do you do” comforts children important ability scores for a gnome rogue are
understand or appreciate. The playing in the woods and adults trying Wisdom and Constitution.
gnome learns that every race has their luck fly-fishing. A Professional in the Science of Protective
a few guardians and protectors And when a gnome criminal is not Locks and Theft Deterrents (Variant): Imagine
who stand fast between the swiftly apprehended and brought to jus- yourself wearing a vest covered with picks, files, mir-
safety of the community and the tice, the gnomes will send a ranger to rors, clamps, and hundreds of other devices designed
vast forces of chaos and destruc- track the miscreant across hill and dale to to facilitate the installation, removal, and safe disposal
tion that lurk in every shadow. ensure that the lawbreaker is caught and of every imaginable type of lock and trap. You’re an
Members of the Congregation punished appropriately. incredibly valuable member of any adventuring party
are forbidden to discuss their Racial Advantage: Your bonus to seeking to probe ruins, wizards’ keeps, or other areas
duties with any save the town Listen checks makes you an excellent known to be protected by methods more mechanical
sheriff, who, as a paladin, is cer- hunter. Low-light vision brightens your than monstrous. One day a motley band of humans,
tainly free of any taint. If a gnome vision under the forest canopy. elves, halflings, and others showed up unexpectedly at
in the community is suspected of Racial Disadvantage: The racial the door of your locksmith shop with an outrageous
dealing with the Vile Ones, that Strength penalty reduces your fighting proposition involving a long, uncomfortable journey
gnome will be watched around effectiveness. filled with mortal danger and high risk. You’re still not
the clock and perhaps even inter- Ability Score Advice: Most impor- sure why you took the job, but the large sack of gold
rogated by the Congregation. tant on the trail are Wisdom and Dexter- you brought back might have something to do with it.
Instead of developing spells ity. You spend enough time alone that Suggested Skills: Appraise, Decipher Script, Disable
randomly as the character gains Charisma gets little use. Device, Knowledge (architecture and engineering),
levels, the members of the Con- Skystrider (Variant): Though you Listen, Open Lock, Profession (locksmith), Search,
gregation are encouraged to spe-
grew up in a tree-root burrow, the massive Spot, Use Magic Device.
cialize in magic that will assist
trees over your head have always fasci-
the larger cause.
nated you, as have the glimpses of blue Gnome Sorcerer
sky through the forest canopy. You guard In gnome society, sorcerers are simply those gnomes
your community from threats from above, climbing who have developed their innate magical ability
and leaping from branch to branch as you patrol your scores beyond the norm without formal training. All
26 various lookouts. Eventually, you hope to befriend a gnomes have some sorcerous abilities: their innate
giant owl or other forest flyer, tame it, and guard your racial capacity to cast minor illusions. Those with a
home from the sky itself. more highly developed skill are not considered
T11647_620_00Hero.qxd 8/7/00 2:19 PM Page 27
especially unusual or abnormal. The day when you If you’re a gnome wizard, you’re probably a member
manifested a spell beyond the basic racial repertoire, of a college or guild located safely outside the main
it surprised you a little, but delighted you a lot. community in case an experiment goes awry. Gnome
Famous for adding spice and fun to parties and families often offer their children to wizards as
community gatherings, most of your kind become apprentices. Unlike most, you were quick-witted
traveling entertainers, developing in some cases very enough to avoid being sent right back home.
complex “acts” of illusion, enchantment, charming, Racial Advantage: The favored class for gnomes is
etc. These gnomes take the natural predisposition illusionist.
toward flashy clothing and jewelry to an extreme. The Racial Disadvantage: None.
average gnome sorcerer would never be caught with- Ability Score Advice: Intelligence determines
out a flowing supple cape, sparkling rings, wide silver how many spells you can cast, and how realistic your
buckles, and, of course, a delightful number of odd illusions are. Tasks requiring Strength are best left to
fetishes, baubles, and glowing bits—anything to add others.
to the general effect. Esteemed Practitioner of the Animate Arts
Racial Advantage: None. (Variant): A popular wizard specialty is the creation
Racial Disadvantage: None. of animated constructs. The combination of magical
Ability Score Advice: Like all sorcerers, you’ll power and intricate clockworks results in a whole
want to put your best score into Charisma. Strength is range of devices from simple toys to amuse the chil-
the safest place for a low ability score. dren at birthdays to very complex devices designed
The Powerful and Mysterious Congregation of to perform any number of repetitive or dangerous
the Moon, Stars, and Sky (Variant): The night after tasks. You’re an expert in the field of animating and
you first showed sorcerous ability, a mysterious controlling such constructs. Animators like you are
stranger dressed all in black, paid you a private visit. sometimes asked to join an adventuring group that
Her questions were probing and strange, but you expects to encounter golems, automatons, or other
must have answered correctly, for she offered to let similar challenges. Your specialized knowledge may
you join the “Mysterious Congregation.” You were be the difference between success and catastrophic
excited enough to say yes before you even knew what failure.
the Mysterious Congregation did, and the stranger Suggested Skills: Alchemy, Appraise, Concentra-
departed. Life was normal until a group of black- tion, Craft (various), Knowledge (arcana), Profession
robed gnomes showed up on your doorstep a week (various), Spellcraft.
later and inducted you during a strange ceremony
under the full moon. Since then you’ve been protect-
ing the civilization of the gnomes from demons and HALF-ELVES
their evil minions who seek to corrupt all that is right Half-elves primarily live in either the community of
or proper. The Mysterious Congregation is ever vigi- their human or elven parent. Though they struggle
lant for the signs of possession or use of the Dark Arts, and sometimes feel like outsiders, such characters
and you’re quietly honored to be a member. usually follow the cultural norms of the community
Suggested Skills: Alchemy, Concentration, Decipher in which they are raised.
Script, Gather Information, Innuendo, Intimidate, The half-elves and humans share much in
Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (the planes), Scry, common. Humans get more feats and skills than half-
Search, Sense Motive. elves, but half-elves have racial advantages that
humans do not.
Gnome Wizard On a case-by-case basis, half-elven characters can
The profession of choose to seek a heroic path similar to their human or
wizard is as well re- their elven parent. For that reason, no specific class
spected among gnome suggestions are provided for half-elves. If you’re look-
society as anywhere in ing for guidance, simply browse the section for the
the civilized lands. race that raised you.
With their arsenal of
arcane spell, devices,
potions, and all man- HALF-ORCS
ner of delightfully On the frontier, the lines between the civilized races
complex contraptions, and the savage races are blurred. From time to time a
Gnome wizards tinker child is born of mixed heritage, carrying some of the 27
with the very fabric of traits of the savage orcs and some of the traits of the
reality. civilized humans.
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These children live a difficult and challenging life. Half-Orc Bard

From birth they are subjected to racism, hatred, and Forget everything you have ever imagined about how
prejudice. Those who survive infancy grow swiftly to a bard should appear or behave. For the half-orc, flow-
maturity. The signs of their parents’ legacies are ery lyrics, delicate instruments, and quick-witted
visible: the orc facial features and great strength, the double entendres are effete and pointless. When the
dexterity and intelligence of the human. In the half-orc bard chooses to perform, onlookers will see
human lands, half-orcs find that they can dominate by the raw forces of nature tamed, beat into servitude,
strength and toughness. In the wilds of the orc lands, and bent to the bard’s will.
half-orcs are usually smarter than those who oppose Imagine a towering, hirsute, gray-skinned bard rising
them. In either case, they are driven to survive against to full stature in the ale-hall. Grabbing two immense
all odds, and those who do make formidable heroes. metal tankards, the bard begins to hammer out a rhyth-
mic beat on the table, drowning all other conversation
Half-Orc Barbarian in the room. Using the tankards like blunt drumsticks,
The barbaric half-orc the bard proceeds to assemble a cacophony of sounds
is the classic example by smashing them against floor, walls, fixtures, plates,
of type. Prone to rages, and the occasional dwarven helmet.
focused on physical Moving faster and faster, the bard picks up the
prowess, illiterate, and tempo until it becomes a throbbing incessant beat
more at home in the that all present feel in the very marrow of their bones.
wilderness than in the It is primal. It speaks to their most basic instincts.
streets of any city, the Without conscious thought, all assembled begin to
half-orc barbarian de- follow the beat themselves until the room is filled
fines this role unlike with awe of the performance.
any other race. Without words, the song speaks of tests of courage,
The half-orc barbar- of mighty deeds, and of triumph over all challenges.
ian’s physical attrib- Then, as suddenly as it began, the song ends and the
utes don’t necessarily mean the character is an bard, drenched in sweat, collapses into his seat and
unthinking brute, however. If you’re a half-orc bar- calls for a fresh round of ale.
barian, you’ve had to survive in the wilderness Racial Advantage: None.
matching your wits against any number of cunning Racial Disadvantage: The Intelligence and
predators. You might only lack sophistication, not Charisma penalties of the half-orc are substantial dis-
smarts. advantages for you.
But you probably can’t read or write, and you’re Ability Score Advice: You’ll need to put your high-
ignorant of the ways of city folk. So you might rely on est scores in Intelligence and Charisma, despite the
others to take care of the confusing rules of civiliza- penalties. The least important ability scores for the
tion for you, offering your might and wilderness half-orc bard are Strength and Constitution, although
skills in exchange. you’ll frequently be fortunate to have your Strength
Racial Advantage: The half-orc Strength bonus is bonus.
a tremendous advantage. Zhack-Tar (Variant): As a Zhack-Tar, you are a caller
Racial Disadvantage: None. for the dead, the person responsible for alerting the
Ability Score Advice: Your Strength and Constitu- spirits in the afterlife that a new soul will soon be join-
tion made you who you are today. Charisma is less ing them. The chants you use are ancient and are
important to you, and Intelligence least important of passed down to each new student of the burial rituals
all. of the orc tribes. When a member of the tribe has died,
Barbaric Ambassador (Variant): Unbelievably, you stand by the side of the bier or funeral pyre. With
half-orc barbarians like you are suited to one delicate drum and chant, you call out to the ancestors of the
role: liaison with the savage people of the wilderness. dead, telling them of the deeds of the one soon to join
You have the strength and prowess to stand up to any them, and warning them not to test the patience of one
petty chieftain, and you can succeed at any test of so powerful. Your objective is to establish the creden-
arms or courage to establish authority. On a quest tials for the dead so that their deeds in life will have
with other adventurers, you can extract information, some value in the afterlife. Because you were smarter
establish the boundaries of various tribes, request than the tribe’s full-blooded orcs, you were recruited
assistance, and learn of the movements and abilities into the study of the Tar at a young age, and this calling
28 of significant monsters in the area. protected you when you were young and weak.
Suggested Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Informa- Suggested Skills: Intimidate, Knowledge (religion),
tion, Intimidate, Knowledge (local), Sense Motive. Perform.
T11647_620_00Hero.qxd 8/7/00 2:20 PM Page 29
Half-Orc Cleric Half-Orc Druid

There are two kinds of half-orc clerics: those who ven- The half-orc’s affinity for the wild lands is a useful
erate Gruumsh, and those who do not. heritage to those who follow the path of the druid.
Gruumsh is an evil deity, and his wishes involve the Half-orcs who become druids often seek out the
destruction of the elves, among other goals. Clerics of remote, harsh lands where few others can thrive and
Gruumsh are rarely neutral, though he does permit survive. They can be found in the lands of the per-
this from time to time. Therefore, a “heroic” cleric of mafrost in the far north, and on the glaciers high in
Gruumsh is a great rarity. the mountains. They tend to the needs of the envi-
The half-orcs raised in civilized lands often vener- ronment in the rocky crags of the wastelands where
ate the deities of their human families or communi- water is more precious than gold.
ties. Though they face great prejudice from the world As a half-orc druid, your connection with nature is
around them, the gods can see into the hearts of the of a savage sort. You have a great appreciation for the
penitent and know whether those intentions are for way of the wild and are unsympathetic to calls for
good or ill. And the choice of deity does help in mercy or compassion. You favor companions who are
human society; a half-orc cleric of a good or lawful also able to survive in the rugged and difficult cli-
deity will be looked on more favorably than other mates and lands. In the lands of the half-orc druid,
half-orcs. only the strong survive, and that is only right and
In the wilderness, other orcs see a non-Gruumsh proper.
cleric as worse than a heretic. In fact, they view such Racial Advantage: None.
individuals as a direct challenge to the primacy of Racial Disadvantage: The Charisma penalty may
Gruumsh himself. If a wild orc tribe becomes aware be a disadvantage to you.
of such a person in the vicinity, the cleric will be Ability Score Advice: Wisdom and Constitution
hunted mercilessly until killed or beyond the limits help you survive in the most forbidding climes.
of the tribe’s trackers. Strength and Intelligence are the best places to put
Racial Advantage: None. low ability scores.
Racial Disadvantage: The half-orc Charisma Shaman (Variant): Each major orc tribe has a
penalty has a significant negative effect on you. shaman like you, a wild spirit who can be called when
Ability Score Advice: Wisdom and Strength help needed for divinations, healings, and other feats of
you worship your deity and stay alive in such a dan- divine power. You wander over a sizable territory,
gerous world. It’s easy to survive with a less than stel- guiding and protecting several tribes of orcs. They
lar Intelligence. protect you in turn, concealing your presence and
Cleric Seeking Corellon Larethian (Variant): ensuring that no outsiders trouble you.
Corellon is the god of the elves and Gruumsh’s most Suggested Skills: Animal Empathy, Climb, Gather
hated enemy. In the time before history, Corellon Information, Handle Animal, Heal, Intuit Direction,
fought a great battle with Gruumsh and blinded him Ride, Swim, Wilderness Lore.
in one eye. In that battle, Corellon took more than
just Gruumsh’s vision; he took a tenuous hold on the Half-Orc Fighter
orc people as well. That link cannot reach an orc of As a half-orc fighter, you have accepted the idea that
full blood, but an child of mixed ancestry may feel the training and practice can harness your innate
ancient connection. Strength and fury. Instead of a
Everyone knows that half-orcs cannot become cler- wild berserker, half-orc fighters
ics of Corellon Larethian. But for some reason you like you are disciplined killing
don’t understand, you’re compelled to try. You’ve machines.
chosen two domains typical of Corellon’s clerics, and
you venerate him whenever you can. He doesn’t
answer your prayers directly, but you hope that some-
day your great deeds will draw his attention. Elves
ignore your worship. Orcs consider you an abomina-
tion and go to great lengths to exterminate you. But
whatever others think, you’ve dedicated your life to
accomplishing this goal, no matter what the chal-
lenge involved.
Suggested Skills: Disguise, Escape Artist, Heal, Intim-
idate, Sense Motive, Speak Language (Elven). 29
T11647_620_00Hero.qxd 8/7/00 2:20 PM Page 30
In large battles, your half-orc comrades are often Ability Score Advice: As a monk, you’ll be judged
used as shock troops, sent into the heart of raging by your Strength, Dexterity, and Wisdom. The least
melee to swing the tide of battle by sheer power and important ability score is Intelligence.
presence. A tightly knit group of you working Fists of Gruumsh (Variant): The savage lands have
together can cause an immense amount of carnage in produced their own orders that seek to replicate the
a very short and very bloody time. flying fists and spinning kicks of the human monks.
You usually disdain the more delicate fighting There is something appealing to the savage heart of
styles, concentrating on delivering massive blows half-orcs like you about warriors who fight only with
with extreme power in hand-to-hand combat. their own bodies, disdaining the use of weapons,
Racial Advantage: The half-orc Strength bonus is armor, and shields. This primal fighting style, while
a clear benefit to the half-orc fighter. less refined than that of some of the human orders, is
Racial Disadvantage: None. still quite effective. Like most half-orc monks raised in
Ability Score Advice: The most important ability this tradition, you’ve reached a point where no further
scores for half-orc fighters are Strength and Constitu- progress can be made without wider experience or a
tion. Intelligence and Wisdom don’t help you survive more structured course of instruction. Accordingly,
in the thick of melee. the road to adventure beckons, as does an attempt to
Commander (Variant): As you grew to adulthood in gain entrance to a more civilized monastery.
the wild, you rose to dominate the local orc tribe. This Suggested Skills: Balance, Intimidate, Jump, Tumble.
led inevitably to battle, and you earned a swift education
in the skills of command. But you survived, and you Half-Orc Paladin
hope to become an excellent battlefield leader. When The potential is implicit in their human heritage. The
you leave home in search of adventure, you’ll easily find half-orc need not be a brutal savage. The potential for
a place with mercenary companies or caravan guards. ultimate dedication and commitment exists. And
Suggested Skills: Bluff, Concentration, Intimidate, across time, a very few have found within themselves
Ride, Spot, Wilderness Lore. the requisite combination of loyalty, devotion, honor,
courage, and an abiding love for all that is good and
Half-Orc Monk right.
When the first half-orc Half-orc paladins are truly a sight to behold. They
appeared before the are towering figures with the breadth of two average
gates of a monastery, sized men, brutish figures transformed by the holy
those within were cer- light that infuses their souls. Armed with weapons of
tainly unsure what to such size and weight that none save their owner can
make of the supplicant. lift, let alone wield them, they bear the symbols of
Since that time, several good and law proudly on shield, pennant, and armor.
half-orcs have demon- Those who have never seen one scoff. They claim the
strated that even the legends mere tales and silly fiction. On reputation
most savage heart can alone they might slander such heroes, disparage their
be disciplined and that true nature, and claim them to be twisted parodies. But
the Way can be fol- when confronted, in the flesh, with a half-orc paladin
lowed by anyone with like you, these doubters fall back and become silent.
iron determination and focus. On the frontier, where the war between good and
The half-orc monk is a fearsome opponent. Their evil, law and chaos is an everyday battle, the names of
massive physical strength coupled with the willpower these heroes are known to all. When one appears, usu-
required to rise above so much prejudice and hatred ally on the move from one catastrophe to the next, the
make a powerful combination. people gather to pay homage and to see this obvious
The word is spreading now, especially as the tales symbol from the gods that greatness, heroism, and
spread of half-orc monks smashing immense stone potential exists inside each and every person.
blocks with effortless grace or throwing opponents Racial Advantage: Immense strength makes for
across the combat circle and in some cases through excellent half-orc paladins. Furthermore, your dark-
the adjoining walls. And as those legends spread, the vision lets you see in the dark where evil lurks.
number of half-orcs like you seeking entrance at the Racial Disadvantage: The half-orc paladin’s
monastery doors begins to grow. penalty to Charisma is a notable drawback.
Racial Advantage: Your great Strength is helpful Ability Score Advice: Strength, Constitution, and
30 in the physical aspects of the monk’s life. Charisma (despite the penalty) should get your high
Racial Disadvantage: The Charisma penalty has scores, and try not to skimp on Wisdom either. If you
some negative effects on you. have to cut corners somewhere, make it Intelligence.
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Uniqueness: Becoming a half-orc paladin means

breaking the bonds of your society, your heritage, and
perhaps even the blood in your veins. Every half-orc
who earns the title paladin has a unique story to tell.
Half-Orc Ranger
The frontier tests those who travel with environ-
mental hazards and the clash of arms. The half-orc
ranger relies on strength and skill to overcome these
challenges.
In the savage lands, the half-orc ranger may have
contact with the various tribes of orcs and other mon-
sters; over time, a grudging understanding may evolve
between the ranger and the various tribes. In the civi-
lized lands just inside the frontier, the ranger is viewed
as a strong protector of homesteads and developing
outposts. But whichever side of the border you fre-
quent, you’re more at home hunting game and tracking
foes than living among those you choose to protect.
Racial Advantage: High strength and darkvision
give you the advantage in a night hunt.
Ability Score Advice: Put your best scores in
Strength, Dexterity, and Wisdom. Intelligence and
Charisma can suffer, if need be. The half-orc paladin
Deerstalker (Variant): Either as a part of a savage forward techniques, Dexterity should still be your
tribe of orcs, or working with a small group of frontier best ability score. Constitution and Wisdom are the
settlers, you provide a necessary resource to the com- least important.
munity: food. You are master of the ways of local Enforcer (Variant): You are the fellow who shows
wildlife, able to set traps and snares, track game, and up when someone welshes on a debt, gets rowdy at
bring the meat back to the community in quantities the bar, or splashes mud on the local guildmaster
large enough to provide sustenance. Yet you are away without apology. You’re big. You’re not subtle. And
from the hearth-fire for weeks on end, so you’re seen your methods are simple. Of course, in this shady line
as a mysterious figure even by those you’re closest to. of work, even you sometimes need to slink off in the
Suggested Skills: Animal Empathy, Climb, Hide, shadows.
Intuit Direction, Listen, Move Silently, Ride, Spot, Suggested Skills: Hide, Intimidate, Move Silently,
Wilderness Lore. Read Lips, Sense Motive, Use Rope.
Half-Orc Rogue Half-Orc Sorcerer

Some rogues are masters of the shadows or specialists Perhaps it is a manifestation of the wild spirit of the
in lock picking. You’re just not that subtle. Why pick half-orc or perhaps there are other, darker reasons. In
a delicate lock when the lid can be ripped off a chest? any case, a small number of half-orc children mani-
Who needs to bypass a door latch when the whole fest arcane power. Rarely is this ability nurtured, and
door can simply be bashed off its hinges? few half-orcs ever master these powers to any signifi-
Some rogues steal through subterfuge and nimble cant degree. The occasional individual who develops
hands. You pick people up, turn them upside-down, and sorcerous abilities tends to lead a lonely life far from
shake them until all their valuables clatter to the floor. home with little contact with kith or kin.
Other rogues may scoff at your methods, but there Half-orcs are superstitious by nature, and if you’re a
is one area where they agree you outshine your peers sorcerer, you’re the most superstitious of the lot. You
of other races: the sneak attack. Being stabbed by a may be crisscrossed by scars, tattoos, body piercings,
halfling is a painful surprise. Being stabbed by a half- and brands, wearing a mishmash of skins and furs,
orc may be the last sensation one ever feels. and carrying bundles of sticks, bags of bones, and
Racial Advantage: Darkvision is immensely other implements of your trade.
useful to a half-orc rogue. Racial Advantage: None. 31
Racial Disadvantage: None. Racial Disadvantage: You suffer from both an Intel-
Ability Score Advice: Despite your straight- ligence and a Charisma penalty, a painful combination.
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Ability Score Advice: Charisma is what matters, In and between these peoples there is a place for
and you’ve got to overcome that penalty with your another lifestyle, a life of the road, of change, of wan-
highest score. Conversely, you get a bonus to dering. The journey of the halflings began in the distant
Strength, your least important attribute! past, and it shows absolutely no signs of ever ending.
Uniqueness: Why are you well liked when every- In a world filled with adventure, halflings may be
one of your heritage is despised? Why have you the most natural adventurers. They are adept at avoid-
ignored all the obvious choices for a profession, ing trouble, but they often seek it out anyway.
choosing one where you have little chance of surviv- Halflings are eager to hit the trail in quest of a great
ing, let alone excelling? The answers to these ques- story or personal reward. They are fast, quick-witted,
tions make you a unique character, probably the only and resilient—ideal virtues for the adventurer’s life.
half-orc sorcerer your friends have ever heard of.
Halfling Barbarian
Half-Orc Wizard Some halflings leave home early—and often without
If the occasional half-orc sorcerer is rare, the half-orc any interest in schooling or discipline. Raising a
wizard is a rarity among rarities. Most sages will tell halfling child who is strong of spirit and feels the call
you they simply don’t exist, though the most learned of the road is a challenge beyond even the patience of
may point to evidence that one existed long ago in a a loving parent.
far-off land. Perhaps you’re one of these children who have
In order to follow this difficult path, you must find learned to survive on their wits, speed, and disregard
someone to instruct you in the mysteries of arcane for property values. Maybe you formed a gang with
magic. Few will accept as a student one who will have intricate rituals to establish territory, an impenetrable
such obvious challenges putting that teaching to full slang of your own, and a social order based on
use. strength and bravery to the point of foolishness.
Nevertheless, you have managed to overcome these Racial Advantage: Many of the halfling bonuses aid
challenges and gain some mastery over the arcane the halfling barbarian, keeping you safe, making you
arts. One day you may be a truly imposing figure in hard to catch, and keeping you just out of harm’s way.
the conclave of a wizardly order. But until then, Racial Disadvantage: The biggest disadvantage is
others assume that you’ll fall short, despite your occa- the Strength penalty.
sional flashes of brilliance. Ability Score Advice: Strength and Dexterity are
Racial Advantage: There is no advantage to being key to a barbarian lifestyle. Intelligence is a good
a half-orc wizard. place to park a low ability score.
Racial Disadvantage: The half-orc Intelligence Lone Wolf (Variant): Determined to find your
penalty looms large, hampering your development own way in the world, you are self-taught, self-reliant,
greatly. and very rough around the edges. Your surroundings
Ability Score Advice: Despite your racial penalty, were your classroom; if you grew up in the wilder-
put your highest score in Intelligence. Strength can ness, you are wild and may clothe yourself in the
safely take your lowest score. skins of animals, living like a wolf or bear. In the
Summoner (Variant): Dealing with the dark cities, you exist outside the normal framework of life,
forces of the Outer Planes demands more than just making nests on high roofs out of sight. Eventually,
careful research and preparation. From time to time, you will feel the call of the road and will leave your
such experiments also require you to take more childhood haunts behind.
physical action to impose your will on the sum- Suggested Skills: Balance, Climb, Handle Animal,
moned creatures. Accordingly, you are on a dark, Heal, Hide, Intuit Direction, Move Silently, Tumble.
dangerous path. Each contact with extraplanar crea-
tures risks an insidious corruption of the soul—if Halfling Bard
their teeth and claws don’t get you first. The stories of the halflings are outrageous. Who
Suggested Skills: Alchemy, Concentration, Intimi- would believe these tales of foul villainy, last-minute
date, Sense Motive, Speak Language (Draconic), escapes, treasure in huge glittering heaps, and diminu-
Speak Language (Infernal). tive heroes delivering withering insults and scorn at
fearsome monsters like dragons and evil outsiders?
Your favorite tales include romance and adventure
HALFLINGS under the stars, with an endless road leading from one
The call to settle and reside in place is strong in the unbelievable, world-shaking adventure to the next.
32 hearts of most of the civilized races. The lands of the When the Big People laugh and clap, and call for
humans, elves, dwarves, and gnomes are static. A more “fairy tales,” you just look at your fellow
change in borders requires a disruption on an epic scale. halflings in amusement. Who’s to say where the
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antasy lies: in the musty books written by those who of poison into the occasional tankard of ale. You listen
have never seen the wonders of the world, or in the carefully to the tales of the road, always watchful for
songs and legends of the people who have walked the rise of another potential tyrant.
from horizon to horizon just to see the other side? When a clan of halflings doesn’t reach a More About the
A halfling likes nothing better than to be observed meeting point, or when a tyrant closes Street Toughs
by a good bard, for reputation is very important to his borders, you will set out on the trail Their acrobatic street fights may
halflings. A great tale filled with much derring-do is a to see whether you are needed. look entertaining, but the Street
great reputation-builder. And who wants to face life- Suggested Skills: Disguise, Escape Toughs are far more dangerous
and-death situations without a background of stirring Artist, Gather Information, Hide, Ride, than they appear. Threaten the
beats and pulse-quickening lyrics? Sense Motive. halflings in your community, and
Racial Advantage: None. you may find yourself surrounded
Racial Disadvantage: None. Halfling Druid by a circle of serene yet menac-
Ability Score Advice: Most important to you are Halfling druids are often the first mem- ing halfling martial artists.
Intelligence, Dexterity, and Charisma. Strength and bers of the “civilized races” to settle in From time to time, more than
Wisdom won’t figure prominently in your tales. lands beyond the frontier. The perpet- one such group will form in a
Roadsinger (Variant): Keeping the pace of the ual halfling migration often takes the city, if it is large enough. Once
clan on the road is a delicate art. But you know how to clans close to the edge of the unex- that happens, an intense rivalry
pick up the pace of your music to reach a suitable plored wilderness, where the call of the will often develop between the
camp before nightfall, or slow the pace when hunger wild can become too much to resist. two groups. They’ll brawl in alley-
and thirst debilitate the old and the young. You are The halfling druids maintain a loose ways and in the public market,
tasked with moving the group forward, regulating the communications network, meeting reg- rarely hurting each other seri-
speed of the caravan, and keeping spirits high. Over ularly with one or two of their fellows ously but often doing a great
long hours of travel many songs are sung, so you have just to ensure that all are healthy and deal of inadvertent property
a nearly limitless ability to compose lyrics on the fly, that no major danger threatens. So far damage. However, all involved
singing of the surrounding country, retelling old leg- from the assistance of others, halfling drop these rivalries when the
ends, and making fun of your fellow travelers. druids know that they must work to aid authorities try to intervene, and
Suggested Skills: Handle Animal, Innuendo, Knowl- and support one another. they never allow them to escalate
edge (geography), Perform, Spot, Wilderness Lore. Racial Advantage: None. to serious trouble. After all,
Racial Disadvantage: None. though they may be rivals, they
Halfling Cleric Ability Score Advice: Wisdom are still halfling monks!
The deity of the halflings, Yondalla, is a benevolent keeps you in touch with your wilder-
creator and protector. Her priests don’t get involved ness home. Your instincts can make up for a low Intel-
with matters of law or justice that don’t involve ligence.
halflings, being far more interested in the spiritual World Walker (Variant): Unlike most druids, you
and emotional health of their fellows. Accordingly, a take the entire world as your protected ground and seek
halfling cleric will always do whatever can be done to to see as much of it as you can. You often join halfling
keep other halflings safe. clans on migration, tending to the livestock, finding
As a cleric, you emulate Yondalla as best you can, edible plants and roots, and otherwise earning your keep
watching over the halfling people to ensure they’re based on your wilderness lore. You have little time for
healthy, happy, and free to wander. But your flock is a settlements, and won’t bother to stop in any civilized
moving target, so you spend a lot of time on the road area. Instead, you bid the clan good-bye at trail’s end and
yourself. continue your journey. Very occasionally, a young
Racial Advantage: None. halfling will feel the call and strike out after you; in this
Racial Disadvantage: None. way, the World Walkers’ numbers are replenished and a
Ability Score Advice: Your Wisdom and Charisma new generation raised in the druidic traditions.
caught Yondalla’s attention in the first place, so put Suggested Skills: Animal Empathy, Handle Animal,
your good scores there. Dexterity and Intelligence are Intuit Direction, Ride, Spot, Swim, Tumble, Wilder-
least important. ness Lore.
Knives of the Mother (Variant): The halflings
have known great oppression in the past. They have Halfling Fighter
been enslaved and forced to stop their wanderings and Halflings who become fighters have to compensate
serve one overlord or another. Knives of the Mother for their small size. Halflings have a natural bonus
like you take the view that when it comes to protecting when using thrown weapons, so they often become
the halfling population, the best defense is a good accomplished at the use of spear and dagger, provid- 33
offense. Not quite an assassin, you are not above taking ing intermediate-distance ranged attacks to back up
a quick strike at an unprotected back or dropping a vial front line melee fighters.
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Halfling Monk
Of all the races that move through the human lands,
the halflings are most likely to pursue the teachings
of the monasteries. Though focusing their attention
and accepting the rigorous discipline of the monk can
be hard, those who persevere find it rewarding.
Many orders have to cajole their initiates into leaving
the monastery to learn the ways of the outside world,
but halfling monks take to their journeys with relish. In
fact, the opposite problem emerges: halfling monks
enjoy the life of the wandering monk so much they may
never return.
Racial Advantage: Halflings gain many benefits
from their innate racial athleticism and nimbleness;
they are excellent monk candidates. Eventually, your
slow halfling speed will improve when you earn levels
as a monk.
Racial Disadvantage: Your small size imposes some
limitations. Your fists do less damage than monks of
larger races do, and your Strength penalty may reduce
the damage further.
Ability Score Advice: Dexterity and Wisdom are
your prime ability scores. A low score should go to
Intelligence.
Street Tough (Variant): Unbelievably, there are
some thriving monk orders inside some of the largest
The halfling monk human cities. Halflings pass through these areas fre-
quently, and they sometimes conflict with more-
But even in melee, halfling fighters can be fierce. settled locals. When this friction explodes into
They’re quick enough to dart around, and small violence without warning, your secret order of
enough to present a difficult target. And from the halfling monks intercedes on behalf of other
halfling perspective, most other races are clumsy, halflings, leaping and kicking until the travelers are
huge opponents more than twice their height—easy safe. You learned the way of the monk from a more
targets indeed. experienced halfling willing to teach you the basics of
Racial Advantage: The halfling’s small size and +1 self-defense. The streets are your monastery, and the
bonus to thrown weapons give halflings two advan- big people see your contests of strength, balance, and
tages. hand-to-hand fighting as mere entertainment. But
Racial Disadvantage: The halfling Strength when halflings are in trouble, your skills are serious
penalty is a big downside for halfling fighters, and indeed.
many potent weapons are simply too big for them. Suggested Skills: Balance, Climb, Escape Artist,
Ability Score Advice: Halfling fighters favor Dex- Intimidate, Jump, Spot, Tumble.
terity and Constitution. They eschew Wisdom.
Marchguard (Variant): You are trained to ride Halfling Paladin
quickly ahead of a clan on the move to scout for There are many roads
danger and return. You are sneaky and strive to one may follow in life.
remain unseen, if possible. If you spot some menace One is a narrow, poorly
that threatens the main body, you direct the clan to a marked, and rarely
new course, then form up and prepare to skirmish used trail walked by
with the threat while the rest of the clan escapes. those hardy few who
Therefore, you are adept at working with your team- accept their role as
mates using a complex series of hand gestures and halfling paladins.
banner movements to coordinate your attacks and Halfling migrations
defenses over the din of battle. often take the clans
34 Suggested Skills: Handle Animal, Hide, Knowledge near the borders of the
(geography), Move Silently, Ride, Search, Spot. civilized lands, and
therefore they are often
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the target of raids and attacks by monstrous crea- solitary figure disconnected from the rest of halfling
tures and those intent on doing evil. When the level society, denied the comfort of clan and family. For
of danger escalates beyond what the clan can handle, those reasons, very few halflings remain rangers for
their last, best hope is often a halfling paladin like long.
you who patrols these roads, watching over your Racial Advantage: Your Climb, Jump and Move
fellows. Silently bonuses help you move around in the wilder-
Yondalla’s chosen paladins rarely join the crusades ness.
or knightly orders of other races. You typically travel Racial Disadvantage: The Strength penalty hurts
in small groups, using a lonely watchtower as your you in a fight, and your size is at best a mixed blessing.
base and riding in long patrols over the area you Furthermore, your slow speed means you can’t cover
guard. You tend to be somber and solitary, but your as much ground as a ranger of a larger race.
tales are astonishing (and because you are a paladin, Ability Score Advice: The most important ability
the bards know that every word is true). Occasionally scores for a halfling ranger are Dexterity, Constitu-
a bard will take up residence with you to hear and tion, and Wisdom. Intelligence and Charisma are less
record these stories. From these bards and the deeds important.
they witness, the halflings know that they are being Pathfinder (Variant): When the halfling clans
protected and watched. begin to explore a new area, you precede them to set
Racial Advantage: None. markers, find sources of water, leave warnings of
Racial Disadvantage: Strength penalties affect dragon lairs and other important dangers, and con-
you, as does your inability to use Large weapons. nect with the network of halfling druids to learn
Ability Score Advice: Constitution, Wisdom, about the area. You’ve learned a series of runes that
and Charisma are all important to you. Intelligence you etch into rocks, trees, and other surfaces to com-
is probably the only ability you’d accept a low score municate important information to the halfling trav-
in. elers who will follow. In this role, you are greatly
Clan Protectors (Variant): When the halfling appreciated, if seldom seen. Many clans leave you
population in a civilized area grows to include several small tokens of friendship as they move through a
clans and many individuals, Yondalla may call an ranger-marked area, including sweets, worked metal
exceptional member of their number to paladinhood. goods, medicine, and other things you cannot easily
You and your fellow Protectors live in cities and are make for yourself in the wilderness.
considered upstanding members of the population Suggested Skills: Animal Empathy, Climb, Handle
(in contrast to many other halflings!), and the civil Animal, Heal, Intuit Direction, Listen, Move Silently,
authorities fully cooperate with your quests. In turn, Ride, Search, Spot, Swim, Wilderness Lore.
you work to keep the halfling rogue population at a
manageable level, investigate reports of crimes in the Halfling Rogue
community, and generally serve Yondalla’s needs The people of the far
wherever she requires them. north have a hundred
Suggested Skills: Diplomacy, Gather Information, words for “snow.” The
Knowledge (nobility and royalty), Sense Motive, halflings have a hun-
Spot, Use Rope. dred different classifi-
cations of “rogue,” and
Halfling Ranger you will rarely hear a
As you can imagine, halfling even use the
the halfling ranger is a term. The application
much-admired figure of a rogue’s skills takes
in halfling society. all forms, from the
Breaking new trails, benevolent to the out-
finding new lands to right criminal.
explore, and living a Every halfling under the sun has been a rogue.
life of constant travel Their natural abilities make them excellent sneaks,
and adventure seems very capable thieves, wonderful lockpicks, and in
like a happy halfling general contribute to their shady racial reputation. So
ideal. the halfling like you who actually works at being a
When you became a rogue is destined for greatness.
ranger, you learned Racial Advantage: Virtually every benefit the 35
the truth: The life of the ranger is a difficult one for a halfling race can provide contributes somehow to
halfling. Unlike most other halflings, you are often a your prowess as a rogue.
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Racial Disadvantage: Your small size is your only area or approaches a settled area for the first time, it
disadvantage. You’re slow, and rogues often attract sends you forward to introduce the clan and establish
pursuers. communication between the two groups. In this role,
Ability Score Advice: Dexterity is the key to most you use your powers and personality to ensure that
of your favorite skills. Constitution doesn’t affect halflings are not subject to unfair restrictions or pro-
what you do very much. hibitions. A display of power in the form of a flashy
Treasure Hunter (Variant): You’re trained to pro- spell is usually sufficient to establish your credibility.
vide support adventurers in combat, but really your And if a problem develops that you cannot resolve, it’s
job is to overcome tricks, traps, locks, and other your job to help the clan continue its journey safely.
obstructions. An experienced operator underground, Suggested Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Informa-
you’re wary, but calm and collected. Unlike many of tion, Intimidate, Listen, Sense Motive.
your fellow halfling rogues, you spend little time on
the road or in the city. You crave the musty smell of a Halfling Wizard
dungeon, the first glint from a treasure chest when it’s The halflings have two wizardly traditions. The first
opened, and above all else, anything underground is an echo of the other civilized races; a certain
that has a lock attached to it. number of halfling youths with aptitude are appren-
Suggested Skills: Appraise, Decipher Script, Disable ticed to wizards for training. The second is a unique
Device, Move Silently, Open Lock, Search, Spot, Use halfling tradition. There are a small group of for-
Magic Device. tunetellers and diviners who travel with every large
halfling group, providing prophecy and soothsaying
Halfling Sorcerer for the clan and for outsiders who seek their
The halfling people are appreciative and somewhat visions.
envious of the sorcerer’s power. Without having to In any event, most halflings have as little to do with
bother with the discipline of the wizard or the reli- wizards as they can, finding their strange passions
gious commitment of the cleric, you are able to and intense focus somewhat disconcerting. Children
channel magical effects by your very nature. The raised in apprenticeships who fail to become practic-
halflings see sorcerous power as another skill (and ing wizards have a hard time readjusting to halfling
usually another skill that makes them better rogues). society.
Sorcerers are often called on to settle disputes But halflings’ naturally high Dexterity and other
between the halflings and other races, as the halflings racial benefits make them excellent adventuring wiz-
feel that the sorcerer’s innate powers can offset the ards, and there is a rich tradition of such halflings
size differences that sometimes cause other races to returning to their clan with great wealth and power,
treat them like children. earning a place of honor in the clan and the tales they
Racial Advantage: None. tell.
Racial Disadvantage: None. Racial Advantage: None.
Ability Score Advice: Charisma is the connection Racial Disadvantage: None.
to your spellcasting, so put your best score there. Ability Score Advice: To cast the most powerful
Strength matters little to you. spells, a high Intelligence is critical. Strength offers
Speaker for the People (Variant): Because sorcer- little to wizards of any race.
ers often have a high Charisma, they are also often the Clan Fortuneteller (Variant): Essentially a spe-
most adept diplomats and negotiators. When a cialist diviner, you have an uncanny ability to foretell
halfling clan reaches a new the future and to predict certain important events in
a person’s life. Before important decisions are made,
the clan leaders ask you to employ the various com-
ponents of your soothsaying arsenal: casting the
bones, consulting an oracle, etc. From time to time
you leave the clan on “vision quests” driven by the
things you see in your foretellings and dreams. You’re
often gone for months or years, and when you return
you bring totems and fetishes to mark your successful
quests.
Suggested Skills: Alchemy, Gather Information,
Innuendo, Scry, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Wilderness
36 Lore.
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CREATING YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY
Creating There’s nothing wrong with doing so, and by creating

a unique background detail for your character, your
YOur overall story will be just that much more interesting.
To begin, start with Table 1. Each table will tell you
PersOnal where to go next until you’re done with the process.
HistOry HOME COMMUNITY

This section will guide you in developing detailed How big is the community where you were born? Did
information about your character’s life before becom- you lead a sheltered childhood, or did a bustling com-
ing an adventurer. munity surround you?
Five major aspects comprise your character’s back- Ordinarily, your home community is where you
ground: grew up, and many adventures begin as you leave that
• Home community behind. If you like, you may select one
• Family community where you were raised and a different
• Instruction community where you currently live. If you do,
• Life events simply go through the process twice and decide why
• Relationships you moved to the new area. You may want to use Table
1 to select a different environment for each as well.
The following tables are designed to help create a These tables are just a starting point as you explore
background that is consistent and leads you to the your character’s background. The town generator in
type of character you want to play. Either choose an Chapter 4: Adventures of the DMG has more demo-
entry that appeals to you, or let the dice decide. It’s graphic information. You can determine who is in
your character, so you’re in charge, not the 10-siders. charge in your home community and what NPCs live
If you see something you think is interesting on a there.
table not designed for you, you’ll need to imagine a Each race has its own version of Table 2. Choose the
reason that your character had that experience. table that’s right for your race.
37
Your character has been through a lot before the adventure even begins.
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Table 1: Home Climate up in, go to Table 3 and follow the rest of the tables in
What is the land like where you were born and order to finish detailing your character.
raised? Roll twice on this table to find out.The first
roll determines the temperature range in your home- Roll Community Size
land, and the second determines the dominant ter- 01–05 Small Tribe. Life in your tiny community centers
rain type. This choice may have some bearing on the around hunting and gathering, herding, or subsis-
type of tesrain you find comfortable or the range of tence farming. Your tribe has 100 people or less.
your Knowledge (geography) and Knowledge (nobil- 06–10 Religious, Arcane, Monastic or Military Compound.
ity and royalty) skills. These communities tend to be close-knit and
When you’re done, go to the appropriate home focused on a single interest. Up to 200 people.
community table for your race. If you’re human, for 11–20 Frontier Homestead. Life on the frontier is spartan
example, go to Table 2a. and dangerous, but it encourages self-sufficiency.
Most homesteads include only one or two families.
Roll Temperature Zone 21–35 Thorp. These small settlements are usually little
01–15 Cold (arctic or subarctic). It’s cold all year long, more than a cluster of farmhouses. Population
although seasons are still discernible. The length of ranges from 20 to 80.
day and night changes greatly from season to sea- 36–55 Hamlet. Larger than thorps, hamlets have up to
son. 400 people.
16–65 Temperate. Cold winters, but warm summers. 56–75 Village. The smallest community that will support a
66–100 Warm (tropical and subtropical). Conditions are number of craftspeople. Population ranges from
warm year-round. 401 to 900.
76–80 Small Town. A town large enough to appear on
Roll Terrain most maps. Population up to 2,000.
01–10 Desert. Anyplace where precipitation and vegeta- 81–85 Large Town. Large towns serve as regional and
tion are rare. This could anything from a sandy provincial centers. Size ranges from 2,001 to 5,000
wasteland to a rugged field of lava. inhabitants.
11–30 Plains. Mostly flat and often cultivated by nearby 86–90 Small City. With up to 12,000 residents, small cities
settlements. are big enough to be the capitals of smaller nations.
31–45 Forest. Whether it’s a tangled jungle or sparser 91–95 Large City. The dominant city in a large country will
pines, trees are the dominant feature of the land- typically have between 12,001 and 25,000 inhabi-
scape. tants.
46–60 Hills. Includes highlands, cliff dwellings, and any 96–100 Metropolis. Only the largest cities in the world have
other rugged terrain. more than 25,000 residents.
61–70 Mountains. High altitude and rugged. Vegetation is
sparse above the tree line, but forests and mead- Table 2b: Home Community, Dwarf
ows predominate lower down. Dwarf communities tend to center on the mines that
71–80 Marsh. Includes swamps, moors, and other low, are central to the dwarven economy.
wet areas.
81–85 Aquatic. Includes shipboard life and any island Roll Community Size
small enough that the dominant terrain feature is 01–10 Single-Family Redoubt. You grew up on the edge of
the sea that surrounds it. Or perhaps you grew up dwarven civilization, far from the rest of your clan.
in an underwater city. . . . Interesting question: Why?
86–90 Underground. You grew up in a subterranean com- 11–20 Prospecting Camp. Anywhere from 5 to 20 dwarves
munity far beneath the surface world. call these camps home. Often they represent an
91–100 Nomadic People. You don’t have a specific home extended family attempting to strike it rich.
terrain because you migrated through more than 21–30 Small Mine. The mine could be mundane metals
one. If your character has this type of background, like iron or copper, precious stones like diamonds,
work with your DM to determine what suitable or something more exotic. Population ranges from
choices might be for the migration. 21 to 50.
31–45 Large Mine. Up to 200 dwarves work a mine of this
Table 2a: Home Community, Human size.
Humans in most games have a rural background. If 46–65 Delve. A delve includes a large mine, forge, and
you choose to play a character from a larger city, you smith works. Up to 500 dwarves live in each one.
38 should make sure to work with your DM to deter- 66–90 Large Delve. Like a delve, but with more extensive
mine the nature and location of that city. community structures and a population of up to
Once you know what size of community you grew 2,000.
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91–100 Human-Dominated Area. Dwarves raised in nond- away from the settlement and back to their wander-
warf settlements may be subject to unfair prejudice ing ways. Long-established halfling communities and
from their fellows for being “contaminated” by out- the halflings who live in them are considered quite
side ways. Determine the community size on Table strange by most of their fellows.
2a, above. Living Among
Roll Community Size Another People
Table 2c: Home Community, Elf 01–30 Clan. You grew up on the road There’s a chance that your
The elves in most games are creatures of the forest. with your extended family of up to character grew up as a minority
They live in quiet places far from noisy human settle- 50 halflings. in a community dominated by
ments or dangerous dwarven delves. 31–65 Troupe. These larger bands of another race. Perhaps you are a
wandering halflings number up to gnome living among the forest
Roll Community Size 100. elves, or a halfling thief in a
01–50 Encampment. These elven camps are at least semi- 66–80 Shire. Up to 500 halflings live in human city. A key question for
nomadic and support between 10 and 50 elves. these semipermanent villages. your character’s history: Why
51–85 Village. When an elven village forms, it is often a 81–90 Town. These towns are essentially did you grow up away from
loose grouping of related families or crafts rather shires that grew so much they your people? Here are some
than a regimented town like the humans build. could no longer pack up and possible answers:
Population ranges from 50 to 100 elves. move. Between 500 and 1,000
86–95 Elven City. Only a handful of these cities exist. They halflings live in a typical town.
• You were apprenticed to a
are the center of elven government. Between 2,000 91–95 County. Halflings refer to two or
master of a different race.
• Your family was exiled for
and 5,000 elves call them home. more towns within a day’s walk as
some crime, real or imagined.
96–100 Human-Dominated Area. For some reason, your a county; the most populous ones
• You were part of a diplomatic
home is among humans. Determine the communi- have close to 5,000 inhabitants.
or trade mission to a far-off
ty size on Table 2a, above. 96–100 Human-Dominated Area. Your
land.
family lives among the humans.
• You were stranded in a for-
Table 2d: Home Community, Gnome Determine the community size
eign community after some
Gnomes, a solitary people who pursue their own quiet with Table 2a.
calamity.
studies and enjoyment of the wild, do not tend to
group in large numbers. When they form clusters or Table 2f: Home Even if your character is an elf
gatherings, the area encompassed by the community Community, Half-Elf living among elves, perhaps
will still be quite large to give every family a sense of Apart, yet entangled with the worlds of minority status is still an issue.
space and privacy. their parents, half-elves never have an Maybe the elves you live among
easy time finding a place to call their are different in terms of culture
Roll Community Size own. Those who do often find such a or alignment. Or you are a
01–10 Solitary Family. Your family has found solitude. place outside the normal structures of member of a different subrace
Interesting question: Why did they crave it? either human or elf society. or ethnic group. Remember
11–40 Cluster. Between two and ten gnome families form that every unusual choice is an
a loosely-knit cluster settlement. The total popula- Roll Community Size opportunity for you to bring
tion can approach 100 gnomes. 01–20 Fringe Community. These settle- your character to life!
41–70 Gathering. Up to 1,000 gnomes call this “cluster of ments consist of 5 to 50 half-elves,
clusters” home. half-orcs, and other mixed breeds and outcasts.
71–80 Human-Dominated Area. Your family lives among 21–85 Human-Dominated Area. Your family lives among
the humans. Determine the community size with the humans. Determine the community size with
Table 2a. Table 2a.
81–90 Dwarven-Dominated Area. Your family lives among 86–100 Elven-Dominated Area. Your family lives among the
the dwarves. Determine the community size with elves. Determine the community size with Table 2c.
Table 2b.
91–100 Elven-Dominated Area. Your family lives among the Table 2g: Home
elves. Determine the community size with Table 2c. Community, Half-Orc
Half-orcs who are raised by an orc parent may rise to
Table 2e: Home great power in the orc community, provided they can
Community, Halfling survive the rigors of childhood. Half-orcs raised in
Most halflings are nomadic, ranging far and wide human communities are subject to a pervasive and
across the world. Even when a community of unending prejudice. They are a constant reminder 39
halflings settles, it is usually only for a generation or that orc and human are not as different as many
two. Soon, the call of the road pulls most families would like to believe.
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Roll Community Size 81–85 Arcane Order. As above, only the magic of wizards
01–20 Fringe Community. These settlements consist of 5 and sorcerers likely provides the resources.
to 50 half-orcs, half-elves, and other mixed breeds 86–90 Monastic Order. An order of monks have taken
What if My and outcasts. your family in. They live a spartan existence, and so
Wealth and Social 21–85 Human-Dominated Area. Your family does your family.
Standing Conflict? lives among the humans. Determine 91–95 Wealth Unimportant. For some reason, your fami-
Remember that Table 3 repre- the community size with Table 2a. ly’s economic status was difficult to measure. Per-
sents your family’s resources, 86–100 Orc-Dominated Area. Your family haps you lived a solitary life on the frontier as a
but Table 4 represents what lives among the orcs. Ask your DM trapper or scout, living entirely off the land.
others in your home commu- for information about the orc com- 96–100 Military Support. You and your family are depend-
nity think of your family. It’s munity. ents of someone in the military (probably an offi-
possible to be wealthy in terms cer). This means little direct income, but the army
of resources, but still consid- provides for your needs.
ered lower class—perhaps your FAMILY
family has a lucrative but dis- It’s said that you are who you are either Table 4: Family Social Standing
tasteful business. Likewise, lit- because of your parents or in spite of your How do other people in your community view your
erature is full of noble families parents. Whichever is the case for your family? If your family is prominent, their social stand-
who have fallen on hard times character, few factors have a greater influ- ing may extend to include surrounding areas, or per-
and can’t pay the bills. Such ence on you than your family. haps even the entire country!
unusual combinations make Note that throughout this section,
fertile soil for a good character “family” is intended in the broadest pos- Roll Social Standing
history. sible sense. Your family might be your 01–10 Newcomer. You and your family are settlers or
But if your choices from Table
fellow island castaways, the other beggars refugees in your home.
3 and Table 4 seem irreconcil-
in Fish-Eye Alley, or the kindly monks 11–15 Criminal. Members of your family may be guilty of
able—or they just don’t fit what
who took you in as an orphan. In fact, one crimes, or wrongly convicted of them. Either way,
you have in mind—simply roll
of the questions you should ask yourself other members of the community treat you poorly
or choose another entry on
as you use Tables 3 through 12 is “Who do as a result.
either table.
I consider family, exactly?” 16–20 Slave. Your family was considered another’s prop-
erty. Some slaves lead pampered if restricted lives,
Table 3: Family Economic Status while others do backbreaking manual labor.
How wealthy is your family? While this informa- 21–45 Lower Class. Most laborers and servants fall into
tion doesn’t have any direct bearing on the wealth of this category.
your character, it may be a useful bit of background 46–65 Skilled Trade or Merchant Family. You could be the
information to help describe your character’s atti- child of someone as simple as the village cobbler,
tudes. It’s also a good motivational hook for your or as complex as the weaponsmith for dwarf-king
DM. Arenduil.
66–75 Positive Religious, Arcane, Monastic or Military
Roll Terrain Affiliation. Your family is closely tied to a group
01–05 Orphan. You have no known family. Roll again on that’s generally well regarded by the community,
this table to find out who raised you. like a local church or helpful monastery.
06–15 Refugee. After fleeing some calamity or war, your 76–85 Negative Religious, Arcane, Monastic or Military
family owns nothing and has no regular income. Affiliation. As above, but you’re despised and dis-
16–40 Poor. Sometimes your family had to beg for food trusted by your home community. Perhaps your
and shelter. They own no property and income family is affiliated with the garrison of the invading
barely covers basic needs. army, or the mysterious wizards in the tower on
41–60 Moderate. Your family owns at least a small the hill.
dwelling or can make rent payments without signif- 86–95 Upper Class. Your family is considered the “upper
icant concern. The family’s income slightly exceeds crust” of your home community.
its needs. 96–100 Noble. Your family is at the very pinnacle of social
61–75 Wealthy. Your family owns a dwelling and may own standing in your community.
other property. Family income significantly exceeds
basic needs. Table 5: Family Defense Readiness
76–80 Religious Order. You were raised as part of a reli- When trouble comes knocking at the door, how will
40 gious order. While your “family” didn’t have much your family respond? In areas where conflict is rare,
direct income, it had access to resources through military training may seem quite extraordinary, even
its church. distasteful. In areas where the threat of danger is real
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and constant, not being prepared is viewed as the Table 7: Family Public Ethics
worst kind of stupidity. Regardless of what the actual ethics of the family may
be, the perception in the community may differ due
Dwarves in particular usually have some form of mar- to a variety of circumstances.
tial training due to the constant threat of danger from
their underground dwellings. Roll Public Ethics
01–60 Normal. Your family’s ethical reputation matches
Roll Readiness their private ethics.
01–10 None. Your family has no ability to defend them- 61–75 Undeserved. Whether your family is unfairly paint-
selves. ed as cheats or has a better reputation than they
11–20 Low. Your family maintains a low level of readiness deserve, it’s clear the community has the wrong
including a few weapons and an occasional discus- idea.
sion of how to defend against raiders or low-level 76–90 Recent Change. Family policy has changed for bet-
monsters. ter or worse, but the family’s reputation has not yet
21–40 Rudimentary. Most family members are versed in been affected. Interesting question: How did the
basics of using clubs, spears and knives in self- policy change, and why?
defense and defense of the family home. 91–100 Beyond Reproach/Beneath Contempt. Regardless
41–55 Medium. Your family trains actively in matters mar- of your family’s actual ethics, public opinion is so
tial and is prepared for combat with a few days of ingrained about your family that it’s essentially
last-minute preparation. unchangeable. You decide whether public opinion
56–70 High. Combat is a regular part of the lives of your is accurate or not.
family. Most adult members are veterans of some
combat, and martial weapons and training are Table 8: Family Religious
commonplace. Commitment
71–80 Outstanding. Your family has a tradition of military Does your family have a specific religious commit-
service, and family members are taught from birth ment? If you answer that question “Yes,” the obvious
to be courageous and stalwart companions when follow-up question is “Who?” Your family may wor-
battle is joined. The family armory contains magic ship a pantheon, a state religion, a group of deities
weapons and armor. based on alignment, or a “cosmic truth” like law or
81–90 Hired. Your family relies on outside protection such chaos. If you make an unusual choice, substitute that
as guards or mercenaries. option wherever the table references a “deity.”
91–95 Magical. Your family relies on magical protection. Remember that this represents your family’s reli-
96–100 Mixed. Your family has no consistent pattern of gion, not necessarily your own.
preparedness. Some members are very prepared
for combat, but others are unprepared or unwilling Roll Religious Commitment
to fight. 01–20 Neutral/Uninterested. Your family has no commit-
ment or an inconsistent family religious direction.
Table 6: Family Private Ethics 21–40 Strong. Your family is deeply committed to a
Some families have a shared ethos that impacts the patron deity (you choose which one).
decisions and actions of their members. In general, 41–60 Historical. Your family has worshiped a patron
small communities composed of relatives or near rel- deity (player choice) for years but may not observe
atives rarely tolerate shady or evil residents. religious commitments consistently.
61–70 Enmity. Your family has a historical conflict with
Roll Family Ethics followers of a particular deity (you decide which
01–25 Neutral. Your family has neutral ethics or no con- one).
sistent family ethical direction. 71–80 Participatory. Your family is a part of a religious
26–50 Fair. Your family holds to the letter of contracts and order.
agreements. 81–85 Open Heretics. Your family believes in a religious
51–75 Good. Your family is known for involvement in the movement considered heretical or dangerous by
community and acting to help others. the community at large.
76–90 Untrustworthy. Your family often tries to break 86–90 Hidden Heretics. As above, but your family hides
agreements or recant promises. this commitment from the public
91–100 Evil. Your family takes actions detrimental to the 91–100 Mixed. Your family openly venerates one deity while
community. privately venerating another. 41
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Table 9: Family Reputation 76–85 Dissident. Your family is secretly supporting a

You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your rel- rebellion or movement to overthrow the political
atives. This table describes how the community feels system or the existing rulers.
about your family, based on the behavior of its mem- 86–90 Radical. Your family is in open revolt against the
bers. current system and existing rulers.
This table overlaps a bit with Table 4 and Table 7, 91–100 Mixed. One part of your family supports the cur-
because all three answer the question “What do they rent system and/or rulers, and other faction is
think about your family?” Once again, if you get actively working to replace or remove that system
wildly different answers, brainstorm an unusual and/or rulers.
reason or simply roll or pick again.
Table 11: Family Power Structure
Roll Reputation How does your family organize itself? Most families
01–40 Unknown. Your family has no perceived character. have some form of structure, even if it is only the
Individuals are treated without regard to their fami- “respect” of a child for a parent.
ly name. The more complex the family business or intrigues,
41–55 Good. Your family is known as stalwart compan- the more detailed the family power structure should
ions. become.
56–65 Outstanding. Your family is known to produce
upstanding individuals but has an occasional bad Roll Power Structure
apple. 01–10 Unorganized. Your family has no internal organiza-
66–75 A Black Sheep or Two. In general, your family is tion. Family members are responsible for their own
upstanding, but one or more members of family actions.
are known to be disreputable. 11–30 Elders. The oldest members control your family.
76–90 Mostly Bad. Family is treated in general with con- 31–40 Patriarchy. The male members control your family.
tempt, but occasionally a family member has 41–50 Matriarchy. The female members control your family.
demonstrated positive qualities and earned 51–60 Oligarchy. The richest members control your family.
respect 61–70 Meritocracy. The members with the most talent
91–100 Bad. Others treat your family with contempt, and (usually ability in the family business) control your
every member is assumed to be disreputable. family.
71–90 Divided. One branch of the family follows one lead-
Table 10: Family Political Views ership structure, and one or more others follow a
Politics plays a big role in every family. Even in a quiet different structure.
kingdom with a beloved monarch, your family may 91–95 External. Your family is lead by an outsider; liege
have a strong and avowed commitment to supporting lord or other person to whom the family has sworn
the ruler and his/her family. support
A sense of discord with the current system can 96–100 Domination. A violent or dangerous family member
create any number of really interesting background rules your family through fear.
details for both you and your DM to use.
Table 12: Ancestors of Note
Roll Terrain Every family has its favored sons, gifted daughters,
01–15 Apolitical. Your family has no specific political and crazy aunts and uncles. If you want a truly strange
stance. family, roll on this table more than once.
16–30 Supportive. Your family supports the current politi- This table uses the term “ancestor” because it’s
cal structure and rulers. likely that these well-known people aren’t around to
31–40 Enfranchised. Your family is a part of the system influence the character’s career directly. But with
and supports it. your DM’s approval, there’s no reason you can’t simply
41–45 Enfranchised Progressive. Your family is a part of substitute “family member” for “ancestor” anywhere
the system but is open to suggestions for change. on this table.
46–50 Enfranchised Radical. Your family is a part of the Every ancestor you select should prompt you to
system but is actively seeking to change the sys- write a one- or two-sentence description of who that
tem. person was and why they matter to your family. This
51–65 Loyal Opposition. Your family supports the current information does not need to include a complete
political structure but favors a change of rulers. character template, just enough data for your DM to
42 66–75 Dissatisfied. Your family is unhappy with current use as hooks for an adventure and for you to have
political structure but satisfied the current rulers interesting stories to tell about your family.
are at least doing no real harm.
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Roll Ancestor 96 Cultist. An ancestor is known to have had an affilia-

01–49 None. Your family has no ancestors of note. tion with a dark god or evil cult.
50–55 Forgotten. Your family’s ancestors of note are 97 Villain. An ancestor was a terrible villain who
unknown or forgotten. Information about them caused great evil throughout the land.
could be revealed in a future adventure, however. 98 Prophecy. An ancestor was the focus of some great
56–60 Immigrant. An ancestor was a settler from a far-off omen.
land of which little is known. 99 God-touched. Your family is rumored to have pro-
61–63 Master artisan. An ancestor was an artisan of duced an ancestor who ascended to godhood or
unmatched skill who left a legacy of excellence that had meaningful contact with the gods in some way.
is still used as a standard gauge of quality. 100 Otherworldly. An ancestor is reputed to have come
64–66 Successful Merchant. An ancestor created a new from some place not of this world.
business, trade good, or trade route that continues
to contribute to the family’s finances.
67–69 Unsuccessful Merchant. An ancestor created a new EDUCATION
business, trade good, or trade route that has been No one is a trained fighter or wizard from birth.
bought, lost, or stolen from the family. Someone taught you how to swing that sword, pick
70–72 Cleric. Your family produced a cleric of some repute. that lock, or perform that religious ceremony. The fol-
73–75 Arcanist. Your family produced a wizard or sorcerer lowing tables learn what your education was like
of some repute. before the day you began adventuring. After that
76–77 Magic item. An ancestor owned a magic item of point, you’re on your own.
specific or unusual note that may (or may not)
have become a family heirloom. Table 13: Early Childhood
78 Spell Creator. An ancestor is reputed to have creat- Instruction
ed a spell that is now lost to common knowledge. All characters learn some basic skills as children. This
79 Item Creator. An ancestor is believed to have instruction may provide a direction for their later
forged a magic item of significant reputation. interests and careers. This table tells where you
80–81 Victorious Hero. Your family produced a great mili- focused as a child—your favorite subject.
tary leader who was ultimately victorious. Keep in mind that your skill selection should
82–83 Defeated Hero. Your family produced a great mili- reflect your childhood education. If you don’t want a
tary leader who was eventually defeated. particular skill suggested by this table, simply roll or
84 Successful Founder. An ancestor founded a com- choose another.
munity that still thrives.
85 Unsuccessful Founder. An ancestor founded a Roll Childhood Education Focus
community that has ceased to exist. 01–20 Outdoors. You learned basic wilderness survival
86 Successful Leader. An ancestor held a high position skills.
in the current political system. 21–40 Book Learning. You learned how to read and write.
87 Unsuccessful Leader. An ancestor held a high posi- 41–55 Religious. You learned the religious beliefs of your
tion in a discredited political system. community or family. Perhaps you embraced them,
88–90 Successful Hero. An ancestor is known to have or perhaps you rejected them.
been instrumental in completing a great quest, 56–65 Language. You learned a foreign language.
recovering an important artifact, or destroying a 66–75 Arts. You showed talent in singing, drawing, or
terrible monster or villain. another art.
91 Disbelieved Hero. An ancestor did complete a 76–85 Multicultural. You traveled or moved enough to
great quest, recover an important artifact, or killed learn that the world is a big place with many differ-
a terrible monster or villain, but no one believes ent people and places.
the story. 86–95 Business/Politics. You were curious about money
92 False Hero. An ancestor made up a story (com- or government.
monly accepted as fact) about completing a great 96–100 Magic. You showed an affinity for the arcane arts.
quest, recovering an important artifact, or killing a
terrible monster or villain. Table 14: Formal Education
93 Exile. An ancestor was once a king or noble who Most families that can afford it make sure their chil-
lost power and fled to a new land. dren get some formal schooling. Sometimes this edu-
94 Failed Rebel. An ancestor is known to have sup- cation is a part of an apprenticeship program, or it
ported a failed rebellion. may be a natural outgrowth of helping with the 43
95 Traitor. An ancestor is known to have betrayed the family business.
community or nation. It’s okay to use this table more than once, but
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make sure your choices here are backed up on your 61–70 Healing. You’ve learned the skills of a healer or
character sheet. herbalist.
71–75 Specialized. You’ve learned an unusual trade such
Roll Subject as bookkeeping or the law.
01–25 Agriculture. You learned farming and animal hus- 76–85 Military Training. Commoners typically become
bandry techniques. infantry or archers, and those with higher social
26–30 History. You learned basic local or national history. status become staff officers or squires.
31–35 Politics. You studied political philosophy. 86–90 Special Military Training. Examples include artillery,
36–40 Religion. You studied religious texts and philosophy. armorer, underdark scout, aide de camp, and logistics.
41–45 Natural History. You studied biology and geology. 91–95 Monastery/Knightly Order. You have been accepted
46–50 Multicultural. You studied comparative cultures of for training by an order of monks or paladins.
other races, or other nationalities. 96–100 Arcanist. You’ve been apprenticed to a wizard or
51–55 Arts. You learned to illustrate, sculpt, dance, or cre- sorcerer for arcane instruction.
ate art in other ways.
56–60 Literature. You read poetry and prose extensively,
and you have some skill in composition. LIFE EVENTS (THUS FAR)
61–65 Math. You learned basic mathematics. Life isn’t just training for a profession of course. Think
66–70 Advanced Math. You mastered more complex of your own life and all the events—good and bad—
mathematics. you’ve lived through. It’s likely that your character,
71–75 Astronomy. You studied the movement of the stars. growing up in a fantastic, dangerous world, has had at
Depending on the culture, this may include an least that many triumphs and tragedies.
astrological aspect.
76–85 Finishing School. You are educated in courtly man- Table 16: Early Childhood Events
ners and etiquette. Some events in early childhood have lasting impacts
86–95 School of Hard Knocks. Your time on the street on a character’s future development.
taught you minor thievery and con games.
96–100 Magic. You studied “defenses against the dark Roll Event
arts” and learned ways to fight monsters and battle 01–15 Survived Childhood Danger. Perhaps you were
the influence of black magic. menaced by a dangerous creature or kidnapped by
raiders.
Table 15: Learning a Trade 16–30 Survived Major Danger to Community. Flood,
For most characters, the idea of making a living as an famine, plague, or another calamity struck when
adventurer starts as little more than a dream. Instead, you were a child.
most characters are apprenticed to a trade, 31–45 Undertook a Long Journey. This could be a one-way
Quiet Lives Are Rare inducted into the religious or military or two-way trip. You decide where you went and why.
Some characters have idyllic, order the family is affiliated with, brought 46–55 Witness. You saw a horrible crime or violent event.
quiet childhoods—but not as into the family business, sent to the fields 56–60 Astronomical Event. You were born under a
many as you’d think. These for planting and harvesting, or given strange moon, a comet in the sky, or some other
tables assume that your charac- some other task-related instruction. phenomenon.
ter’s childhood and youth had 61–65 Personal Epiphany. You had an earthshaking brush
at least a few dramatic—if not Roll Trade with greatness, such as meeting a king or being
traumatic—events. If you want 01–20 Farmer. You helped plant, weed, and contacted directly by a god.
a peaceful childhood, just skip harvest a crop. 66–75 Became a Refugee. War or some other disaster
these tables. 21–30 Hunter/Trapper. You’ve spent time ruined your community.
Conversely, if you want even seeking animal skins or meat in the 76–85 Death in the Family. You lost a parent or other sig-
more events to work with, feel wilderness. nificant family member.
free to roll or choose more than 31–40 Craft. You’ve learned a craft (any of 86–95 Illness. You contracted a lingering sickness or
once from the tables in this sec- the categories possible for the Craft developed a congenital defect.
tion. It’s your character! skill). 96–100 Injury or Physical Defect. This can range from
41–50 Religious. You’ve had advanced burns and scars to more serious defects.
studies in a formal church setting.
Includes training as an acolyte or Table 17: Youth Events
special functionary for religious Many characters get their first sense of the wide
44 practice. world they live in during their teenage years. Use this
51–60 Politics. You’ve been apprenticed to a political or table to determine what exciting or heartbreaking
bureaucratic functionary. events were the highlights of your character’s youth.
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Roll Event 86–95 Community Crisis. This includes structural prob-

01–15 Battle. You aided in the defense of the community lems like earthquake, climate shifts, famine, and
against raiders or a marauding monster. repeated waves of plague.
16–25 Adventure. You participated in a minor adventure 96–100 Religious Awakening. A new faith is created, a
such as building a homestead or working on a car- schism tears an existing faith apart, or a prophecy
avan on a new route. is announced, for example.
26–35 Politics. Perhaps you spoke on behalf of a political
movement or candidate, or stood up to an abuse
of authority. RELATIONSHIPS
36–50 Great Romance. Lingering effects may include a jilt- Next we’ll turn our attention away from events and
ed lover or a current relationship—and a reputa- toward people. By populating your character’s world
tion for boorishness or tenderness. with interesting family, friends, and
51–60 Religion. You served the character’s faith in a minor enemies, you make the world seem Be Relatively
capacity, perhaps including a minor vow or oath. more real, and you give your DM all Knowledgeable
61–70 Arcane. You displayed an innate talent for arcane kinds of tools to make adventures more Throughout this section, you’ll
spellcasting or an affinity for magic. Perhaps others exciting. Perhaps your sister gets kid- be determining who the impor-
took notice, or maybe you kept it a secret. napped. Or maybe your uncle is now tant people are in your charac-
71–80 Healing. You cared for a recovering family member the captain of the watch, and he’ll let ter’s life. These tables provide
or hero. you sneak into the tower if you can get a only the very basics, but you
81–95 Crime. You broke the law. Either you got caught certain flower for his wife. . . . can supply the rest.
and suffered some form of punishment, or you Here are some things you’ll
learned how to dodge the consequences and sur- Table 19: Parents want to decide about your char-
vive. Probably the most important basic rela- acter’s relatives:
96–100 Discovery. You found a unique aptitude or talent tionship a character has is with his or
such as extremely keen vision or a knack for ventril- her parents. • Alive or dead. And if a relative
oquism. If previous tables have told you about is deceased, how did happen?
your parents, you may want to choose How old were you at the time?
Table 18: Pivotal Events an entry on this table, rather than roll • Gender. Your mother is obvi-
Some events are so significant that they change the one. ous, but your youngest sibling
entire course of a character’s life. These events are not isn’t.
necessarily tied to a specific age or experience level Roll Parent Status • Occupation. Are your siblings
but might occur at any time. Remember that you 01–55 Two Living Parents. Both are alive old enough to work for a
don’t have to use this table if you don’t want to. and healthy. living? Have your parents
For many, this table represents the last significant 56–65 One Living Parent. You choose retired?
thing that happened to your character before the first which one is alive, and how the • Location. Where do they live?
adventure begins. other one passed away.
66–70 Both Parents Dead. Again, you The answers to these questions
Roll Event choose the circumstances. are up to you, of course. If
01–55 No Pivotal Events. Tables 16 and 17 cover the most 71–80 One Ill. One parent has a long you’re feeling particularly ambi-
dramatic aspects of your past. term illness or infirmity. tious, try running your charac-
56–65 Refugee. As a result of some calamity, you were 81–85 Both Ill. Both parents have a long ter’s relatives through some of
forced to become a displaced person. term illness or infirmity. the tables in this chapter, or
66–70 Cultural Shift. A large, cohesive group moves to 86–95 Parents Lost or Unknown. You sketch out your character’s
your home community, creating friction with the may learn more about them in a family tree.
existing community. As a result, you’re exposed to future adventure, of course.
a new culture and new challenges. Your DM may 96–100 Adoptive or Foster Parents. You can repeat this
have some ideas on exactly who the new popula- table to determine their status, if you like.
tion is and why they arrived.
71–75 Under Siege. Attacks from organized raiders menace Table 20: Siblings
the community over a substantial period of time. Second only to the parent/child relationship is the
76–80 Climactic Battle. A significant monster or villain relationship between a child and siblings. This table
threatens the community and is eventually either determines how many brothers and sisters you have.
destroyed or driven off.
81–85 All-Out War. An armed conflict engulfs your com- Roll Siblings 45
munity. This can be a traditional war, a revolution, 01–25 No Siblings. You are an only child.
or an invasion by a monstrous host. 26–45 Oldest. You have 1d4 younger siblings.
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46–75 Middle. You have 1d3 older siblings and 1d3 16–30 Lost. A significant friend is dead or missing.
younger siblings. 31–50 Few. You don’t make friends easily, but you’re a
76–95 Youngest. You have 1d4 older siblings. good friend to them. You have a few close friends.
96–100 Twin. You have a fraternal twin, identical twin, or 51–80 Some. You have several friends who are compan-
two triplet siblings. ions or associates but who aren’t intimately close
to you.
Table 21: Grandparents 81–100 Many. You have light and pleasant relationships
Many humans have living grandparents. In the with many people but few if any significant ties.
longer-lived races, grandparents or great-grandpar-
ents are even more common. You should decide how Table 24: Enemies
many of your character’s elders are still a part of the Enemies, from local bullies to major villains, can
character’s life. shape your life as much as your more positive rela-
tionships. At the least, a good set of enemies provides
Roll Grandparents your DM with an excellent foil for heroic adventures!
01–20 No Grandparents. You remember them, but they This is another table you can roll on more than
have passed away. once, if you want.
21–30 Mother’s Parents Alive. Father’s parents are
deceased. Roll Enemy
31–40 Father’s Parents Alive. Mother’s parents are 01–15 No Enemies. Yet. . . .
deceased. 16–25 Minor Childhood Enemy. Someone harbors a
41–60 One Grandparent on Each Side. You choose which grudge or a prejudice against you but has no cur-
ones. rent basis for the antagonism.
61–70 Three Grandparents Alive. Again, you choose. 26–30 Jilted Lover. You wronged someone in a matter of
71–80 Great-Grandparent alive. At least one, maybe more. the heart.
Make a note of how many and who they are. Roll 31–35 Jilted Lover’s Friend or Relative. Someone harbors
again to check on your grandparents. ill feelings for you due to your actions toward a
81–100 Grandparents unknown. They died before you were loved one.
old enough to remember them. 36–40 Romantic Rival. You edged someone out in some
affair of the heart, and they hold a grudge.
Table 22: Extended Family 41–50 Enemy of the Family. Your family has earned the
This table includes uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, enmity of a person, group, or opposing family.
links by marriage, links broken by marriage dissolu- 51–55 The Enemy of My Friend Is My Enemy. One of your
tion, etc. The tangle of familial relationships can be as friends has an enemy, and now that person hates
detailed or as simple as you desire. you, too.
56–60 Social Rival. You wronged someone (either actually
Roll Extended Family or only in that person’s imagination) in a social or
01–10 None. You have no living relatives beyond the ones business context.
you’ve already created. 61–65 Villain. One or more local villains have chosen to
11–20 No Known Relatives. You have other relatives out direct their hatred toward you, perhaps because of
there somewhere, but you don’t know who or how some minor adventure you completed.
many. 66–70 Monster. One or more local monsters view you as a
21–55 Few Living Relatives. You have 1d10 living relatives. threat, perhaps as a result of some minor encounter.
56–90 Many Living Relatives. You have 2d12 living relatives. 71–75 Alignment Enemy. A person of an opposed align-
91–100 Huge Extended Family. You know dozens of rela- ment has a philosophical beef with you.
tives of various generations. 76–80 Political Enemy. A noble, officer, or other high-rank-
ing official looks on you with disfavor, maybe due
Table 23: Friends to your lack of manners (real or perceived) or
These friends might actually be other heroes that because you inadvertently spoiled the enemy’s
your character will adventure with, or they may be secret plans.
NPCs for your DM to use for mood, setting, or plot. 81–85 Arcane Rival. A fellow apprentice or student of the
In any event, create as many or as few as you feel nec- arcane arts develops an intense dislike for you. Per-
essary, in as much detail as you wish. haps you were the instructor’s favorite. . . .
86–90 Diabolic Enemy. A demon, devil, or other powerful
46 Roll Friends outsider identifies you as a current or future threat.
01–15 No Friends. You are a loner by choice or circum- 91–95 Enemy Within. Someone in your family hates and
stance. fears you, either openly or secretly.
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96–100 Imaginary Foe. You falsely believe that someone is advanced military, religious, or arcane techniques.
out to get you. 51–55 Angry. You have angered or otherwise alienated an
instructor of note.
Table 25: Instructors 56–60 Vanished. The instructor who taught you everything
Many people form strong bonds with teachers, men- you know has vanished.
tors, superior officers, etc. For the purpose of this 61–65 Favor. A favorite instructor of note has requested
table, we’ll call them instructors. This relationship an oath or service from you (describe the oath or
provides not only excellent basis for creating NPCs, service).
but also suggests what your 1st-level class might be. 66–70 Unrelated. The person who taught you the most
Once you’ve checked this table, make a note of your isn’t actually in your area of expertise.
instructor’s name, location, etc.—and decide whether 71–80 Unrelated. The person who taught you the most
your instructor is still alive. isn’t actually in your area of expertise.
81–90 Lower Class. As above, but the instructor is much
Roll Instructor lower class than you are.
01–15 No Instructors of Note. Either they were forget- 91–95 Other Race. Your favorite instructor of note is of a
table, or you taught yourself. different race than you (choose one).
16–40 Basic. A particularly good instructor taught you the 96–100 Exotic. The instructor of note is exotic (nonhu-
basic skills (choose alive or dead, note NPC details) manoid, outsider, etc.)
41–50 Advanced. A top-notch instructor taught you more Congratulations. You’re done!
Example: Lucinda the 15). The pivotal event of her teen years (Table 18) was
Half-Orc Paladin a religious awakening—in short, the discovery of her
Let’s suppose Jack wants a new 1st-level character vocation as a paladin.
for a campaign Dave is starting up. He decides on a As things come together, Jack skims over the
half-orc, thinking it’d be a nice change of pace from remaining tables. He already knows that both her
the humans and halflings he usually plays. All the parents are dead, but he rolls anyway on Table 19 to
PCs will come from the same area, but since the DM discover if her mentor, the priest of Pelor who
hasn’t decided on the starting location yet, Jack raised her, is still alive—the result being 67, he
skips Table 1 for now. Rolling on Table 2g, he finds decides the old man died recently, freeing her for an
that his half-orc grew up in a human-dominated adventuring career. Because the character may well
area—no surprise there. Rolling on Table 3, he dis- have living relatives—an aunt or uncle, cousins, or
covers that his character is an orphan, so he skips even a grandparent or two (either full-human or
over Tables 4 through 12 for now—some of this full-orc), he tells the DM that discovering her rela-
may prove important later on, but he wants his char- tives, if any, will be a long-term goal of the character
acter to start the game without knowledge of them, but makes no rolls on Tables 20 through 22 at this
a self-reliant solitary. time.
Checking Table 13, he finds his half-orc had a reli- In keeping with his conception of the character,
gious upbringing. Skimming over Tables 14 and 15, whom he names Lucinda (an unorclike name, sig-
he toys briefly with the idea of a half-orc cleric, a nifying that this is a very unusual half-orc), as a soli-
foundling brought up since childhood by a monastic tary, he decides she has no friends (Table 23). Look-
order and trained to follow in their footsteps. How- ing at Table 24, he also decides that she has no spe-
ever, on Table 16 he rolls 03, “survived childhood cial enemy—she has not forgotten the mob that
danger” and on Table 17 he rolls 90, “crime.” Putting killed her family but no longer has contact with any
these together with the character’s orphanhood, Jack of its members and has no wish to hunt them all
gets a new idea for the character’s backstory. The down one by one. Instead of pursuing vengeance,
childhood danger, he decides, is the same event that her goal is to achieve justice by preventing a similar
left her an orphan; the crime took place, but she was tragedy from befalling another.
its victim, not the criminal. Since half-orcs have tra- With plenty of blank spots to be filled out as the
ditionally been viewed with distrust and suspicion in character grows and plenty of adventure hooks for
their campaigns, he decides his half-orc’s parents the DM and player to exploit, Jack now has a strong,
were adventurers killed by an angry mob. Only the dramatic personal history for his new character that
child escaped, to be taken in by a kindly cleric who defines her and enables him to judge how she will
raised her in the ways of his faith. Thus her formal react in any number of situations. Lucinda is already 47
training (Table 14) is religious, but mindful of her much more than just a list of stats: her personality,
parents’ fate, she is self-trained in combat skills (Table motivation, and goals are clear right from the start.
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SELECTING AN ALIGNMENT
Selecting an Relationship to Family

Family elders are expressing disapproval of you to the
Alignment rest of the family. Do you:
___Accept the criticism and change your ways (G + 2)
Your character has a unique view of the world, of right ___Seek a compromise with the elders (G + 1)
and wrong, of fairness and natural rights. The follow- ___Besmirch the reputation of the elders as you ignore
ing sections will provide some guidance to you in their scorn (E + 1)
determining how your character will relate to various ___Silence the elders any way you can (E + 2)
moral and ethical choices encountered during the
game. Would you give up a promising career to aid the
family in time of need?
___In a heartbeat (G + 2)
WHAT ALIGNMENT ___Yes, with some reluctance (G + 1)
___Only if I was certain I’d be able to return to my
MEANS career soon (N + 1)
Alignment is central to a D&D character’s personality. ___No (N + 2)
D&D uses two measures to determine a specific char-
acter’s ethical and moral attitudes and behavior. Would you betray a family member to advance your
The moral axis has three positions: good, neutral own career?
and evil. Good characters generally care about the ___Yes, without a twinge of guilt (E + 2)
welfare of others. Neutral people generally care about ___Yes, if I could do it secretly (E + 1)
their own welfare. Evil people generally seek to harm ___I’d resist the temptation (N + 1)
the others’ welfare. ___I find the very idea abhorrent (N + 2)
The ethical axis has three positions as well: lawful,
neutral, and chaotic. Lawful people generally follow Do you respect the leaders of your family?
the social rules as they understand them. Neutral ___Their words guide my actions (L + 2)
people follow those rules find convenient or obvi- ___They’re role models for me (L + 1)
ously necessary. And chaotic people seek to upset the ___They’re often out of touch with my life (C + 1)
social order and either institute change, or simply ___They’re out of touch with reality (C + 2)
create anarchy.
Below is a short quiz you can take “in character,” If your family had arranged your marriage to some-
answering the questions as your character would. one loathsome, would you:
Keep track of the scores attached to six letters (G, E, N, ___Go through with it, proud to serve your family (L + 2)
L, C, and X), because the results will suggest an align- ___Agree, hiding your reluctance (L + 1)
ment for your character. ___Subtly work against the union (X + 1)
Before you begin, keep in mind these caveats. ___Flee (X + 2)
• You’ll undoubtedly want more information about
the question, and more options than the answers You’re estranged from a family member. On his
presented to you. Just do the best you can, and skip deathbed, he seeks a reconciliation. Do you:
a question completely if you’re totally stuck. ___Speak to him, but hold your ground (C + 1)
• Note that some questions are interested in correla- ___Refuse to speak to him (C + 2)
tions to behavior, not the behavior itself. For ___Discuss your estrangement openly and without
example, lawful people tend to work at secure rancor (X + 1)
jobs—this doesn’t mean that working a steady job ___Actively seek reconciliation, and heed his dying
makes you lawful. words (X + 2)
• Remember that certain character classes have
codes of conduct that fall beyond the dictates of Relationship to Friends
alignment. Paladins, for example, aren’t just sup- A powerful but corrupt judge offers you wealth if
posed to be lawful and good. They are expected to you’ll testify against a friend. Do you:
act humble, pious, and chivalric as well. ___Condemn your friend and take the money (E + 2)
• This quiz assumes a typical D&D setting, which is a ___Take the money and testify, but try to keep your tes-
mix of fantasy elements, medieval ideas, and epic timony ineffective (E + 1)
myth seen through modern eyes. If your setting is ___Refuse the offer and refuse to testify (G + 1)
48 vastly different (or your fellow players are), you ___Testify on your friend’s behalf, no matter the conse-
may get very different answers to this quiz. quences (G + 2)
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Do you become close to friends, or hold most people ___Flee as soon as things look grim (E + 1)
at a safe distance? ___Cut a deal with the invaders to act as Essay Questions
___I have an abundance of close friends (G + 2) a spy (E + 2) You don’t really have to write
___I have some close friends (G + 1) essays for these questions, of
___I have few close friends (N + 1) If you were injured and required imme- course. But give them some
___I try to keep people at a distance (N + 2) diate assistance, would members of thought—they may give you
your home community agree to help? ideas that will enrich your char-
Have you ever betrayed a friend? ___Yes, because they know I’d do the acter’s personality.
___I’ve done so more than once, and I sometimes get same for them (N + 2)
away with it (E + 2) ___Yes, because I’m generally well liked Family
___I’ve done so once (E + 1) (N + 1) • What are some things (posi-
___I’ve been tempted to do so, but I’ve never gone ___Probably not, because I’m distrusted tive or negative) that your
through with it (N + 1) by the powers that be (E + 1) family has done for you?
___I’d never contemplate such a thing (N + 2) ___Definitely not. I’ve made some ene- • Do you have a favorite rela-
mies here (E + 2) tive? Least favorite relative?
How do you view lifelong commitment to a single
romantic partner? Do you respect the laws and authorities Friends
___I’m waiting to find such a romance (L + 2) in the community? • Tell a tale of when a friend
___Such a romance would be ideal—if it’s achievable ___Yes, without question (L + 2) made a big sacrifice for you.
(L + 1) ___Yes, they’re generally the best way to Or when one betrayed you.
___I worry I’d miss out on what others have to offer govern (L + 1) • Describe your most recent
(C + 1) ___When it suits me—there are some romantic relationship.
___Tie yourself to one person? Huge mistake (C + 2) laws I just don’t agree with (C + 1)
Community
___I don’t pay attention to the authori-
• Describe what “home” means
Do you insist on repayment when lending money to ties; they’ve got no hold on me (C + 2)
to you.
friends?
• If you were in charge of your
___Yes, and I write up a contract so there’s no misun- Do members of the community shun,
community, how would
derstanding (L + 2) avoid, or mock you?
things change?
___Yes, but I try to be flexible about the exact terms ___Yes, their small minds can’t handle
(L + 1) anyone outside the norm (C + 2) Country
___No, although it’s sure nice to be repaid (X + 1) ___Some do, because I don’t always fit in • What aspects of your govern-
___No, they just owe me a favor (X + 2) (C + 1) ment do you oppose
___No, I’m generally seen as normal (X strongly? Support strongly?
Are you still in touch with childhood friends? + 1) • What personal connections
___Yes, we correspond regularly (X + 2) ___No, I set the standard for what is do you have to authority fig-
___Yes, we try to keep in touch (X + 1) normal in my community (X + 2) ures in the government?
___No, I move around too much (C + 1)
___No, I don’t have anything in common with them Would you stand for office or seek to Crime
anymore (C + 2) represent the interests of the commu- • Describe your contacts with
nity in some public manner? the justice system.
Relationship to Community ___To do so would be an honor I’d joy- • What is the worst crime you
Do you donate time and money to improve the local ously accept (L + 2) ever committed, and why did
community? ___Of course. It’s everyone’s duty to do you do it? Did you escape
___Yes, the needs of the community are my top prior- so (L + 1) punishment?
ity (G + 2) ___Only if no one else could handle the
___Yes, I donate as much as I can once my own needs job (X + 1) Business
are met (G + 1) ___No, I don’t want to be responsible for • What’s your dream job?
___No, I don’t have enough time or money to spare the community’s welfare (X + 2) • Is wealth an end unto itself, or
(N + 1) just a means to an end? If the
___No, my local community would be a waste of time Relationship to King and latter, what’s the end?
and money (N + 2) Country
Your country is wracked with famine. Would you:
Your community is threatened with invasion. Do you: ___Share what food you had with others (G + 2)
___Help defend it to your last breath (G + 2) ___Eat as little as possible yourself, and share the rest 49
___Man the barricades with the rest of the community (G + 1)
(G + 1) ___Steal what food you needed to survive (E + 1)
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___Steal as much food as possible, then sell it back to Do you accept a noble’s right to treat badly the serfs
the community at a high price (E + 2) who work on his land?
___Yes. They’re lucky they’re not slaves (N + 2)
If offered enough money, would you slip a poison ___Yes, because sometimes only fear will motivate
into your king’s drink? them (N + 1)
___Yes, and I’ve done similar things before (E + 2) ___No, nobles should rule as kindly as possible (G + 1)
___Yes, if I thought I could get away with it (E + 1) ___No one has any “right” to treat another badly.
___No, although a vast sum of money would tempt me Period. (G + 2)
(N + 1)
___No, and I’d warn the king of the plot (N + 2) You have accidentally committed a crime. Do you:
___Confess, and attempt to make restitution to the
A plague is sweeping across your country. Would you: victim (G + 2)
___Undertake a dangerous mission to find a cure (G + 2) ___Confess, throwing yourself on the mercy of the
___Heal the sick as best you can (G + 1) court (G + 1)
___Avoid contact with the sick (N + 1) ___Hide your involvement, lying if you have to (E + 1)
___Flee the country (N + 2) ___Try to pin the crime on another (E + 2)
Do you respect the lawful authority of the rulers of If guilty, would you confess to a crime?
the land? ___Yes, because it is my duty to do so (L + 2)
___Yes. Long live the queen! (L + 2) ___Yes, because it might get me a lighter sentence (L + 1)
___Yes, our rulers are generally fair and just (L + 1) ___No, I’d make the magistrates prove my guilt (X + 1)
___No, a ruler is no better than anyone else (C + 1) ___No, and I’d try to “prove” my innocence (X + 2)
___No, rulers are invariably corrupted by power (C + 2)
Would you express a revolutionary political opinion if
If you were offered a reasonably lucrative deal, would threatened with punishment?
you spy for a hostile foreign power? ___Yes, I’d rather be punished than remain silent. Up
___Yes, because my nation could stand to be knocked the revolution! (C +2)
down a peg (C + 2) ___Yes. Somebody’s got to speak the truth (C + 1)
___Yes, because my nation’s secrets mean little to me ___No, although I might privately express my opinion
(C + 1) to friends (X + 1)
___No, because I might get caught (X + 1) ___No, politics aren’t worth getting worked up about
___No, because I’d never violate the trust my nation (X + 2)
put in me (X + 2)
While traveling, you witness an assault. You are
Do you rely on the government to enforce contracts ordered to testify, which will delay your travel signif-
and property rights? icantly. Do you:
___Yes, because maintaining the rule of law is more ___Slip out of town at night to avoid testifying (C + 2)
important than any individual dispute (L + 2) ___Deny you saw anything (C + 1)
___Yes, because the courts are best equipped to handle ___Remain reluctantly, testify, and leave (L + 1)
such disputes (L + 1) ___Remain until the trial’s conclusion in case further
___Are you kidding me? The government can’t even testimony is needed (L + 2)
pave roads (X + 1)
___Absolutely not. If I can’t defend it myself, I don’t Thoughts on Business and the
deserve to have it (X + 2) Economy
What is the best use of wealth?
Thoughts on Crime and Punishment ___To help the destitute and less fortunate (G + 2)
If imprisoned, would you injure or kill others to ___Provide for the needs of friends and family (G + 1)
escape? ___To stay on top of the heap yourself (E + 1)
___Yes. Serves ’em right for locking me up (E + 2) ___To not only stay on top, but keep others from climb-
___Yes. They knew the risks when they took the job ing to your level (E + 2)
(E + 1)
___No, except for minor wounds that will heal easily When confronted by beggars, do you:
(N + 1) ___Give generously (G + 2)
50 ___No. Those guards are just doing their jobs (N + 2) ___Give moderately (G + 1)
T11647_620_00Hero.qxd 8/7/00 2:23 PM Page 51
___Give only what I wouldn’t miss anyway—a copper score was 5, X score was 10, and C score was 3, you’re
or two at most (N + 1) neither lawful nor chaotic, but neutral. Overall, such
___Ignore them as you walk by (N + 1) a character would be neutral good.
Keep in mind the alignment suggested by the quiz
By using magic, you could fool village merchants into is just that: a suggestion. It describes your character
thinking your copper pieces were made of gold. Do no better than a 36-question test would describe you.
you? But it’s a good way to start thinking about how your
___Yes, and I’ll buy as much as I can (E + 2) character acts when confronted with issues of align-
___Yes, but I’ll only cheat the rich merchants (E + 1) ment.
___No, it’s too risky (N + 1) Now that your character has taken the test, make a
___No, those merchants have families to feed (N + 2) note of which questions scored in the opposite direc-
tion from your overall alignment. These exceptions
You have two job offers. One pays more, but the other can tell some interesting tales about your character
is secure and steady. Which do you choose? Are you a good character with a greedy streak? Are
___Definitely the lucrative job; steady work sounds you a lawful character who can’t stand the village
like drudgery (X + 2) elders? Don’t just roleplay your alignment—roleplay
___Probably the lucrative job, although I’d look into your alignment exceptions, too. Few characters per-
the secure job (X + 1) fectly embody their alignment choice.
___The secure job, unless the other job was outra-
geously lucrative (L + 1)
___Definitely the secure job, because I plan for the CHANGING AN
long term (L + 2) ALIGNMENT
From time to time (say every three to five levels), it
What’s the best path to wealth? might be a good idea to retake this alignment test to
___It’s a matter of luck and being in the right place at see whether your character is experiencing “align-
the right time (C + 2) ment drift.” Perhaps you intended him to walk the
___Staying flexible so you can take advantage of good straight and narrow, but (having fallen in with bad
opportunities (C + 1) company), he’s becoming increasingly comfortable
___Following a long-term plan that incorporates a with behavior that would make his mentors blush. Or
comfortable level of risk (L + 1) perhaps you intended her as a hard-bitten cynic, yet
___Hard work and perseverance (L + 2) find that she’s the one who makes sure the rescued
survivors get safely back to town, sometimes slipping
If you accepted a job or contract, would you try to them a few gold pieces to replace their losses.
finish the task even if it got much more dangerous? Don’t despair: People change over time, and charac-
___Yes, my word is my bond (X + 2) ters do too. Some become more lawful (there’s noth-
___Yes, because it’s good to have a reputation for ing like amassing a stockpile of loot to make you want
dependability (X + 1) banditry and thieving to stop). Others relax their ear-
___You can bet I’d be renegotiating (C + 1) lier strictures to embrace a more flexible approach.
___If it’s no longer a good deal, then the deal is off The alignment you choose while creating the charac-
(C + 2) ter may not be the alignment that best fits how you
play that character. Retaking the test later on also has
Scoring the Test the advantage that, instead of abstract conditions, you
First, look at your G, N, and E scores. As you’ve proba- can plug in specific examples of how the character
bly guessed, L, X, and C represent lawful, neutral behaved when faced with any of the situations out-
(with respect to law and chaos) and chaotic. lined in the “test.”
Whichever score is the highest is your most likely Note that some characters (paladins, clerics,
alignment. monks) suffer consequences of shifting alignment.
Likewise, G stands for good, N stands for neutral Consider this test a qualifying exam for beginning
(with regard to good and evil), and E stands for evil. characters in this class (“Well, you seem to score poor-
Your likely alignment is the highest of those three ly on lawfulness, Sir Eadgar—are you sure you want
scores. to be a paladin?”) and a moral and ethical compass for
For example, if you had a G score of 11, N score of those already on their chosen path.
4, and E score of 3, you’re probably good. If your L
51
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PLANNING YOUR FUTURE CAREER
Planning
YOur Future
Career
By now you know what kind of character you are at
the moment you start your first adventure. But what
next? What does your character aspire to?
One of the most enjoyable aspects of D&D is set-
ting a long-term goal for your character, then making
it happen. Some NPCs may roll their eyes when your
teenage character announces that someday you’ll
become the best archer in the realm. But after years of
adventuring, you might just achieve that goal.
Give some thought to what you want your charac-
ter to be at 5th, 10th, and 15th level, not just 1st level.
Perhaps there’s a particular spell you dream of casting,
or a magic item you fancy. Maybe your goal is less tan-
gible: to be remembered in song, or to earn your
estranged father’s approval.
One compelling goal to work toward are the pres-
tige classes in Chapter 2: Characters of the DMG. If
you aspire to become a dwarven defender or loremas-
ter, for example, you’ll need to start earning the feats Perhaps someday you’ll be the ultimate archer,
and skills that’ll get you into that class someday. but today you’re the ultimate frustration.
Below we’ve charted out ten possible directions to
take your character, and a road map to guide your Key Feats: A 1st-level human fighter can take three
decision as you earn levels. Feel free to combine or feats. Here are the best choices for the ultimate
change them as you see fit. Consider them just a few archer.
of the hundreds of careers that a D&D guidance
counselor might suggest. • Point Blank Shot. You get +1 to bow attacks and +1
to damage within 30 feet, and it’s a prerequisite to
most other archer feats.
THE ULTIMATE ARCHER • Precise Shot. You’ll vastly increase your efficiency
With uncanny accuracy, her first arrow severed the hang- as an archer (and your usefulness to the group) if
man’s rope. Her second stopped the guard’s bolt in mid-flight, you can fire into melee without penalty.
and her third buried itself deep in the duke’s black heart. • Rapid Shot. An extra arrow fired every round is
Preferred Race: Elf, half-elf, half-orc, human. nothing to sneeze at.
Halflings, while too small for a good draw on a long-
bow, can follow a similar path to become expert in the At 2nd level, add Weapon Focus in either composite
shortbow. shortbow or composite shortbow, for another +1
Class: Fighter—it’s all about the feats and Attack bonus to all bow attacks whatever the range. At 3rd
bonus. Ranger makes a second-best alternative, lack- level, Improved Initiative helps you get the drop on
ing the extra feats but otherwise a good match (armor your foes. At 4th level, Weapon Specialization adds +2
and fighting style go well with the archer archetype). damage to each point-blank attack. At 6th level, add
It’s often hard to close to melee range with foes in a Quick Draw, which makes it a free action to ready
forest setting without alerting them, but it’s relatively your bow if you didn’t have it out already and allows
easy for someone with woodcraft skills to unobtru- quick switches from bow to sword when closing for
sively creep into bow range. melee.
Ability Scores: Your best score should go to Dex- Thereafter the sequence varies depending on how
terity (increases attack bonus), the second best to you want to customize your archer. Shot on the Run
Strength (can increase damage per arrow). Any (move, shoot, move) and Far Shot (increasing your
52 remaining good scores should go into Wisdom or range increments by 50%) are good at 8th and 9th
Intelligence, making it easier to identify targets— level. If you find yourself fighting in the dark a lot,
and a cunning archer makes a deadly sniper. opt for Blind-Fight at 10th level or earlier. If yours is
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one of the rare groups that fights from horseback, SWASHBUCKLER

you’ll need Mounted Combat and Mounted Archery. The odds were five to one against her, but her foes had
Run is always useful, whether to get to cover quickly, already begun to run as soon as she drew her sword—they
close for melee combat, or flee. Alertness goes well recognized the famous blade and realized just whom they
with your target-detection skills and can help you were facing.
avoid ambushes. And Deflect Arrow can keep you Preferred Race: Human, half-elf. The half-elf lags
from being on the receiving end of the same sort of one feat behind her human swashbuckler counter-
attacks you’re so good at visiting upon others. part, but her racial abilities can compensate for this.
Elven and half-elven archers lag one level behind Class: Fighter/rogue or fighter/monk. Both vari-
their human counterparts in feat acquisition. But if ants have quick access to the requisite feats via their
you’re willing to hang in there, you’ll qualify for the fighter levels. The fighter/rogue combination con-
arcane archer prestige class (and all its special arrow centrates on quickness and stealth with a generous
tricks) at 7th level if you take six levels of fighter and allotment of skill points, while the fighter/monk can
one level of sorcerer or wizard to meet the prerequi- draw on special monk abilities.
sites. Halfling crossbow experts also lag one feat Ability Scores: Dexterity is the key ability here,
behind, but many still find the career path an excel- closely followed by Charisma. Strength, while useful,
lent choice, keeping larger foes at bay and inflicting comes in a distinct third.
significant damage upon them before they can ever Feats: A swashbuckler should start with Weapon
close for melee (assuming they even survive that Finesse (rapier) to use her Dexterity modifier rather
long). than Strength modifier for melee attacks with your
Skills: Hide (Dex), Listen (Wis), Move Silently chosen weapon. The whole idea of the swashbuckler
(Dex), Search (Int), Spot (Wis). All these help the is that of a fighter who relies on quickness and agility
archer get into position for ambushes and see targets rather than brute strength. Also take Weapon Focus
before they see you. (rapier) for another +1 to each attack. A human swash-
Best Buys: Masterwork bow, plus decent (but not buckler should add Combat Reflexes as a third start-
too constricting) armor and a reliable melee ing feat, gaining extra attacks of opportunity every
weapon (such as a longsword) for when foes get too round.
close. At higher levels, magic bows, magic quivers, Thereafter the feats acquisition sequence depends
and special arrows become essential equipment, on how you want to play the character. Expertise and
while magical protections (bracers of armor, rings of Mobility are essential for defense, and Dodge also
protection, and the like) are also highly desirable. No helps some (besides being a prerequisite for other
archer worth his salt would be caught without a feats). Whirlwind Attack, Improved Critical, and
half-dozen spare bowstrings as replacements in case Weapon Specialization all make you deadlier in
of emergency. combat. Improved Trip and Improved Disarm put
Fine Tuning: Like Robin Hood or William Tell, your opponents at a disadvantage (always a good
this character is an uncanny shot with his ranged thing). Quick Draw and Spring Attack are the very
weapon of choice. Placing his highest score in Dex- stuff of derring-do, as well as extremely useful feats
terity improves his accuracy and control, while any for preventing you from getting into tight spots. If
greater than average Strength enables him to pull a you happen to be blessed with a good Strength score,
larger bow for increased range and damage. Some you might consider Power Attack, Cleave, Great
archers like to work as snipers and thus need stealth Cleave, and Sunder—especially since foes will not be
and sneak skills (such as Hide, and Move Silently) to expecting these from a lightly armored, rapier-wield-
get into position to take their shots and escape after- ing character, giving you the advantage of surprise.
ward. Elves are renowned as archers, and their culture Finally, Improved Initiative and Lightning Reflexes
embraces and esteems the art to a degree unmatched are helpful to anybody, and Run can be a real lifesaver
by any other race. However, many elves and half-elves on those rare unfortunate occasions when you find
diverge into the arcane archer prestige class that you’ve gotten in over your head.
(described in Chapter 2 of the DMG) somewhere Skills: Balance (Dex), Tumble (Dex), and Jump
between 6th and 10th level, while human archers (Str) can all be useful in a fight. Bluff (Cha), Innu-
who wish to perfect their art remain fighters or endo (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), and Sense Motive
rangers, gaining extra feats instead of special class (Wis) can make you look dangerous enough that you
abilities. don’t have to fight every time. Spot (Wis) can help
you avoid nasty ambushes, while Ride (Dex), Swim
(Str), and Climb (Str) can help you reach your goal, 53
whether it’s an attractive member of the opposite sex
in need of rescue or a villain’s treasure chamber.
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Finally, Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Feats: The prizefighter must be versatile, because
and Speak Language help fill out the swashbuckler’s you never know what armor and weaponry (or lack
role as a colorful figure who moves easily in any sort thereof ) you will be issued before each fight, nor
of company. what the opponents you face will wield. Power
Best Buys: First and foremost, the swashbuckler Attack, Cleave (an extra attack under the right condi-
needs a trusty blade, and the rapier is your weapon of tions), and Exotic Weapon Proficiency are typical for
choice. You’ll probably dispense with a shield alto- 1st-level human fighters following the path of the
gether because Weapon Finesse requires the off hand prizefighter. A good 4th-level choice is Great Cleave,
free for balance. Armor needs to be kept light, lest it which gives you multiple extra attacks under the
interfere with your movement. As a backup, you right conditions.
might consider a complement of several throwing After this, the options multiply. Defensively,
daggers hidden on your person. A sling also makes a Dodge and Mobility help agile prizefighters (Dex
good secondary weapon, because it not only does 13+) avoid damage, while Expertise and Improved
bludgeoning damage (as opposed to the piercing Disarm fill much the same role for clever prizefight-
damage of rapiers and daggers) but makes a good ers (Int 13+). Improved Unarmed Strike and Stun-
delivery system for messages. Swashbucklers always ning Fist can keep you alive on those unfortunate
wear the finest clothes available and constantly occasions when you’re on the receiving end of a suc-
upgrade their goods with more potent replacements. cessful disarm or Sunder, while Blind-Fight does the
Fine Tuning: The swashbuckler is a chivalric, dash- same when you’ve got a handful of sand (or blood) in
ing, musketeer-type in the mold of Errol Flynn. How- your eyes.
ever, it also possible to play her as a solitary master of On offense, you’ll typically pick up three or more
her craft who aims at perfecting the art of swordfight- Exotic Weapon Proficiencies in the course of your
ing, matching her skills against all comers. Such a career (taking the feat again each time, of course).
swordmaster typically chooses a heavier weapon, Nimble prizefighters sometimes like to go the
sometimes even a bastard sword or two-bladed sword. Ambidexterity + Two-Weapon Fighting + Improved
However, this requires you to take the Exotic Weapon Two-Weapon Fighting route—not only a proven
Proficiency and perhaps Two-Weapon Fighting and crowd-pleaser but very deadly to opponents who have
Improved Two-Weapon Fighting. Such swordmasters to face it. Sunder goes Improved Disarm one better and
are far more common among fighter/monks than not only deprives the foe of the weapon but can
among fighter/rogues. destroy it—a real morale-buster for those on the
receiving end. Combat Reflexes lets you take advan-
tage of those who panic or let their guard down. Whirl-
PRIZEFIGHTER wind Attack can allow a flurry of blows to even the
The crowd cheered when he defeated another odds against multiple foes. Improved Bull Rush and
Fighters and Feats opponent, but they all stood back when they Improved Trip are great equalizers. Finally prizefight-
Remember that a human fighter encountered him outside the arena, knowing ers who specialize in chariot fights or jousting opt for
will gain the awesome total of him to be an unstoppable killing machine. Mounted Combat, Ride-by Attack, and Trample.
nineteen feats by the time he Preferred Race: Human, some half- Whatever focus the prizefighter develops for his
reaches 20th level, but there are orcs. Reduced speed counts against fighting style, a few nonweapon feats will always
thirty-seven combat feats to dwarves, halflings, and gnomes, while prove useful: Toughness (extra hit points are always
choose from in the Player’s elves, halflings, and gnomes lack the nice), Improved Initiative (with luck, your foe may be
Handbook. No single fighter can Strength or Constitution to excel as prize- dead before he even gets a chance to hit you), and
master them all, so you’ll have fighters. Half-elves rarely follow this Endurance (prizefighting contests are grueling,
to be choosy. Just because you career path, as they gain no obvious exhausting fights). Great Fortitude, Iron Will, and
get more choices doesn’t mean advantage and lack the human extra feat Lightning Reflexes are always helpful, though most
you shouldn’t choose carefully. and skill points. prizefighters would rather take a few more Toughness
Those extra feats are the main Class: Fighter, some barbarians. The feats or Exotic Weapon Proficiencies.
class benefit you get, so don’t prizefighter seeks to master all forms of Among the very few combat feats that prizefighters
squander them! combat and thus needs the fighter’s avoid are Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, and
extraordinary access to combat feats—or Improved Critical, since a prizefighter’s strength is in
the barbarian’s ability to just go completely nuts. versatility, not talent with one single weapon. How-
Ability Scores: Constitution (if you can’t take it, ever, a few like to add Improved Critical for one of
you can’t dish it out), Strength (for dealing damage), their exotic weapons for the sheer terror it inspires in
54 Dexterity (for avoiding damage when you can), Intel- those who have to face it. Experience has shown that
ligence (fight smart, exploiting your enemy’s weak- such showboats are generally suffering from overcon-
ness). fidence as they near the (usually abrupt) end of their
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careers. A favorite weapon or maneuver just makes the lowest ability score in Constitution: Necro-
you too predictable, and your foes will quickly take mancers tend to be physically puny, sometimes even
advantage of that or any other weakness. frail. For some, their interest in the dark
Skills: Intimidate (Cha), Bluff (Cha), Sense Motive arts stems from the tenuous thread by To Multiclass or Not?
(Wis), and Perform (Cha) can all come in handy in the which they cling to life. If you’re trying to decide
ring, as can Tumble (Dex) and Jump (Str). Spot (Wis) Feats: Spell Focus (Necromancy) is a whether to devote yourself to
is handy for detecting sneaky maneuvers, while must, as it increases the effectiveness of the cleric’s path, the wizard’s
Gather Information (Cha) can be used in downtime many necromancy spells you cast. A path, or multiclass between the
between fights to garner hints about likely foes as cleric necromancer should choose two, understand that all three
well as their weaknesses and characteristic tactics. Extra Turning as a second feat, while a options produce viable, power-
And of course Ride (Dex) is essential to charioteers as wizard necromancer should opt for ful characters. The wizard/cleric
well as all those who fight on horseback. Even Swim Toughness instead (at 1st level those 3 is the most versatile and thus
(Str) might be useful—it’s not unheard of for rich extra hit points almost double your the best choice at lower levels
patrons to set up mock-naval battles. total). Combat Casting, Spell Penetra- or in a small group. The cleric
Best Buys: A good prizefighter can turn anything tion, and Spell Mastery are all good necromancer is perhaps the
into a deadly weapon, so you don’t want to put all your choices thereafter; choose whichever most powerful but is likely to
eggs in one basket. Good armor and a variety of trusty one would have proved most useful in get pulled into larger conflicts
weapons are the way to go. Since you are skilled in so your adventures up to that point. involving her patron god, thus
many different kinds of weapons, you can sometimes Of the more generic feats, Lightning inheriting a vast web of ene-
get bargain rates on magical weaponry of unusual Reflexes beefs up what is probably your mies. The wizard necromancer
types that most fighters who specialize in common weakest saving throw, and Improved has an awesome array of
types (sword, bow, axe) would rather avoid. Tridents, Initiative is always handy for getting off powers at high levels—if you
spiked gauntlets, and nets are favorite prizefighter a spell before your foe can react. Wiz- can survive the many perils
weapons, but anything from a dire flail to a handful of ards get Scribe Scroll for free, and some along the way. A partnership
sand is a deadly weapon in your hands. necromancers, cleric or wizard, will between a cleric necromancer
Fine Tuning: A cold-blooded professional killing want to take Brew Potion. Few take and a wizard necromancer who
machine, the prizefighter need not bother with polite other item creation feats. As for the var- advance in level together is the
niceties and thus has few social skills beyond a canni- ious metamagic feats (Empower Spell, most potent combination of all,
ness in playing to the crowd. The idea is to be unstop- Enlarge Spell, Extend Spell, Heighten with full access to the most
pable, so that your foes become so afraid that they Spell, Maximize Spell, Quicken Spell, deadly powers of both classes.
concentrate on defending themselves rather than Silent Spell, and Still Spell), apply the
harming you—after that, it’s just a matter of time same rule mentioned before: If one of these spells
before you raise your weapon to the cheering throng. would have come in handy time after time, it’s worth
your while acquiring it. Otherwise, pass on them.
Multiclass cleric/wizard necromancers should always
NECROMANCER skip metamagic feats, because boosted spells will
The secrets of life and death are an open book on her dissec- wind up filling your high-level spell slots, of which
tion table. you have too few already.
Preferred Race: Human, some half-elves. The Skills: Concentration (Wis), Knowledge (arcana)
longer-lived races disdain the necromantic arts, but (Int), and Spellcraft (Int) are essential, and you may
the relatively short human lifespan provides a major find Knowledge (religion) (Int) and Knowledge (the
impetus to delving into the secrets of life and death. planes) (Int) handy too. Depending on your personal-
Class: Wizard, cleric, or wizard/cleric. The classic ity and style, you may find Diplomacy (Cha) or Intim-
necromancer has traditionally been a specialist idate (Cha) useful for your dealings with the living.
wizard, but the divine spells in the Player’s Handbook Other skills are optional, depending on the cam-
make the cleric-necromancer a powerful choice, espe- paign. Speak Language may prove useful in extracting
cially when her ability to control and rebuke undead information from ancient texts. Gather Information
is factored in. The wizard/cleric necromancer com- (Cha) can turn up rumors of local burial grounds.
bines the powers of both and is very potent indeed, Again, the skills that see the most use in your cam-
although she never gains the highest-level spells for paign are always good ones to round out your charac-
either class. ter with.
Ability Scores: Intelligence, Wisdom, and Best Buys: The basic raw material for the necro-
Charisma. Cleric necromancers generally put mantic arts—human (and other) corpses—is a widely
Wisdom first, then Charisma, then Intelligence. available natural resource for anyone who isn’t 55
Melee combat is something they rightly avoid, so squeamish, assuming you’re discreet enough to avoid
Strength should receive the next to worst score. Put stirring up the wrath of the local community by
T11647_620_00Hero.qxd 8/7/00 2:23 PM Page 56
openly desecrating graves in broad daylight. Some get the basic tools of their trade when they begin their
competition from ghouls and resentment by ghosts adventuring careers. But in addition to the basic gear
and other spirits is inevitable, but the competent any rogue or wizard would need, you’ll want artisan’s
necromancer can easily deal with such issues. There- tools (masterwork if you can afford it). Thereafter
fore the basic wizard and/or clerical equipment is you’ll show your true nature very early by stocking up
generally sufficient, although necromancers do have on as many special items from Table 7–9 in the Player’s
a penchant for dressing in black with ornaments of Handbook as you can possibly afford: alchemist’s fire,
either silver or bone-white. Skull motifs are particu- smokesticks, acid, thunderstones, sunrods, and of
larly popular. course tindertwigs.
Fine Tuning: Necromancers need not be evil, At the first opportunity, you’ll set up your own
although those devoted to Nerull inevitably are. By alchemist’s lab, often resorting to a portable lab care-
contrast, Wee Jas has a number of neutral necro- fully packed into a trunk and carried inside a portable
mancer followers, both clerics and wizards. Neverthe- hole or similar extradimensional storage device.
less, the necromancer’s reputation is a sinister one, Before long you’ll be making your own devices and
and any necromancer who reveals her profession concoctions, so ingredients, material components,
should be prepared for suspicion, hostility, and and parts become your major purchases. Some gad-
harassment. getmasters finance their operations by selling excess
creations, but most find themselves using up all their
wares themselves. However, your secondary skills—
GADGETMASTER such as glassblowing or pottery to get the potions and
A bottle of his patented slipperyfoot oil took care of the bottles for your chemical bombs, and locksmithing or
guards trying to climb the stairs, while a smokepot made it metalworking to rig some delicate timing device—
impossible for the archers below to find a target in the bil- often produce profit from eager buyers. Such a steady
lowing murk. Once they’d slipped into a side room, a tube of income keeps you afloat while you experiment with
epoxy jammed the lock behind them. By the time their ene- some new creation.
mies had finally broken down the door, they found only a Fine Tuning: Gadgetmasters rely heavily on their
wind-up clockwork noisemaker to make them think the box of tricks—you always have another gizmo in the
trespassers were just behind the door. In truth, the gnome bag and another trick up your sleeve. You are always
and his friends were long gone. busy, tinkering with clockwork triggering devices,
Preferred Race: Gnomes, a few halflings. This grinding powders, or drawing schematics in your
career path appeals especially to those who do not “downtime.” A good gadgetmaster never gets discour-
excel in strength or bulk and need an equalizer to aged when a trial device explodes prematurely; you
gain an advantage over larger, stronger foes. know you’ll get it right eventually, and meanwhile
Class: Rogue/wizard. every incident is another piece of data to add into
Ability Scores: Intelligence, Dexterity. your scribbled notes.
Feats: Brew Potion is essential, because otherwise
the gadgetmaster cannot make magical concoctions.
Likewise, Create Wondrous Item should be your MANIPULATOR
second feat, as it is needed to make the various gadg- He preferred to work behind the scenes, letting others fight his
ets that are the hallmark of this character concept. battles for him. His pawns never realized the degree to which
Other than these, any feats useful to a rogue or a he controlled them, which was just the way he liked it.
wizard benefit the gadgetmaster. They are particularly Preferred Race: Half-elf, human, halfling. Occa-
fond of Spell Mastery and metamagic feats such as sionally an elf or gnome will go this route, but that is
Still Spell and Silent Spell. Run is another favorite, as rare. Dwarves and half-orcs make poor choices due to
it helps compensate for too-short legs when there’s an their racial Charisma penalties.
impending explosion that you want to be far, far away Class: Bard, sorcerer, wizard, rogue. The beauty of
from. this career path is that it can be combined with virtu-
Skills: Alchemy (Int), Craft (Int), Knowledge ally any character class.
(arcana) (Int), Spellcraft (Int), and Use Magic Device Ability Scores: Charisma comes first and fore-
(Cha) are key to creating all the items in the gadget- most; it takes force of personality to impose your will
master’s box of tricks. Disable Device (Int) and Open upon others. Intelligence is almost as important,
Lock (Dex) are likewise useful for the deftness they because a stupid character cannot juggle the many
bring and the knowledge they grant of trigger plots a manipulator has going simultaneously, nor can
56 devices, locks, and the like. such a manipulator give plausible explanations at the
Best Buys: Most gadgetmasters start out appren- drop of a hat why others should follow a particular
ticed to an alchemist or locksmith, from whom they course of action. Somewhat better than average
T11647_620_00Hero.qxd 8/7/00 2:23 PM Page 57
Wisdom is highly desirable to keep you from making If you can gain the reputation of a character who’s key
foolish mistakes that undercut his reputation. Of the to your group’s success, you’ll be in position to quietly
physical skills, Dexterity is the most useful because it gain your own way the majority of the time. A word of
can be used defensively. A too-high Strength or Con- warning: Don’t squander your resources. Good lack-
stitution means you will be under pressure from your eys are hard to find, as are loyal adventuring partners.
colleagues to be on the front lines in a fight, which is When you have to, take whatever risks are necessary
downright dangerous and not your style at all; park- to save them—otherwise you’ll get a reputation as
ing your low scores here gives you a good excuse for someone who only cares about her own skin. But if
holding back from melee. you’re smart and careful, you can find yourself in the
Feats: The most important feat of all, Leadership, position of leading from behind—the iron fist in the
does not become available to PCs until they hit 6th velvet glove, so to speak.
level (see Chapter 2: Characters in the DMG). There-
fore, the manipulator must plan ahead. Spellcasting
manipulators will get a lot of mileage out of Spell RESEARCH WIZARD
Focus (Enchantment), because it makes all your They had imagined themselves well prepared—until the
charms much harder to resist. For manipulators with- wizard threw a spell at them they’d never even heard of before.
out access to spells, Improved Initiative is a good She smiled as she watched the survivors scatter. All those long
place to start, with Iron Will a good follow-up. nights burning the midnight oil had been worth it.
Beyond that, you should take feats that help you excel Preferred Race: Human, elf, occasionally half-elf.
in your chosen character class. Avoid melee-oriented Class: Wizard, and only wizard.
feats in favor of defensive ones as a rule: Alertness, Ability Scores: Intelligence. This career path is
Combat Casting, Dodge, and Mobility. The various only viable for a character with a truly exceptional
metamagic feats are also a good match. score in the crucial ability for wizard’s magic.
Skills: Diplomacy (Cha), Sense Motive (Wis), Feats: Early on, Spell Focus, Spell Mastery, and
Speak Language (Int), Innuendo (Wis), and Bluff Spell Penetration are your best choices. As you gain
(Cha) comprise the “people skills” that are at the heart levels and higher-level spell slots, choose the various
of the career concept. Gather Information (Cha), metamagic feats (Empower Spell, Enlarge Spell,
Read Lips (Int), Spot (Wis), Search (Int), and Scry Extend Spell, Heighten Spell, Maximize Spell,
(Int) provide the information you need to forewarn Quicken Spell, Silent Spell, Still Spell) and the item
you of interference in your various schemes. You can creation feats (Brew Potion, Craft Wondrous Item,
use Disguise (Cha) either as part of your information- Craft Wand, Craft Staff, Craft Rod, Forge Ring, and
gathering system or to maintain separate identities sometimes Craft Magic Arms & Armor). You’ll rarely
that pursue different goals. A cover identity can be have the slots available for any of the more generally
useful in distancing yourself from certain activities of useful feats, but sometimes Improved Initiative,
which neither the authorities nor your regular adven- Combat Casting, Lightning Reflexes, or Toughness
turing colleagues would approve. prove essential, depending on the campaign.
Best Buys: A manipulator should buy the same Skills: The research wizard’s focus is narrow:
adventuring equipment as any other character of his Knowledge (arcana) (Int) and Spellcraft (Int) are the
class, but in addition he should add touches of finery. only essential skills and should always be maxed out
Quality clothes (a courtier’s outfit at low levels, (that is, buy as many ranks in them as possible at all
upgraded to a noble’s outfit as your cash reserves times). Other skills should be whichever general ones
increase) and jewelry make him stand out from the see the heaviest use in your DM’s campaign.
crowd when he wants to. Keep a cash reserve, how- Best Buys: In addition to the standard adventuring
ever. Helping your adventuring partners buy needed gear for a wizard, you’ll need to devote a fair propor-
items of equipment is a good way to make yourself tion of your cash flow into material components con-
popular, while having enough coin to spread around sumed in your experiments. When not out
charity or bribes to NPCs can insure a warm welcome adventuring, you’ll need access to a full-fledged
in almost any community. research laboratory, and the wear and tear from exper-
Fine Tuning: The most important rule for any iments that go awry mean heavy and continual
manipulator is this: Don’t let the people you’re manip- expenses. Because spell research is both your hobby
ulating know what you’re up to. Make a show of and your obsession, you’ll add a reliable bag of holding
pulling your own weight—let your colleagues be the to your traveling gear as soon as you can well afford it.
ones who urge you to hold back. The best way to Fine Tuning: A research wizard makes a good
manage this is to choose a character class that doesn’t career path for the character of a player bursting with 57
perform well in melee combat but provides valuable creative ideas who’d like to see how they work out in
support from behind the battle line, such as the bard. terms of game mechanics. Starting small with new
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refinements of old spells, you’ll then go on Feats: Alertness warns you of possible hazards, and
Scout: A to create wholly new spells and unique Improved Initiative helps you respond to them more
Wilderness Sneak magic items. Both player and DM would quickly, so they should be among your first choices.
The sneak career path assumes be well advised to read the Researching Mobility, Dodge, Blind-Fight, and Run can get you
you’ll be doing most of your Original Spells section of Chapter 2: Char- out of sticky spots with your skin intact, while
sneaking in urban and dungeon acters in the DMG. Of course the DM has Weapon Finesse and Spring Attack can help out when
environments. But what if you’re the final say over spell level, spell effect, combat is unavoidable.
sneaking around the forest? If and cost in your campaign. Skills: A successful sneak needs a wide array of
you want to create a wilderness The most effective spell creators are skills. Move Silently (Dex), Hide (Dex), Listen (Wis),
scout, make the following adjust- generally those who specialize in a partic- Search (Int), and Spot (Wis) all help you avoid
ments to the sneak career path. ular school of magic, because this gives a guards, traps, and other hazards. Balance (Dex),
thematic focus to their efforts. Don’t forget Climb (Str), Jump (Str), Use Rope (Dex), and possi-
• Track is an essential feat.
that a research wizard is usually an active bly Swim (Str) and Intuit Direction (Wis) all help
Remember that rangers get it
adventurer: It’s no fun coming up with you move toward your goal. Open Lock (Dex), Dis-
for free at 1st level.
new spells if you don’t get to be the first able Device (Int), and sometimes Escape Artist
• The skills listed for the sneak
one to see them take effect. Privately (Dex) can remove obstacles that may stand in your
are useful, but put Wilderness
researched spells also give the character way.
Lore at the top of the list. It’s
an edge. It’s hard for opponents to prepare Other skills help the sneak before the sneaking
your most important skill.
• Imagine a character who works
against something they’ve never seen even begins. Decipher Script (Int), Pick Pocket
with animal spies rather than on
before. Assume that you spend most of (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha) can aid in recov-
your own. You could use all the
your “downtime” engaged in spell ering items or information; a bard should employ a
birds of the forest to track research, just as other character classes bardic knowledge check and Scry (Int) to scope out
enemy troop movements, or exercise, go on prayer retreats, practice the site before venturing into it. Disguise (Cha),
you could question rats about their scales, and so on. The spell research Gather Information (Cha), Innuendo (Wis), and
the various underground tun- time is equivalent to training time for Read Lips (Int) may help with infiltration and infor-
nels running beneath the duke’s other characters. mation gathering.
castle. A rogue/druid of high This is a huge list of skills—far more than a single
enough level could actually character can master—so it’s best to choose a focus.
change himself into a rat and SNEAK Buy maximum ranks in skills you find yourself using
use those same tunnels. Char- They never heard her arrive. They never saw a lot and put a smattering in others that come in
acters who take this side-path her leave. They only knew that the battle plans handy from time to time.
should take Animal Empathy were missing from the locked and guarded Best Buys: Select standard adventuring gear for
(Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), room and a tell-tale token, a single white stone, your two classes, plus various special items depend-
and Wilderness Lore (Wis) as left in their place. The warlord was not going to ing on the career focus you choose. For example, a spy
their chief skills. be happy about this, they thought nervously, needs disguises, while a cat burglar will find grapples,
• A scout can usually dispense exchanging worried glances. strong but thin rope, and suction cups for climbing
with standard sneak equipment Preferred Race: Elf and half-elf (low- more useful. A reliable set of easily concealed thieves’
but needs portable, dependable light vision gives you a definite edge in tools (upgraded to masterwork as soon as you can
survival gear for living off the this line of work), or halfling and gnome afford it) is essential for getting into vaults and
land during extended forays into (the +4 racial bonus to Hide checks fits through locked doors. Finally, special items such as
the wild. A scout who works perfectly with this character concept). thunderstones, smokesticks, and alchemist’s fire can
with animals needs appropriate Class: This career can follow two dis- provide useful distractions at just the right moment,
treats, traps, cages, etc. tinct paths: rogue/ranger or rogue/druid. enabling a quick getaway.
The rogue class provides the necessary Fine Tuning: You have only one weak point along
skills and a generous pool of skill points; the other the spectrum of rogue abilities: combat. You special-
class complements those skills with special class ize in information gathering and object retrieval, not
abilities to overcome obstacles. In general, you’ll bloodshed. However, it is relatively easy to combine
probably take two rogue levels for every ranger or this character path with an assassin’s lifestyle: See the
druid level you take. assassin prestige class in Chapter 2 of the DMG. Some
A few sneaks are bards instead of rogues. Their sneaks will also find the array of special powers avail-
Charisma-based powers make them very good spies able to the shadowdancer prestige class (also detailed
rather than cat burglars like their rogue counterparts. in the DMG) alluring.
Ability Scores: Dexterity is key and should be very The best sneaks are completely anonymous. Not
58 high. The other abilities should be well rounded, as a even their clients ever know their true identity. How-
single very poor score makes it hard to excel on this ever, adventurers who devote themselves to this pro-
career path. fession tend to enjoy a touch of flair, such as always
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leaving some token behind whenever they strike. saves, so your Reflex saves have lagged behind).
This adds to their legend without exposing their At 10th level (Ftr5/Wiz5), things begin to get inter-
cover, enabling them to enjoy the notoriety stirred up esting and the character really begins to come alive.
by their “secret identity.” Such a character had better You can take Spell Mastery (dispel magic) as your
have magical protections in place to stymie the div- bonus wizard feat. At 11th level (Ftr6/Wiz5), Weapon
inations that outraged victims are sure to employ in Specialization is a good buy. Your remaining fighter
attempts to hunt them down. Those who prefer to bonus feats, which you gain at 15th (Ftr8/Wiz7) and
keep a low profile tend to outlive their more flamboy- 19th (Ftr10/Wiz9) level, can be any that you feel
ant counterparts. For them public acclaim is superflu- would round out your combat style. You also gain the
ous beside the simple knowledge of their many feat of your choice at 12th (Ftr6/Wiz6), 15th
successes. (Ftr8/Wiz7), and 18th (Ftr9/Wiz9) levels. Metamagic
feats generally fill these slots, especially because you’ll
have access to 4th-level spells at 14th level
COUNTERSPELLER (Ftr7/Wiz7) and 5th-level spells at 18th level
Smirking, the evil sorcerer threw his deadliest spell right in (Ftr9/Wiz9).
his foe’s face. He barely had time to be surprised when the Skills: The counterspeller’s focus keeps your list of
warrior dismissed his spell with a mere gesture before cleav- essential skills quite small: Concentration (Cha),
ing him with the sword, all in one smooth movement. Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowl-
Preferred Race: Human, a very few half-orcs (typ- edge (arcana) (Int), and Spellcraft (Int). Some general-
ically those raised by humans). purpose skills, such as Spot (Wis), can come in useful,
Class: Fighter/wizard. The fighter class provides but the five previously listed will probably consume
the necessary combat prowess, while the wizard class the majority of your skill point allotment, as several of
contributes the all-important counterspelling tool them are cross-class skills.
that deprives your foes of their most valued weapon. Best Buys: To begin with, the counterspeller needs
Ability Scores: Strength, Intelligence, Dexterity, the same gear as any other low-level fighter. However,
and Constitution. Strength and Intelligence must be given your special focus, you’ll tend to have a few
fairly high (15+) to make you the equal of your weapons (one piercing, one slashing, and one bludg-
chosen prey; good scores in Dexterity and Constitu- eoning) rather than diversify into a range of weapons.
tion make you better. Charisma is always your lowest Upgrade these weapons to masterwork when you can,
score. The counterspeller does not care about the then get magic weapons of the same type when you
opinions of others, only about the completion of the can afford them or a dead foe doesn’t need them any-
mission—hunting down and slaying spellcasters more. Because armor interferes with your counter-
everywhere. spelling, switch to magical protections (bracers, rings,
Feats: The counterspeller starts as a 1st-level and amulets) as soon as possible. And because you’ll
fighter and thus begins with three feats: Combat be the target of many spells, a cloak of resistance will
Casting, Skill Focus (Concentration), and Power improve your saving throws and is a sound invest-
Attack (a half-orc must forgo Skill Focus). At 2nd ment.
level, take another level of fighter and either Blind- Fine Tuning: The counterspeller specializes in
Fight (to offset various magical obfuscations) or fighting spellcasters of all types. First you’ll neutralize
Sunder (to destroy the staff, wand, or other magic their offensive and defensive spells with your own,
device being used against you). At 3rd level, you’ll then you’ll close to slice and dice them with your
take your first level of wizard and gain the Spell Pen- superior melee skills. Whether you’re a witchfinder,
etration feat, along with Scribe Scroll (a free feat for inquisitor, or simply self-inspired, it’s clear that you’re
all wizards). on a crusade. A law unto yourself, you join groups of
Take another level of wizard at 4th level and a level adventurers to bring evildoers to justice, not for the
of fighter at 5th level (making you Ftr3/Wiz2). loot you find in the dungeon.
Thereafter, you’ll alternate between the two each In a sense you are like the paladin’s dark shadow,
time you gain another level. At 6th level (Ftr3/Wiz3), with the same drive and commitment but without the
take either Still Spell or Silent Spell, enabling you to paladin’s sunny optimism, divine spells, and people
counterspell 1st-level spells under various adverse skills. Think of Robert Howard’s Kane: a grim, dan-
conditions such as physical restraint or magical gerous, yet godly man who wanders the world pursu-
silence. At 7th level (Ftr4/Wiz3) take Improved Ini- ing the wicked. In essence, the counterspeller is an
tiative as your bonus fighter feat. No new feats come evil wizard’s worst nightmare.
at 8th level, but at 9th (Ftr5/Wiz4) you can get Light- 59
ning Reflexes to beef up your weakest saving throw
(fighters excel at Fortitude saves and wizards at Will
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FRIAR replaced by magical protections as early as possible.

His home is everywhere his feet take him, his friends all folk Wearing serious armor and walking about armed to
of goodwill he meets, his foes any who oppose The Way. the teeth rarely puts people at ease; by looking rela-
Preferred Race: Any, but humans are most tively harmless, the friar finds it easier to befriend
common and dwarven friars quite rare. The dwarven people and avoids trouble.
deities place little value on wanderlust. Fine Tuning: A loner, you stand outside the
Class: Cleric, some druids. church’s hierarchy, serving the goddess or god as you
Ability Scores: Wisdom gets your highest score. A see fit (think Friar Tuck). Self-sufficient, you move
good Charisma also helps you interact with the locals. from place to place, setting right any wrongs you find.
Other abilities can all be more or less average—for While you may join forces with others from time to
example, a wandering friar doesn’t need to be particu- time, you usually reject long-term commitments to
larly clever so long as you have insight and a warm adventuring parties as a distraction from your self-
personality. As for physical attributes, you need not appointed mission.
excel so long as you’re competent enough to survive The friar is probably the most self-contained of all
on your own during your travels. characters, with healing ability, good combat skills, a
Feats: Your first two choices should be Alertness nice array of spells, and the “people skills” to gain
and Combat Casting; you need to keep your eyes and friends and allies wherever you go. The friar may
ears open on the road, and you have no wall of fight- belong to one of the major established churches (such
ers to cast spells behind. Track can help you locate the as Pelor, St. Cuthbert, or Obad-Hai) but is just as often
nearest village or outlying homestead, or find those a follower of one of the more obscure gods. Some
in need of help. When you’re on your own, the friars are pantheon priests who venerate multiple
enhanced capacity of Extra Turning can make a big gods, while some worship no specific deity but rather
difference, as can any of the metamagic feats at higher an abstraction (such as peace, justice, or truth). A
levels. friar’s journeys tend to give you wider experience and
Skills: Choose skills that enable self-sufficiency, in a broader outlook than other clerics of the same faith.
keeping with the essentially solitary nature of the In a typical week, a friar might help a midwife
path. You should have people skills to set strangers at through a difficult birth, set a hobgoblin’s broken leg,
ease and enable you to scope out the local situation: and repulse an incursion of ghouls into a peaceful
Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Sense community.
Motive (Wis), and possibly Innuendo (Wis). And The druid variant (The Unrooted Tree) is similar
Heal (Wis), of course, will earn you friends wherever but even more of a loner. Wandering druids embrace
you go. Skills that bestow competency in outdoor set- the whole of nature rather than tying themselves to a
tings such as Intuit Direction (Wis), Wilderness Lore particular grove. While she might stay for a night at
(Wis), Listen (Wis), Spot (Wis), and Swim (Str) will an isolated farmhouse or briefly share a woodsman’s
come in handy. A druidic character can dispense with hut, she is likely to avoid settlements altogether, visit-
some of the latter and instead should have Animal ing animal populations instead. A wandering druid
Empathy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), and Knowl- may have a major impact on an area she passes
edge (nature) (Int). through without the human or humanoid residents
Best Buys: A standard kit of adventuring gear for even being aware of her presence. Her goals are to see
his class, plus enough food to last for at least two all the wide variety of animals and plants the world
weeks (in case it’s a long walk between villages or you holds (or as many as can be encountered in one life-
encounters those in need with whom to share). Bulky time) and to restore balance where nature is suffering.
items are a definite handicap, unless you have a Thus she might take steps to put a stop to reckless
donkey or horse to carry them. Some friars wear slash-and-burn agriculture if it were harming a forest,
tokens that signal to all that they are healers. Even the advise farmers on better irrigation techniques in a
savage humanoids often respect such characters and drought, or introduce predators to thin the overpro-
take advantage of their gifts. tected royal herd of deer. Like the friar, a wandering
Heavy armor makes for uncomfortable walking, druid is almost completely self-contained, but unlike
especially if you don’t expect to be in combat all the him she will invariably have an animal companion for
time, so most friars opt for light armor, reinforced or company on the road.
60
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APPENDIX
Appendix:
The Rule
Of Names
Nothing translates a bundle of statistics into a charac-
ter faster than a good name. Giving names to things
helps us identify them—and identify with them. The
right name provides a roleplaying hook, both in you
perceive yourself and in how others respond to you.
Languages affect our behavior in ways we don’t
completely understand. Most players would roleplay
a character named Yurk quite differently from one
named Dobb Fimblefingers or Seledra Aruthien.
Unfortunately, nothing is more difficult for some
players, especially new ones, than coming up with
good names for their characters. This appendix offers
some guidelines—both dos and don’ts—as well as a
list of several hundred ready-to-use names, divided by
race. DMs as well as players should find these lists
handy as a source for PC and NPC names.
THREE DON’TS
Don’t #1: No Bobs. When naming your character, These priests know the folly of picking a name at the last minute.
avoid everyday names like Jim, Betty, Dave, Sue, or
Bob. The D&D world is a fantasy place, where magic names for the same characters from Lord of the Rings,
is real and humans are only one of many races. In but they’ll only know that if they paid close attention
other worlds, it’s not like the real world. throughout a 1200-page book).
Fantasy names are an important part of the distanc- Don’t #3: No Joke Names. It might seem a good
ing effect. The disharmony between a fantasy world idea at the time, but the longer you play the character
and familiar real-world names works only when the and the better he or she becomes, the more you’re
latter are used for deliberate comic effect. Thus going to regret having saddled him or her with a silly
Finieous Fingers’s sidekicks were named Fred and name (such as Tim the Dim, Fonkin Hoddypeaks, or
Charly, Monty Python’s King Arthur and his knights Gleep Wurp the Eyebiter). Maybe your character will
meet a wizard called Tim, and so forth. Be warned that die before you tire of the joke, but you might find
such references to the real world break the mood of yourself stuck with a 20th-level wizard named
the game and are only appropriate to parodies. Medium Rary.
Don’t #2: No Merlins. Because many a character is
inspired by someone in a fantasy story or a movie, it’s
a natural impulse to borrow the name as well as the THREE DOS
character concept. Avoid the temptation. Do #1: Borrow Names from Other Times and
Stealing the name of a well-known fantasy charac- Places. D&D is an eclectic mix of generic fantasy,
ter reduces your character to a mere clone of the orig- medieval Europe, and myth. Just as our own culture is
inal. Similarly, applying a familiar name to a wholly filled with names from a wide variety of sources—the
new character creates the different problem of raising Bible, ancestral cultures, and sheer invention—so too
false expectations in everyone who hears the name. the same group of D&D characters can have names
(“No, I’m not that Conan.”) Acknowledge the inspira- drawn from different times and places. Thus a DM
tion, but make the concept your own—with a name who wants a dash of historical verisimilitude might
to match. populate a village with names drawn from medieval
As an exception to the rule, note that lesser-known England. Another who wants to stress the fantasy ele-
names from very well known sources might still be ment could use entirely invented names for her
good possibilities. You don’t want to name your NPCs. 61
wizard Gandalf or Saruman, but your fellow players Myths and legends from other cultures—The
may not recognize “Curunir” and “Olorin” (different Mabinogion, the Elder Edda and Norse sagas, the
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APPENDIX
Arthurian cycle, tales from Sumer or ancient Egypt— wind up being called Cath, “Makarios” may be just
are a particularly rich source of interesting names to Kar, and so forth.
pick and choose from, so long as you avoid the better- Even simple names may wind up being shortened
known names (Beowulf, no; Angantyr, yes). in table talk, so it’s wise to think ahead of what the
Do #2. Make Names Out of Common Nouns obvious shortened form would be. Fenwark to Fen is
and Place-Names. Many words not typical as given fine, but Dudley would probably not like being called
names nevertheless make effective monikers (River Dud (Ley or Lee would be another matter).
Phoenix, Stone Phillips, Chelsea Clinton). Likewise, Some adventurers adopt professional names when
titles divorced from their context may serve as they begin their careers to protect their families, to
interesting names (Deacon, Bishop). Slightly alter- distance themselves from their humbler beginnings,
ing the word can improve the name: Rivern, Parsons, or simply to give themselves a name that fits their
Vicars. self-image.
Inversions and anagrams (Tewtenoj, Koocetnom,
Piks Hplar) are popular among some and despised by
others; consult your own preference and those of the SURNAMES
people you game with. Unless you’re in a campaign In medieval cultures, most people had only a single
with a tribal flavor, avoid compounds like River- (given) name. Family names (surnames) add a nice
speaker, Turtlerider, Fireson, etc. except as honorifics. touch and establish that your character is part of a
These names often come out of a folktale tradition larger whole, his or her extended family or clan. Joost
quite different from the mainstream fantasy tradition Brakenberry may have given no thought to all the
most players will be drawing from. other Brakenberrys out there, but the name means
Generally, just keep your eyes open during your something to friends and enemies of her clan and can
reading. When you see a good name or when some- serve as a great roleplaying hook for future adventures.
thing you read sparks an idea for one, jot it down. Some players like to use surnames, and others
Then the next time you roll up a character, look would just as soon dispense with the bother of
through your list and pick one that fits the character coming up with not just one name but two. So in
as you conceive of him or her. most D&D adventures, some characters will have sur-
Do #3. The Whole Cloth. People with a gift for names and some won’t. The best way to treat this is to
nomenclature often find that it’s best to simply make assume that the use of surnames is a cultural, not a
up names. If you need something to work with to racial, characteristic. That is, it’s not that halflings use
jumpstart your inspiration, find an author whose surnames and elves don’t, it’s that the folks in one vil-
character names you like and model your new names lage—humans, dwarves, elves, and everybody—use
on his or her style. J.R.R. Tolkien and Lord Dunsany surnames while those in another town might dis-
are particularly recommended as models, because pense with them altogether. Player characters with
both men’s work contains a vast range of names that surnames can be assumed to come from one sort of
deftly create a sense of wonder. place, those without from the other.
Sometimes it helps to pick a foreign language to Of course, you’re free to make other arrangements
give a touch of exoticism, as when Gary Gygax mod- for your own campaign. One popular arrangement is
eled his character Mordenkainen on names from the to have halflings with family names, dwarves with
Finnish Kalevala, or when Tolkien decided to model clan names, and half-orcs with only a given name or
his Dwarvish first on Old Norse and later on Hebrew. even just a nickname.
He further based his Sindarin on Welsh so that his Dwarven Clan Names: Aberdil, Avenigart, Brei-
elven and dwarven names would be completely dis- theim, Beilunn, Creegan, Druskeden, Duril, Faden-
tinct. An Aborigine dictionary or Gothic word list is heim, Frushnakt, Fruthban, Garenil, Gurart,
guaranteed to provide you with unfamiliar words and Hartellen, Hjortgar, Jarevar, Joterhun, Korvath, Kra-
sound combinations that can serve as the basis for genart, Kreilun, Letoshek, Lovoth, Mankathun,
some interesting names. Experiment until you find a Muskevart, Naruun, Nekaril, Paradur, Prosakil, Sabre-
method that works well for you. heim, Shuldek, Sorkol, Taerun, Toledun, Turgar,
Vastek, Voldort, Vultheim, Yoritak, Zosenheim.
Elven Family Names: Abrekiir, Adarion,
NICKNAMES Alanadel, Calashadir, Covakel, Dailastacia,
Just as in the real world, complicated or overly long Derunadel, Filiadir, Furivel, Galacia, Galenedel,
names will invariably be shortened or replaced by Ganatea, Ganascient, Ineskadel, Jalacia, Jemuir,
62 nicknames by your DM and fellow players. Do your- Jetenedon, Jorudel, Kavilion, Keinkiir, Kundenir,
self a favor and pick a name you can live with for the Lanshanakiir, Laremion, Levanadel, Lurecia,
long haul right up front. Thus “Catharandamus” may Mendeliir, Milikidel, Muriir, Naraskedel, Nielecia,
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APPENDIX
Pavaliir, Peretacia, Praevilo, Quilacia, Quirion, Saski- Reyott, Sabine, Sapphira, Seith, Sephora, Serpe,
ir, Shailicia, Shazemne, Talaviir, Valarion, Voleyiir, Sigfa, Sinnoch, Surmal, Tabra, Taff, Tagli, Tallis, Tam,
Walacia, Whilemne, Yanacia. Tangye, Tanith, Tarlach, Tarpeia, Tathal, Tegyr, Tessa,
Gnome Clan Names: Abren, Aelnor, Bachin, Ban- Therise, Thoms, Travers, Trig, Tulloch, Tully, Tydd,
ilor, Danask, Durim, Fasketel, Furnak, Galeb, Grosko, Unwyn, Valdis, Vardalon, Varlay, Varn, Vayshor,
Hardin, Hymnir, Jarnak, Kellen, Kyri, Lundor, Mer- Wace, Walther, Welcar, Weldun, Wigan, Wilton,
ren, Nessik, Pernor, Quindal, Ranadal, Rustek, Wledig, Woller, Wort, Wulik, Wylie, Xavia, Ydey,
Rutvor, Sasken, Shasto, Skerrit, Tamble, Terrick, Yelda, Yon, Yvette, Ywaine, Zander, Zahrdahl.
Turco, Urvor, Vandek, Vilio, Walnir, Yimble.
Dwarven
Agnar, Algar, Andred, Angantyr, Asgrim, Atli, Auda,
THE NAME LISTS Aurgelmyr, Aurus, Aylor, Balmek, Batava, Belvar,
Feel free to adapt these, combine them, truncate Bethnos, Beyla, Blaine, Blon, Bothvar, Brueyan,
them, or use them how you see fit. Of course, they Cardon, Carduel, Colmark, Dagmar, Dorag, Dorin,
don’t just make good names for characters. If you Dormar, Dorn, Durbar, Durifer, Durney, Duwas,
need the name of a river, town, or magic sword in a Dyall, Eja, Enton, Erac, Erall, Ercan, Eris, Esgir,
hurry, simply close your eyes and put your finger Euwas, Eyjulf, Falco, Fech, Ferh, Finbar, Fijar, Foriel,
down somewhere in this appendix. Framm, Fraunk, Fumok, Galapas, Gangleri, Geir-
mund, Geirrod, Gerar, Gloier, Gofnyr, Gorwinay,
Human Gothrom, Grennel, Griff, Grimm, Grimnyr, Grimslad,
Aber, Ablamar, Accolon, Adlar, Alhandra, Almax, Grummore, Grummer, Gulrod, Gulnyr, Guthorm,
Alper, Alysan, Amandis, Amidee, Andrella, Anglides, Gymir, Halco, Halprek, Hamnyr, Harvarr, Hedrieks,
Anneth, Annowre, Anrod, Ansirus, Arla, Ardel, Heimyr, Heliap, Helcar, Heth, Himlung, Hleid,
Arian, Arlen, Arlenda, Arlis, Arpad, Arrness, Arthad, Hluahl, Hodd, Hoff, Hreidmar, Hrif, Hringrim, Hrot-
Aseneth, Astra, Avenal, Bae, Bailey, Ballard, Bedwyr, tyr, Hrusk, Hrund, Izhilem, Jaer, Jarnuk, Jemrik,
Belinase, Belloc, Belnoy, Bendekar, Bernal, Bersalles, Jodmar, Jormun, Kogyr, Kord, Krelar, Laufney, Lorac,
Berwyn, Blaise, Bodwyn, Bret, Brianna, Brilman, Lucan, Lutor, Macsen, Magnus, Magnyr, Mal, Mal-
Bryman, Burlac, Burne, Cadwyn, Calista, Calley, grim, Manasen, Marrok, Maros, Martel, Mellard,
Callum, Calmert, Candella, Cathloy, Cathra, Cedras, Melnyr, Merla, Minadus, Murfils, Naegel, Narbeth,
Chantel, Charl, Claudus, Claisant, Cobb, Coburne, Naripaul, Narivissal, Narr, Nartach, Ndils, Neson,
Cole, Colvin, Corbin, Corwyn, Dafyn, Damas, Danel, Norvi, Ogmi, Ogmore, Ormund, Ossan, Ost, Otar,
Danly, Dara, Darian, Darla, Darley, Decius, Denira, Pharien, Pharnos, Phiden, Prellis, Quanzar, Rannos,
Deraks, Devereau, Devis, Dilys, Dinadus, Dor, Rathyen, Raynor, Reaf, Relmar, Roake, Rostenoc,
Dorian, Dubricus, Dudley, Durga, Durnsay, Dynas, Sadoc, Sanam, Sargen, Sarras, Segwares, Silmon, Snae-
Ebb, Eckusan, Elayne, Eliph, Elizar, Elyas, Emher, var, Somer, Svava, Tammell, Tarran, Taudoc, Telvar,
Enide, Erbin, Erroll, Ettard, Evaine, Fen, Fliban, Terjon, Theneus, Therlan, Thoas, Thurdev, Toffa,
Galashin, Galen, Gar, Garath, Garlon, Gelpas, Tordek, Toreck, Torq, Tosta, Turan, Turquin, Tyrra,
Genievre, Gerard, Gevies, Gilles, Greeves, Grellyn, Ubron, Ulf, Vardoc, Varr, Veor, Verlad, Vidnyr, Vor-
Gristla, Gwenta, Gwenelan, Gwenned, Gwydion, grim, Walgrim, Woller, Xaq, Xorax, Yotis, Yter, Zert.
Gwydre, Gwyon, Hacasin, Hacmed, Harkin, Har-
lonus, Helain, Helyes, Hemisal, Hennet, Herlew, Elven
Herm, Hervor, Hodge, Hoel, Huber, Hydwen, Aerlyn, Aiaruen, Alwyn, Amlaith, Amyr, Aneiryn,
Jacasin, Jadale, Jader, Jankin, Jarri, Jarvis, Jerick, Anwyn, Aravar, Arcalinte, Arden, Ardis, Arlanna,
Jenelle, Jess, Joachim, Jolan, Jordanus, Jozan, Jud, Artigol, Arundel, Arwaine, Arwyl, Auruewyn, Ben-
Kae, Kaywen, Kebel, Karris, Kendall, Keriann, rodyr, Berethani, Bethal, Branwyn, Brisaine, Brito-
Kimber, Kira, Kither, Kyanus, Lacenor, Lamork, mar, Caedrus, Caendun, Caeradwyn, Caercarwyn,
Leigh, Lin, Llywellan, Londa, Loy, Luce, Lum, Calahir, Carados, Carrick, Cathbar, Cea, Celedor,
Lunete, Lyge, Lyman, Lynette, Lynores, Lyons, Lys- Cerene, Charivar, Corbesont, Damaera, Deruwyn,
sette, Lyzanor, Maevis, Magh, Magoun, Maharis, Dolartu, Dydd, Ehangwyn, Elenwyd, Elferin, Emer-
Mara, Marieka, Marly, Mathias, Mede, Megaera, wen, Emrys, Enuren, Ethren, Evaryan, Fallon, Felwyn,
Menander, Mere, Migdalia, Miles, Mobley, Myla, Florimel, Gennal, Guiomart, Heilyn, Jaheel, Jelanen,
Myrr, Nadya, Naramis, Nascen, Neanne, Neb, Jelenneth, Jelifer, Jocelyn, Karasin, Kessa, Killian,
Nedaph, Neith, Nessi, Neva, Nira, Nissa, Noch, Nor- Kyrian, Laith, Lareth, Laurl, Lavayn, Lorrim, Maeve,
galis, Noewll, Nyfer, Obyn, Omig, Orbri, Orm, Orph, Maidel, Malmagor, Marlys, Melias, Melimae, Merissa, 63
Peta, Petrique, Plase, Ponj, Priadan, Quint, Rafe, Mialee, Moenna, Morgan, Myrdivar, Myrrath, Nar-
Reece, Regdar, Relkin, Reswald, Ruther, Rydel, wain, Ninafer, Nyatar, Olmas, Olwain, Oreth, Panwyr,
T11647_620_00Hero.qxd 8/7/00 2:24 PM Page 64
APPENDIX
Parlee, Parwyn, Pelltar, Peren, Raede, Rahasia, Raniel, Reeve, Reswald, Ruskin, Seldon, Sime, Spence, Syler,
Remaelde, Rentar, Reuel, Rhaine, Rianneth, Rinya, Talbot, Tananger, Taqi, Tarby, Tarquin, Tasse, Taum,
Roedyn, Runir, Selcar, Seledra, Selwyn, Seriade, Tavi, Tella, Tew, Thame, Thorne, Tibbs, Tichbourne,
Shanna, Sharlea, Shay, Silenna, Silevran, Soveliss, Tilbury, Tillyard, Tish, Tobus, Tolquist, Tuck, Tyldan,
Taleraed, Tarbenay, Taratar, Taulured, Telmar, Terari, Tyman, Tyndal, Valens, Vaughn, Vicars, Wade, War-
Thaniel, Thaedras, Twyll, Uel, Vadania, Veasse, wyck, Wat, Watters, Wim, Wyatt.
Venye, Verraine, Wendelain, Ysberyl, Yslar, Zelmar.
Orc
Gnome Agar, Akaros, Arrakk, Augh, Bree, Bruegar, Dahk,
Ahtva, Annikko, Aolor, Apnee, Arn, Balto, Birzoon, Derkk, Devdas, Dgul, Drood, Druuk, Eagol, Edals,
Bitha, Bramo, Cirilli, Cline, Crayloon, Cuirboly, Dak, Ekk, Franch, Fukel, Gaaki, Gar, Garlak, Ghorn,
Eckel, Ensu, Erb, Erkenwald, Finla, Furduch, Gor- Gnarsh(t), Gobar, Gogar, Grai, Gremog, Grigri, Grim-
madoc, Gostegottl, Gundigoot, Gwaylar, Halanan, slade, Grinkel, Gronz, Grumbar, Gugal, Guzud, Gynk,
Hallap, Hamarka, Hensu, Hewett, Hoch, Hoose, Hargul, Harll, Hogar, Honzu, Hoog, Hool, Hordar,
Igsenki, Ikitur, Jaroo, Juutar, Kantelleki, Kasma, Horrach, Hoygh, Huagh, Huru, Jhanzur, Jutor, Jzets,
Kutar, Kyliki, Lakajan, Larimo, Lelmose, Lotch, Kalip, Karash, Kol, Korgul, Krell, Krusk, Lagazi,
Lynen, Malesacar, Miep, Mirge, Moczama, Myroc, Lorzak, Lubash, Lugh, Mimerk, Mord, Murook,
Nebin, Nizam, Noj, Norbor, Notar, Nuados, Osomo, Nizam, Nogu, Nyarl, Omotar, Ohr, Ohtar, Ootah,
Oyun, Pello, Penabwa, Piletti, Pinker, Poot, Quonzar, Orngart, Ordich, Oth, Parih, Puyet, Puyetto, Raorr,
Ramne, Redef, Sahir, Samoinan, Sahtwyrn, Spah, Rendar, Rheen, Sark, Scrag, Sorgh, Taing, Tanglar,
Spugnor, Suram, Swa, Tahir, Tamatar, Tamora, Tarak, Targ, Tawar, Thar, Thoin, Toemor, Tomph, Toop,
Tamoinen, Thrang, Uani, Uli, Unferth, Unqin, Trood, Tulmak, Tupacu, Tzens, Ubada, Udhgar,
Verhoo, Veter, Vlodge, Voynan, Wilf, Yarol, Yipwyg, Ugarth, Ungar, Ungvar, Urzad, Vaath, Vanchu, Vtam,
Zupesh, Zygur. Whudu, Wogg, Wogar, Wrnach, Wung, Wykks, Xar,
Xtec, Yark, Yazar, Yetto, Yurk, Zarx, Zotl, Zuboko.
Half-Elf
Use either the human or elven list. The result reflects
which culture named and raised the child. Some half- A FINAL WORD
elven characters have both a human and an elven Note that characters are not limited to the list that fits
name, one bestowed by each parent. their own race. For example, many a human bears an
elven or dwarven name that his or her parent simply
Half-Orc heard and liked. Many characters, whatever their race,
Use either the human or orc list. The result reflects are named after friends of their parents (sometimes
which culture named and raised the child. Some half- former adventuring partners) or people their parents
orc characters have both a human and an orc name, admired. In addition, humans and halflings are apt to
using the former when among humans and the latter imitate elven and dwarven names, producing new
when among orcs. Outcast or orphaned half-orcs names that sound vaguely dwarven or elven but have
often pick up simple descriptive names. no meaning in the Dwarven or Elven languages.
Halfling
Achim, Albie, Alton, Amabelle, Asham, Ashford,
Astin, Barthony, Beasley, Beaswell, Bertik, Bertrad,
Blasco, Bredon, Bree, Briley, Burgis, Burke, Canty,
Carruthers, Chandry, Chibald, Cibber, Cottington,
Crowley, Cubbardy, Dee, Dekker, Dendy, Dobb, Dray-
ton, Dudney, Dugal, Dunleary, Dyer, Eldren, Ellyot,
Eucken, Fashi, Fenton, Fenwark, Gascoyn, Gentry,
Giles, Googe, Gosson, Hesselwhite, Hobb, Hobbin,
Hoby, Hodkin, Holquiss, Jaq, Jenkin, Joop, Joost,
Kelsoe, Kemble, Kent, Ketta, Lane, Leese, Lidda, Lin-
shey, Linton, Lodge, Lollard, Ludwedge, Lyly, Lyn-
werd, Maere, Map, Marlow, Marston, Martobee,
Mendel, Merrick, Merridee, Misha, Mosely, Moss,
64 Murr, Nashe, Niles, Nivers, Norbe, Nython, Orlane,
Otem, Parse, Pence, Penge, Plunkett, Pomme, Pons,
Poole, Quettery, Quillan, Quince, Quinn, Reene,

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T11647_620_00Hero.

qxd 8/7/00 2:15 PM Page 1

HerO Builder’s GuidebOOk

U.S., CANADA, EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS

Creating a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® character is a process of evolution.

ROLLING YOUR ABILITY SCORES

ROLLING YOUR ABILITY SCORES

The same die rolls can result in very different characters.

ROLLING YOUR ABILITY SCORES

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

Battlerager (Variant): Favoring spiked armor and Dwarven Cleric

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

scores that need to be high: Strength, Dexterity,

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

Elven Sorcerer Racial Advantage: Use of swords and bows with-

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

Esteemed Member of the Siegemaster’s Society

Gnome Monk and other signs of a

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

These children live a difficult and challenging life. Half-Orc Bard

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

Half-Orc Cleric Half-Orc Druid

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

Uniqueness: Becoming a half-orc paladin means

Half-Orc Rogue Half-Orc Sorcerer

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CHOOSING YOUR RACE AND CLASS

CREATING YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY

Creating There’s nothing wrong with doing so, and by creating

HistOry HOME COMMUNITY

CREATING YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY

CREATING YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY

CREATING YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY

CREATING YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY

CREATING YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY

Table 9: Family Reputation 76–85 Dissident. Your family is secretly supporting a

CREATING YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY

Roll Ancestor 96 Cultist. An ancestor is known to have had an affilia-