Empedocles
2012-07-17, 09:14 PM
The gnoll, as a species, has a ton of potential. A ton. They're slobbering hyena headed furballs with big claws, big teeth, and bigger demon lords. But...well, they're under appreciated, I think. Gnolls strike me as a fantasy staple, in D&D at least, on par with orcs, goblins, or kobolds. Unfortunately, they just...aren't. So here's my little homage to gnolls:
I'm playing up the whole religion thing. Yeenoghu is an excellent demon lord, although I don't think he was made strong enough, and I'd like to set this rewrite apart from my orc rewrite.
Second, I'm playing up the whole slobbering raging monster thing. The idea is that they're slobbering and raging when they attack you from an almost religious fervor, not because they're big and stupid.
Oh, and no more LA. Or RHD. I don't believe in them.
Enjoy.
The Gnoll
http://i.imgur.com/22pZll.jpg
"ARGH!"
Hyena headed monstrosities, birthed from the blood of their demonic patron, gnolls pillage and sacrifice in the name of the merciless Yeenoghu, the blood of the slain burnt upon the ruins of conquered cities. Hordes march in his unholy name, their bestial fury matched only by their incredible zeal.
Personality: Gnolls are fierce, violent, and psychologically intense. They do everything in life with a single minded devotion, wether that be worship Yeenoghu or hunt their victims. When a gnoll sets a goal for himself, long term or short term, he pursues it with all his energy. This makes them, more than anything else, insufferably stubborn.
Relations: Gnolls get along remarkably badly with anyone who doesn't share their religious beliefs. This limits their traditional racial allies to a very select few group of demons...and that's pretty much it. A sort of mutual respect exists between them and the drow, who also worship a demonic lord, and they have been known to ally with (or enslave) orcs and goblins.
Religion: Gnolls worship Yeenoghu with incredible eagerness, and seek to spread the chaos and destruction he embodies whenever possible. Some say the gnolls dream of establishing a massive theocracy in Yeenoghu's name...
Gnoll Racial Traits
+2 Constitution, -2 Charisma. Gnolls are hardy, and their mental intensity makes them hard to wear down, but they're not the most attractive, sociable, or charming of species.
Medium Monstrous Humanoid. Gnolls gain no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Base land speed of 30 feet.
Gnolls have a natural bite attack that deals 1d6 points of damage.
Fierce Blade: Gnolls receive Martial Study (Wolf Fang Strike) as a bonus feat at 1st level. In addition, any gnoll with a level in crusader gains access to the Tiger Claw discipline.
+2 racial bonus on all Survival checks.
+2 racial bonus on all Climb and Jump checks.
Darkvision 60 feet
Low-light vision. Gnolls can see twice as far as normal in conditions of poor illumination.
Favored Class: Crusader. If you don't play with Tome of Battle, replace this with barbarian.
I'm playing up the whole religion thing. Yeenoghu is an excellent demon lord, although I don't think he was made strong enough, and I'd like to set this rewrite apart from my orc rewrite.
Second, I'm playing up the whole slobbering raging monster thing. The idea is that they're slobbering and raging when they attack you from an almost religious fervor, not because they're big and stupid.
Oh, and no more LA. Or RHD. I don't believe in them.
Enjoy.
The Gnoll
http://i.imgur.com/22pZll.jpg
"ARGH!"
Hyena headed monstrosities, birthed from the blood of their demonic patron, gnolls pillage and sacrifice in the name of the merciless Yeenoghu, the blood of the slain burnt upon the ruins of conquered cities. Hordes march in his unholy name, their bestial fury matched only by their incredible zeal.
Personality: Gnolls are fierce, violent, and psychologically intense. They do everything in life with a single minded devotion, wether that be worship Yeenoghu or hunt their victims. When a gnoll sets a goal for himself, long term or short term, he pursues it with all his energy. This makes them, more than anything else, insufferably stubborn.
Relations: Gnolls get along remarkably badly with anyone who doesn't share their religious beliefs. This limits their traditional racial allies to a very select few group of demons...and that's pretty much it. A sort of mutual respect exists between them and the drow, who also worship a demonic lord, and they have been known to ally with (or enslave) orcs and goblins.
Religion: Gnolls worship Yeenoghu with incredible eagerness, and seek to spread the chaos and destruction he embodies whenever possible. Some say the gnolls dream of establishing a massive theocracy in Yeenoghu's name...
Gnoll Racial Traits
+2 Constitution, -2 Charisma. Gnolls are hardy, and their mental intensity makes them hard to wear down, but they're not the most attractive, sociable, or charming of species.
Medium Monstrous Humanoid. Gnolls gain no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Base land speed of 30 feet.
Gnolls have a natural bite attack that deals 1d6 points of damage.
Fierce Blade: Gnolls receive Martial Study (Wolf Fang Strike) as a bonus feat at 1st level. In addition, any gnoll with a level in crusader gains access to the Tiger Claw discipline.
+2 racial bonus on all Survival checks.
+2 racial bonus on all Climb and Jump checks.
Darkvision 60 feet
Low-light vision. Gnolls can see twice as far as normal in conditions of poor illumination.
Favored Class: Crusader. If you don't play with Tome of Battle, replace this with barbarian.