My intention with this project is to create Hobgoblins as an alternate PC race for my own homebrew world. I intend for them to be internally balanced with the other more standard PC races and not have to contend with ECL's and LA's and such.
I would very much appreciate any feedback, comments, criticisms, or suggestions on any aspect of this - in particular the game mechanic aspects. The flavour text is obviously written with my own world in mind, but any feedback there would be great too - these may not be the culturally typical hobgoblins of the MM.
Many thanks,
Shivir (Hobgoblin)
The Shivir inhabit one of the most inclement regions in the World of Llowellen. Their land is mostly tundra - low, flat, treeless plains where the ground remains permanently frozen except for a few inches of the surface during the brief summer season. Although some groups are settled on rivers and depend on fishing, and others follow inland caribou herds, most Shivir traditionally have lived primarily as hunters of seals, walrus, and whales, and the structure and ethos of their culture have always been fundamentally oriented to the sea.
Personality: The Shivir have managed to eke a living and carve a society within an exceptionally inhospitable environment and this has engendered them with a great respect for physical constitution and simple practicality. They are brutally honest and upfront with little patience for meekness or deception within themselves or others. Survival is paramount in the reality of the Shivir’s daily life, but they still find the time to appreciate food, drink, dance and romance. They know that death may be upon them at any moment and intend to experience the moment in which they find themselves. They fear little, except the hostility of their environment, raiding minotaurs and the mystical fey.
Physical Description: Shivir are a tough people hardened by a lifetime of crossing the tundra. Their shoulders and hips are wide, their chests broad and muscular. Their skin is permanently blushed from the frigid winds and takes on a dark orange or red-orange tone with prominently large blue or red tinted noses. Hobgoblins’ eyes are yellowish or dark brown, while their teeth are yellow. Both Shivir men and women let their dark reddish-brown and dark-grey hair grow long and unkempt, men studiously braid their long moustaches and beards.
Relations: The Shivir have mixed relations with the goblins and orcs with whom they compete for hunting and living rights. It is not uncommon for one Shivir village to enslave goblins and be allied with orcs, just as another wars with all of its neighbours and yet another seeks a quieter life avoiding trouble from all comers. Without exception, the Shivir hate and fear the minotaurs who often raid them to take slaves or food themselves. The Shivir are largely unaware of the fey – except in fearful rumour and legend.
Homeland: For the Shivir peoples merely surviving their daily life is often adventure enough. They frequently must move camp, uprooting entire villages and trekking across the tundra in order to find the next safe cave or sheltered cove to make their home – and often with goblins, orcs or minotaurs dogging their every step. During the First Age, Shivir will not be encountered outside of the frozen environs of the Sunless South.
Religion: Shivir religion has its basis in Anwen s teachings but it otherwise animistic with the Shivir worshipping the spirits of most of the native animals and even important features of the landscape. Shivir religion however teaches of a supreme ruler of the spirit animals and in a vague deification of the forces of nature – Anwen.
Language: Prior to 40’000 PL the Shivir had no real spoken or written language, rather they would communicate with a bestial sub-language of grunts, gestures and body language that could be understood only by themselves. Since 40’000 PL that primitive language has evolved into Shivor. Shivor is the local tongue spoken by all of the Shivir peoples but with sometimes extreme local dialect variation. Only the tribal leader or shaman might be learned enough to speak a second or third language and this would vary depending on the minor race any particular tribe has the most direct contact with.
Male Names: Kavik, Malik, Quroq, Sermeq.
Female Names: Acadia, Igdlo, Kirima, Nuna.
Racial Traits:
+2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, -2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma. Shivir are a physically tough people long accustomed to running across the tundra, yet they are a simple and uncomplicated people who often seem rude or abrupt to others.
Shivir base speed is 30 feet.
Medium: As Medium creatures, Shivir have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Darkvision 60’: Shivir can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and Shivir can function just fine with no light at all.
Automatic Languages: Shivir (sub), Shivir (verbal).
+4 racial bonus on Wilderness Survival checks.
Racial Levels: A Shivir can take up to three levels in ‘hobgoblin’ as a class to develop their racial qualities more fully.
Hobgoblin Levels
Shivir can take up to three levels in ‘hobgoblin’ at any time. Not all Shivir, however, take racial levels (or all three of them).
Hit Die: 1d8
Skill Points at 1st Character Level: (2+ Intelligence) x 4
Skill Points at Higher Level: 2+ Intellignce bonus
“Class” Skills : Climb (Str), Heal (Wis), Intimidate ((Cha), Intuit Direction (Wis), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Sneak (Dex), Spot (Wis), and Wilderness Survival (Wis).
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: Shivir with levels only in hobgoblin (no actual class levels) are proficient in the use of all simple weapons and light armours and shields.
Level 1: +1 BAB, +0 Fort, +0 Ref, +0 Will, +1 Str, +1 Dex
Level 2: +2 BAB, +1 Fort, +1 Ref, +0 Will, +2 Con
Level 3: +3 BAB, +2 Fort, +2 Ref, +1 Will, +2 Con
Your PC race bears many similarities with the Hobgoblin from Kingdoms of Kalamar. You should check it out if you haven't done so already.
As per you proposition, the hobgoblins gain some racial bonuses to dexterity and consitution, while gaining some penalties to charisma and intelligence. Kenzer also gave them racial bonuses to Listen, Spot and Hide.
Since it is an EL1, there are no Hobgoblin levels. It does not gain any bonuses to survival also. The favored class is the fighter.
Good luck,
Out of the class skills... only 1 is from an ability score that gets a bonus, and 6 out of the 9 are based in ability scores that receive penalties. That doesn't seem right IMO.
The ability score mods look a bit unbalanced to me as well.
And if they fear little, why don't they get a bonus? Otherwise, they fear as much as everyone else, excepting halflings who fear less.
Thank you for your comments - I don't have the Kalamar books, but if I get the chance to browse I shall certainly do so.
I think the idea of a +2 bonus to fear-based savs is a good one, and I shall include this. I have already altered the ability mods, to a more simple +2 Str, -2 Wis, -2 Cha.
I shall also revise the class skills given your valid feedback.
Cheers
Ian