Chosing a race from the Bestiary

[gnrrrg]

I want to try making a non-standard race character just so I can se how well I'm understanding the rules. Is there a rule limiting what beasts can be used (i.e. only beasts of a certain type or subtype may be used)?

[ShadowcatX]

Depends, are you the DM or are you a player? If you're the player, ask your DM, for the most part bestiaries are not designed as a player resource.

[Grick]

gnrrrg wrote:

I want to try making a non-standard race character just so I can se how well I'm understanding the rules. Is there a rule limiting what beasts can be used (i.e. only beasts of a certain type or subtype may be used)?

Used for what?

A player character? None of them are allowed unless your DM says so.

A monster for your players to fight? They're all allowed, since you're the DM, and you say so.

If you're just playing around, and want to build a PC, look for races that have "XXXXX Characters" sections, like Drow, Tiefling, and Aasimar. (Also stuff like Goblin, Hobgoblin, Kobold, etc.) They're not legal in PFS, or at a home game without DM permission, but they have stats and stuff to help with building a PC.

[Lincoln Hills]

You'll see a "Characters" entry for creatures that often become NPCs with class levels - those are generally the ones that would have the fewest game-balance problems if integrated with a group. But that doesn't mean a GM's campaign can handle a character of that race: for example, although you'll see a "Merfolk Characters" entry, your GM may feel that the character won't be viable in the Gritty Post-Apocalyptic Desert World oF Hard Fun.