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Gnolls bug me.
They just... bug the crap out of me.
They're supposed to be hyena people, and yet they are so un-hyena like.
Spotted Hyenas, which gnolls are based off, are matriarchal and have a highly complex society. They are also not purely scavengers, and are quite capable of hunting their own prey.
Anyway, enough about how awesome hyenas are.
My problem is...
There isn't an ACCURATE hyena based race. I'd love one, and I'd love help in making one.
I've got some already.
Race name: Crocutuan (does that sound good?)
Stats
Female: Con +2 Int +2 Cha -2
Domineering and agressive female crocutuans are cunning and hardy, but are not exactly... diplomatic
Male: Con -2 Int +2 Cha +2
Cunning, and more diplomatic than their female couterparts, males crocutuans are less hardy than the females
Strong Jaw: A crocutuan's bite does +4 damage and has a grapple oppertunity on creatures medium or smaller.
(that's all I have so far, any help or pointers?)
Honestly, it seems like your complaints (which are entirely valid, I'll grant you) are just fluff-based.
Make gnolls matriarchal, and say that they are predators rather than scavengers (which for a 2HD humanoid with a Str bonus, is perfectly reasonable). Ta da, more realistic.
Why is anything deeper needed? In what way are gnolls mechanically unsatisfying?
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Honestly, it seems like your complaints (which are entirely valid, I'll grant you) are just fluff-based.
Make gnolls matriarchal, and say that they are predators rather than scavengers (which for a 2HD humanoid with a Str bonus, is perfectly reasonable). Ta da, more realistic.
Why is anything deeper needed? In what way are gnolls mechanically unsatisfying?
Just in general, I'm happy to leave gnolls as they are (because they're gnolls and they are derps made from a demon.
I'd like a more noble hyena race with females who are large and in charge (suited to being fighters and barbarians) and males who are more suited to being squishy casters.
It would be highly interesting to have a race where males and females have different stat bonusus.
Fun Fact about Hyenae: roughly 70% of all female spotted hyenae (hyenas is used when you are referring to two or more different specie, say spotted and striped hyenas) are actually functional hermaphrodites. This was learned when males were being killed off in an attempt to curtail the population in the area, and yet there were just as many kits born the following season as if the males had been left alone. This fact may have something to do with their matriarchal pack structure. Not sure if this would need to be reflected in any game mechanics (aside from say a Black Tokyo or fursona campaign campaign though.
Wait, gnolls aren't matriarchal? What else? Maybe someone tell me they don't hunt?
And for your race.
Crocutuan don't sound any more hyenish than gnoll for me (and gnolls have Lord Dunsany on their side).
Intelligence bonus to Hyena race? Yes, hyenas are quite intelligent animals, but should this make your hyena-folk better wizards or magi than humans? I am unconvinced - I would rather see them getting Wisdom bonus to represent their honed senses and stubbornness.
Purely mechanically Strong Jaw actually does nothing as written... It gives +4 bonus to bite, except because you hadn't give them bite attack in the first place it's wasted. From the rest of the description I understand that you want it to be an actual bite natural attack with higher than regular damage and grab special quality. Quite a lot if it is intended as player race, otherwise ok.
Certainly they should get low-light vision in addition to this and (in non-PC race) scent and maybe some skill bonus (Perception and Survival?).
Crocuta crocuta is the scientific name for the spotted hyena.
Crocutuan don't sound any more hyenish than gnoll for me (and gnolls have Lord Dunsany on their side).
The name of mythological creature that was the source of the scientific name of the hyena was already used in D&D for different monster.
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Aardwolffolk as highly intelligent and advanced counterpart of barbaric gnolls?
Aardfolk
Small Humanoid (gnoll)
Ability Scores: +2 Dex, +2 Int, -2 Str
Low-light Vision
What else could they get?
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Aardwolffolk as highly intelligent and advanced counterpart of barbaric gnolls?
Aardfolk
Small Humanoid (gnoll)
Ability Scores: +2 Dex, +2 Int, -2 Str
Low-light Vision
What else could they get?
Vermin Hunter: Aardfolk find vermin to be a delectable treat, and their diet is based around them. As a consequence, they are very adept at hunting and killing all vermin and therefore gain a +2 bonus on all attacks against vermin.
(because real Aardwolves eat small mammals, reptiles and bugs)
They're supposed to be hyena people, and yet they are so un-hyena like.
Which is good. Nothing* is worse than an anthropomorphic race stupidly modeled after the animal that it's based on. Although I wouldn't mind making them matriarchal.
*If you find the hyperbole, you can keep it.