Krond Heights and Goblin Deeps, part 13: New Races for Player Characters

Part 12 was the maps; now, the new races made available. These have been made at various times over the last few years, so there's some variation in how they're created. The full race/class cost and encounter reactions table is linked here.


Bugans
Bugans are halflings with significant goblin blood, but raised in the halfling and bugan communities of the Krond Heights river valleys. Though their reactions are a touch slower than a standard halfling, they have better (and bigger) ears and noses, and large eyes that drink up light on dark nights. In their own communities, bugans have relatively few social problems, and are treated as any other halfling might be; outside of the Krond Heights, bugans whose goblin blood is revealed find most races react to them more negatively.

Bugans at a Glance

Ability adjustments
-3 Strength
-1 Wisdom
+2 Dexterity
+1 Constitution
-2 Looks
-1 Charisma

Bugan Pros:
One free purchase of Hiding, Sneaking, and Listening
Harder to hit: +4 to defense
Hiding in Natural Surroundings
Low Light Vision
+10% to Observation when scent is involved.

Bugan Cons:
Size small for HP and Knock-backs.
Short stature means they move at ½ the speed of humans.
-1 foot reach with weapons
Native Goblin Language (must purchase others).

Preferential Talent Access:
May purchase the following talents at 50% BP cost:
*Blind-fighting, Pain Tolerant, Poison Resistant, Tough as Nails, Crack Shot, Greased Lightning (for slings only)

Fighter 30
Ranger 35
Barbarian 40
Thief 25
Rogue 50
Assassin 45
Mage 75
Fighter/Mage 55
Fighter/Thief 25
Mage/Thief 50
Cleric 40

****

Fieri

Fieri are the offspring of goblins and humans. Many are the product of human slaves being abused by their goblin masters, but others are second or third generation fieri, the offspring of fieri and fieri, fieri and humans, or fieri and goblins. The precise line between “fieri”, “human”, and “goblin” is a difficult one to draw, however.

Fieri are shorter than humans, wiry and tough. Unlike goblins, they function just fine by day, though they lack some of their humanoid forebear’s acuteness of nightvision. They usually suffer from miseducation, poor impulse control, and a decidedly goblin cast to their features and outlook.

Human-raised fieri refer to those raised in human cultures, such as the Bylenjy of the Shadesh West (a Dejy group who frequently interact with goblins), or raised alongside humans in human-dominated areas (a fieri raised by fieri in the slums of Bet Kalamar, for example). Goblin-reared fieri are almost always slaves of the goblins who raised them, with a rare few breaking free, either to independence or to take their place among the goblins.

Half-goblins (Fieri) at a Glance

Ability adjustments
-1 Strength
-1 Intelligence
-1 Wisdom
+1 Dexterity
+1 Constitution
-2 Looks
-1 Charisma

Human Reared Fieri Pros
*Size medium for HP (i.e. 10 hp + Constitution + class roll); though not tall or broad, they have remarkable toughness
*Low light vision
*One free purchase of the Listening skill
*+10% to Observation when scent is involved
*Native Human Language
*Passing: Human-raised fieri might pass for human; based on their Looks after Step 5 of character creation, they have a 7% chance per point of Looks to pass as human in most circumstances. Subsequent changes to Looks (due to quirks and flaws, effects of criticals, or points spent to increase Looks at level up) do not affect this chance. It is rolled only once. If able to pass for human, they may do so with an Unskilled Disguise check.

Human Reared Fieri Cons
*Fieri who cannot or will not pass for human have a terrible reputation; see the table below for their racial reaction adjustments. “Passing” fieri who are discovered must immediately reroll encounter reactions with this penalty.
*Size small for knock-backs. While they are as fleet of foot as humans, and just as tough, they’re still relatively slight of build, and so are treated as small creatures for the purposes of knock-backs

Goblin-Reared Fieri Pros
*Size medium for HP (i.e. 10 hp + Constitution + class roll); though not tall or broad, they have remarkable toughness
*Low light vision
*One free purchase of the Listening skill
*+10% to Observation when scent is involved
*Laborer Proficiency
*Passing: Goblin-raised fieri might pass for human; based on their Looks after Step 5 of character creation, they have a 5% chance per point of Looks to pass as human in most circumstances. Subsequent changes to Looks (due to quirks and flaws, effects of criticals, or points spent to increase Looks at level up) do not affect this chance. It is rolled only once. If able to pass for human, they may do so with an Unskilled Disguise check.

Goblin Reared Fieri Cons
*Character’s native language is Goblin; they will need to purchase additional languages.
*Fieri who cannot or will not pass for human have a terrible reputation; see the table below for their racial reaction adjustments. “Passing” fieri who are discovered must immediately reroll encounter reactions with this penalty.
*Size small for knock-backs. While they are as fleet of foot as humans, and just as tough, they’re still relatively slight of build, and so are treated as small creatures for the purposes of knock-backs

Preferential Talent Access:
May purchase the following talents at 50% BP cost:
*Blind-fighting, Pain Tolerant, Poison Resistant, Tough as Nails

Special Note: Goblin-reared fieri with the Animal Antipathy Flaw for Canines gain an additional 10 BP; having wargs and wolves hate you in goblin society will either kill you quickly or build character.

Class Costs (regardless of upbringing)
Fighter: 25
Ranger: 50
Barbarian: 40
Thief: 25
Rogue: 35
Assassin: 25
Mage: 45
Fighter/Mage: 35
Fighter/Thief : 25
Mage/Thief: 30
Cleric: 30
Sorcerer: 40
Illusionist: 50
Shaman: 30

Reaction tables:
Reaction from:
Dwarf: Hate
Elf: Disdain
Gnome: Hate
Gnome Titan: Hate
Grel: Disdain
Half-elf: Disdain
Half-Hobgoblin: Disdain
Half-orc: Disdain
Halfling: Hate
Human: Disdain
Pixie-faerie: Fear
Fieri: Prefer

Reaction Towards:
Dwarf: Disdain
Elf: Disdain
Gnome: Hate
Gnome Titan: Hate
Grel: Disdain
Half-elf: Dislike
Half-Hobgoblin: Tolerate
Half-orc: Tolerate
Halfling: Disdain
Human: Like
Pixie-faerie: Hate
Fieri: Prefer

***

Ragged Dwarves (Dwerro)

Ragged Dwarves at a Glance
Wisdom +1
Dexterity +1
Constitution +2
Looks -3
Charisma -2

Ragged Dwarf Pros
*Size Medium for HP (i.e. 10 HP + Constitution + Class Roll)
*Extreme Low Light Vision
*Magic Resistance: Ragged Dwarves receive +1 on saving throws v. magic for every 4 points of Constitution (not 3, as with standard dwarves)
*Poison Resistance: Ragged Dwarves receive +1 on saving throws v. poison for every 3 points of Constitution (as standard dwarves)
*Ragged dwarves receive a +2 to attack and damage rolls against goblins.
*One free purchase of Mining; further purchases of Mining receive +2 on the Mastery die, in addition to any attribute bonuses.
*Free Laborer and Maintenance/Upkeep proficiencies
*May make 1 purchase of Sorcery at 10 BP, if they have Supernatural Affinity. Subsequent purchases are made at full cost.

Ragged Dwarf Cons
*Due to their short stature, they move at half the movement rate of humans.
*Due to their slight stature, they do not receive the dwarven defense against Knockbacks.
*Due to their life underground, they do not receive the dwarven bonus to defense against giants.
*Due to their magical dabblings, they receive a lesser bonus against magic than other dwarves.
*Poor reach (effective reach is -1 foot).
*Native language is Goblin (must learn additional languages; mutual intelligibility with Dwarven means they have atrocious, mushy, accents in that language, while their Goblin is characterized as “hard” and “unnaturally crisp”)
*When transitioning from Extreme Low Light vision to normal vision, will suffer a period of blindness for 2d4p seconds, during which time they will be -4 to attack and -2 to defense, with a 15% penalty on skills that involve sight.

Preferential Talent Access
*May purchase the following talents at the parenthetical cost:
-Attack Bonus, Damage Bonus, Parry Bonus, Swiftblade (5 BP each, with daggers and knives only), Blindfighting (30), Less Sleep (12), Supernatural Affinity (15).

Class Costs:
Fighter 50
Ranger n/a
Barbarian n/a
Thief 30
Rogue 40
Assassin 25
Mage 40
Fighter/Mage 45
Fighter/Thief40
Mage/Thief 35
Cleric 40

When rolling for height and weight of dwerro, use the height charts for dwarves, but BMI charts for grel.

***

[1] Long absence from the sun means that dwerro cycles really cannot be counted in “day” or “night”; they work until they are beyond tired, and wake when forced to. Like their dwarven cousins, they will frequently post a guard, most often those on other duty shifts.

****

Goblins

Goblins at a Glance
Strength -3
Intelligence -1
Wisdom -3
Dexterity +2
Consititution +2
Looks -4
Charisma -2

Goblin Pros:
*One Free Purchase of the Mining Skill
*One Free Purchase of the Torture Skill
*One Free Purchase of the Listening skill
*Extreme Low-light vision; Twice the range of normal vision
*+10% on Observation when smell is involved
*Goblins enjoy reduced-cost access to several skills. Each of the following skills requires 1 less BP for the first purchase: Animal Empathy, Animal Training (wolves), Hiding, Religion, Riding (canines), Sneaking, and Survival. Subsequent purchases gain no reduction in cost.

Goblin Cons:
*Poor Reach (effective weapon reach is -1 foot)
*Due to their stature, goblins move at only half the rate of humans
*Light Blindness: -2 to attack and defense in full sunlight, -1 to attack at dawn, dusk, or when overcast, no penalty under storm clouds or by starlight.
*Size small with regard to HPs (i.e. 5 hp + CON + class roll)
*Size small for knock backs

Preferential Talent Access:
May purchase the following talents at 50% BP cost:
*Blind-fighting, Pain Tolerant, Poison Resistant, Tough as Nails

Special Note: Goblins with the Animal Antipathy Flaw for Canines gain an additional 10 BP; having wargs and wolves hate you in goblin society is will either kill you quickly or build character.

Fighter 25
Ranger n/a
Barbarian 40
Thief 25
Rogue 55
Assassin 30
Mage 70
Fighter/Mage 50
Fighter/Thief 25
Mage/Thief 50
Cleric 35

******

Hobgoblins

Hobgoblins at a Glance
Strength +2
Intelligence -1
Dexterity +2
Consititution +1
Looks -2

Hobgoblin Pros:
*One Free Purchase of the Mining Skill
*One Free Purchase of the Listening skill
*Low-light vision
*Free Laborer Proficiency

Hobgoblin Cons:
*Character’s native language is Hobgoblin - Kargi or Krangi as appropriate (must purchase any additional languages)

Preferential Talent Access:
May purchase the following talents and proficiencies at 50% BP cost:
*Fast Healer, Poison Resistant, Tough as Nails, Pain Tolerant, Resolute, Tough Hide, Armor Proficiencies, Shield Proficiency

Fighter 20
Ranger n/a
Barbarian 40
Thief 50
Rogue 50
Assassin 35
Mage 75
Fighter/Mage 50
Fighter/Thief 35
Mage/Thief 65
Cleric 50

****

Revisted Sil-Karg

Half-Hobgoblins (Sil-Karg) at a Glance

Ability adjustments
+1 Strength
+1 Dexterity
-2 Looks

Human Reared Sil-Karg Pros
*Size medium for HP (i.e. 10 hp + Constitution + class roll)
*Low light vision
*One free purchase of the Listening skill
*Native Human Language
*Laborer proficiency
*Passing: Human-raised sil-karg might pass for human; based on their Looks after Step 5 of character creation, they have a 7% chance per point of Looks to pass as human in most circumstances. Subsequent changes to Looks (due to quirks and flaws, effects of criticals, or points spent to increase Looks at level up) do not affect this chance. It is rolled only once. If able to pass for human, they may do so with an Unskilled Disguise check.

Human Reared Sil-Karg Cons
*Sil-karg who cannot or will not pass for human have a terrible reputation. They receive a -8 reaction penalty from dwarves and gnome titans, a -10 reaction from pixie-faeries, and a -4 from almost everyone else (these are the penalties from Racial Preferences, as laid out in the PH and GMG). Only Grel and other sil-karg do not intensely dislike them. “Passing” sil-karg who are discovered must immediately reroll encounter reactions with this penalty.

Hobgoblin Reared Sil-Karg Pros
*Size medium for HP (i.e. 10 hp + Constitution + class roll)
*low light vision
*One free purchase of the Listening skill
*One free purchase of the Mining skill
*Laborer proficiency
*Hobgoblin-raised sil-karg might pass for human; based on their Looks after Step 5 of character creation, they have a 5% chance per point of Looks to pass as human in most circumstances. Subsequent changes to Looks (due to quirks and flaws, effects of criticals, or points spent to increase Looks at level up) do not affect this chance. It is rolled only once. If able to pass for human, they may do so with an Unskilled Disguise check.

Hobgoblin Reared Sil-Karg Cons
*Character’s native language is Hobgoblin - Kargi or Krangi as appropriate (must purchase any additional languages)
*Sil-karg who cannot or will not pass for human have a terrible reputation. They receive a -8 reaction penalty from dwarves and gnome titans, a -10 reaction from pixie-faeries, and a -4 from almost everyone else (these are the penalties from Racial Preferences, as laid out in the PH and GMG). Only Grel and other sil-karg do not intensely dislike them. “Passing” sil-karg who are discovered must immediately reroll encounter reactions with this penalty.

Preferential talent access
May purchase the following Talents at 50% BP cost
Fast Healer, Pain Tolerant, Poison Resistant, Resolute, Tough as Nails, Tough Hide

Class Costs (regardless of upbringing)
Fighter: 20
Assassin: 35
Fighter/Thief: 35
Barbarian: 40
Cleric: 50
Fighter/Mage: 50
Ranger: 50
Rogue: 50
Thief: 50
Mage/Thief: 65
Mage: 75

****

Bugbears

Bugbears at a Glance
Strength +6
Intelligence -1
Wisdom -1
Dexterity +5
Constitution +6
Looks -4
Charisma -2

Pros
*Size Large; 15 pt hit point kicker, 20 point knock-back, able to use many large weapons (except bows and polearms) in one hand.
*Claws do 2d4p damage (can use on near-perfect defense)
*Unarmored DR of 3
*Initiative Die 1 less than normal
*Free Purchases: Hiding, Listening, Sneaking, Observation
*Low-light vision

Cons
*Horrible racial reaction tables; most player character races Hate them, with gnomes, halflings, and pixie-fairies fearing them. Half-orcs and sil-karg generally merely dislike them. Even among other humanoids, feelings towards bugbears seldom rise above Dislike; they may be used, but they’re not considered allies. Even other bugbears merely Tolerate other bugbears from outside their own clan.
*Large Size: Goods and services are 5-8 times more expensive than for medium and small creatures, including, especially, food. Bugbears must consume twice the rations of medium humans, and twice the water. Seldom able to find armor that fits, resulting in piecemeal armor (which usually has the DR of its worst component, and the other penalties of its most restrictive).

Sidebar: Living La Vida Grande

Bugbears are unlike most other PC races; they are taller than most humans (averaging about 6’6”), and can weigh over 350 pounds. Despite this, their attributes are capped as with other PCs; they can have no more than 20/00 Strength, nor 22/00 Constitution. Any adjustment above these numbers will instead place them at these numbers.

Due to their size, however, their carrying capacity is twice that of a human of the same strength, and their reach with human-sized weapons is 1’ greater than normal, and they may use many large weapons in one hand (anything with a reach of 6’ or less, or bows, which require 2 hands by their design, not necessarily because of their size). Unlike grevans, they are unlikely to have huge-sized weapons; at the lower end of Large, they cannot use truly huge weapons, despite their strength, and are disinclined to make any for their own use. More improvised Huge-sized weapons (such as massive clubs), suited to bugbear hands, see their reach increased by 1 foot per size they are increased, and their die size increased by 1, or add a die if the die size is already d12; a bugbear-sized club is a large weapon doing 2d6p damage, with a reach of 3.5’ feet. Conversely, they find small weapons difficult to use, unless they are meant to be thrown; human-sized weapons with 1 foot of reach or less inflict a -2 penalty to strike and defense; they are akin to trying to fight with a pen knife one keeps on a keychain.

Bugbears consider human-sized shields as one size lower than they are; a buckler is nothing, a small shield is a buckler, a medium shield is a small shield, etc.

Classes:
Fighter: 40
Ranger: 60
Barbarian: 40
Thief: 35
Rogue: 70
Assassin: 30
Mage: 75
Fighter/Mage: 55
Fighter/Thief: 35
Thief/Mage: 55
Cleric: 70

****
Vermus

Vermus at a Glance (from HoB2, p. 323)

Ability Adjustments
Strength -4
Wisdom +1
Dexterity +3
Looks -3
Charisma -1

Pros
*Move at human speeds
*Low light Vision
*One Free Purchase of Climbing, Escape Artist, Hiding, Identify Trap, Listening, Sneaking
*May make 1 purchase of Disarm Trap at half cost (8 BP); subsequent purchases are at full cost.
*Hide in Urban Surroundings (as Hide in Natural Surroundings, only in Urban environments, including sewer systems and middens).
*Immune to most human diseases
*Initiative Bonus (as elves, halflings)
*Forgettable Face (among non-Vermus)

Cons
*Size Small for Hit Points (5 point size modifier) and Knockbacks
*Native language is Vermus; must learn other languages
*Difficulty speaking most languages; can understand at mastery level, but are understood at -20%. Cannot have the No Accent talent. Can be understood clearly by Gnomes, Kobolds, and Gnolls, however.
*Animal Phobia (Large Felines)
*Short arms preclude use of many weapons, inflict -1.5’ reach penalty. See Sidebar
*Poor encounter reactions; While Gnomes and Half-Orcs Tolerate them, all other races Dislike them, except for Grel, who Disdain them.

Preferential Talent Access
Vermus may purchase the following talents at 50% BP Cost:
Attack Bonus, Damage Bonus, Parry Bonus, Swiftblade (knives), Poison Resistance

Class Costs:
Thief: 10
Mage/Thief: 25 (20, if they have the Albino Flaw)
Fighter/Thief: 25
Cleric: 40 (30, if they have the Albino Flaw)
Mage: 45 (30, if they have the Albino Flaw)
Fighter: 50
Assassin: 50 (they are very good at it, but culturally don’t understand it)
Fighter/Mage: 55 (45, if they have the albino flaw)
Ranger: 70 (they could do it, but it’s an alien idea to live out in the woods, shoot arrows, and help people)
Rogue: 75 (most of their skills do not mesh with vermus psychology or culture)
Barbarian: lolwhut

Captain 70
Sorcerer 40 (30, if they have the Albino Flaw)
Illusionist 35 (30, if they have the Albino Flaw)
Shaman 40 (30, if they have the Albino Flaw)
Witch Doctor 45 (35, if they have the Albino Flaw)

***

Forbidden Weapons
Most playable races are built largely along the lines of humans; elbows that reach a reasonably defined waist, with relatively free-swinging upper arms and shoulders. Vermus have much shorter arms, with more restricted upper arms. This limits their use of weapons that are designed for more humanoid physiology

*Battle Axe
*Flail (either)
*Lance
*Pick, Military
*All polearms (except short spear)
*Scythe
*Staff
*Broadsword, Greatsword, Longsword, Scimitar, Two-Handed Sword
*Warhammer, Great
*Axe, Throwing
*Bows
*Crossbows
*Javelin
*Knife, Throwing

Vermus who attempt to use these weapons suffer double the non-proficiency penalty; even if they choose to become proficient in them, they will continue to suffer those penalties.

***

New Talent
Human-looking (20)
Prerequisite: Half-human, halfling
Regardless of the character’s Looks, they are able to pass as humans quite easily (halflings passing as human children). Noticing that they are not human requires a Difficult Observation or Scrutiny check by someone specifically looking at them, followed by an opposed check between that skill and the character’s Disguise.

Krond Heights and Goblin Deeps: Maps

 

The aboveground areas of the Krond Heights

 

 The underground area of the Krond Heights.

 

Original images are from the Kingdoms of Kalamar Atlas, part of the 4e campaign setting book. 

Complete Book of Elves Kit Evaluation

 The Complete Book of Elves is infamous; I used to jokingly call it "Meine Alf", because it was just a book about how cool elves were. Not how they were sometimes flawed, or necessarily about their culture, but about how they were more in tune with the universe and made the best stuff (like armor that you could cast in, awesome bows, and the occasional cybernetic appendage). Most infamous were the Bladesingers, who were these amazing Fighter/Mages, on top of the coolness of already getting to be a fighter/mage.

So I'm going into this a bit biased against the book. Keep that in mind, as I will be.

Kits are organized by class group, but oddly... Priest, Warrior, Mage/Thief, Fighter/Mage, Fighter/Thief, Fighter/Mage/Thief, and Any Class. No pure wizard kits, no pure rogue kits.

Priest Kit
Herbalist: Herbalists are interesting; not too powerful, but very useful if they're in their element. Bonus WP of sickle, which might conflict with their divine class, bonus NWP of Healing and Herbalism. But their focus is pretty much entirely on non-magical herbalism, and limited by terrain... at 1st level, they must pick one, and have a penalty in all others, including a 1 in 4 possibility of picking poisonous ones. While in their terrain, they can heal extra damage (1d4 points if they can start within 4 rounds of someone being hurt), being able to find hard-to-find herbs (no mechanics), and identify plants and pure water in their chosen terrain. Every five levels, they can add a new terrain, and five levels after that, they can identify plants and pure water in their terrain. They technically CAN brew poison, but if they ever do for use against others (as opposed to testing for antidotes), they lose the kit.

This kit could be very useful if you were likely to stay in a single place; their healing is pretty useful, especially at low levels. I am somewhat curious about the choice to make it 4 rounds for the healing... why not a turn? Why not five rounds? But it is what it is. A very specific sort of kit, but not bad at it, in its own way.

Warrior Kits:
Archer: Archers suck with melee weapons, get a bonus to trick shots, a bonus to damage with well-cared for equipment, and an improved rate of fire... but that's part of the problem. They get +1/2 an attack, which is reasonable enough. But then the kit claims that their rate of fire becomes 5/2... ok... and includes movement. What? The PH (Movement and Missile Combat) says that moving means you get half your usual ROF. So it would be 3/2, right? Nope. Because Complete Elves gives elves the ability to maintain their ROF even though they've moved (p. 73). The kit then says that, if they stood still, they'd get a 3/1, which means it's not just a +1/2, it's a +1 attack. This isn't a specialization bonus; bows don't get additional attacks per round when specialized. It's just a special ability of archers, stacked on top of a special ability of elves, that came out of nowhere.

It is through things like this that the reputation of the Complete Book of Elves was built.

Wilderness Runner: A ranger-only kit, Wilderness runners pick up bonus WP (bows and quarterstaves), NWPs (Endurance, Running, Set Snares). They get a bonus to tracking, ignore natural weather changes between 32* and 100* (this is, incidentally, an ability given to all elves on page 36), can use Set Snares to make man-traps, and can make any equipment they need. I think it is supposed to be that they don't use swords, since their recommended weapons include "organic weapons", but I can't see that it's required anywhere. They start with almost no money. This is balanced by some pretty heavy restrictions... have to make a wisdom check to stay in a city for more than a day, have to make a wisdom check to stay in unnatural caves (they don't LIKE natural caves, but they won't freak out). They also get a big penalty to dealing with "civilized" elves, but the inverse with sylvan elves and their allies. And they start with almost no money... you might not even be able to afford leather armor, though you can justify starting with any equipment you want.

Like the Herbalist, the Wilderness Runner is a choice. You're playing a backwoods ranger who makes their own gear, their own jerky, and probably their own moonshine. You won't ride a horse, and probably won't wash your socks. They're good at what they do, but what they do is narrowly tailored.

Windrider: In theory, an elven fighter or ranger without a kit can choose this one. Sometime between 4th and 6th level, they'll get the benefits (I assume they got the bonus WP and NWPs before then): They get a griffon, hippogriff, or pegasus as a mount, and they get a +2 to reaction from the higher-class humans and elves. Downsides are a -3 to reaction with lower class elves and humans, and they have to worry about their mounts. Of the three, griffons are the toughest (7 HD, 3 AC), pegasi are the smartest and fastest, and hippogriffs are an option... slightly faster than griffins, do more damage with hooves than griffin claws, but far less damage with a bite, and having only about half the HD, and far less morale.

Nothing terribly to write home about, in all, but not an unbalancing kit, either.

Mage/Thief
Spellfilcher: Some bonus NWP, Detect Magic 1/level/day (which level? Thief or mage?), and a +5% to find and temporarily disable magical traps, and +5% more per four levels (which level?). The last is kind of a mixed bag; +5%/4 levels to find and remove magical traps is nice, especially since magical traps cut your chance in half. But it's also only 5% every 4 levels; 1.25% per level, only for magical traps, and traps are only temporarily disabled, not removed. They're tightly tied to the Spellfilcher's Guild, including needing to ask for permission to go adventuring, and they're supposed to get negative reactions from non-elven wizards, and be sought after by non-elven thieves... but there's no mechanics backing these up, like a negative encounter reaction. The 1/day/level detect magic is nice, but I think it's trying to do all the heavy lifting, and it has mage/thief noodle arms.

Fighter/Mage
Bladesinger: Bonus NWPs, +1 to hit and damage with a weapon of choice, +1/4 levels with special fighting manuevers (eg disarm), sizable bonus to AC when casting (half level, +1), can cast 1-handed at +2 to initiative. This is balanced by a very wishy-washy "Have to help elves and advance the elf race" (unless they think it's a trick), -1 to hit with any weapon other than their prefered weapon, no bonus with bows. They can't specialize in weapon groups, which is odd, since no one can. Penalty when wearing armor heavier than elven chain or studded leather. It's recommended that they take single weapon or two-handed style, which is another weird bit... they do not practice bladesong as a fighting style. Their AC bonus while casting mimics Bladesong's ability to parry while fighting, but doesn't apply while fighting. They get a +1 to hit and damage with their chosen weapon, but not Bladesong's +1 to AC. It feels like the two abilities, kit and style, are out of synch, and much could have been made out of just making Bladesingers the masters of the Bladesong fighting style... let them use all the abilities of the bladesong in the same round, let them improve the bladesong's bonuses as normal. They're not super-powerful, just feel out of touch with the bladesong they're supposed to be masters of.

War Wizard: Bonus WP, Bonus NWP (Spellcraft and Engineering or Survival). They can add a +1 to their entire side's attack bonus, which is pretty great, but under some pretty harsh restrictions (have to study and map the area, have to hold a strategy meeting with everyone, anyone who is getting the bonus has to pass an Int check); great bonus, but hard to get. +1 to hit with their weapon of choice, and a spell of choice every 4 levels, which gets a -1 to initiative or inflicts a -1 on saving throws. And at the next multiple of 4, the bonuses on spell one go up, and you get a new spell at -1 (which is a good thing). A couple sweet bonuses. Penalties are can only select certain weapons (swords, bows, and lances), have a code of conduct that is left up to the DM ("should be fierce, demanding, and restrictive"), and must comply with the demands of the unit. This is the second kit where the chaotic elves absolutely must follow orders, incidentally. Still, if your DM isn't too harsh, the benefits are pretty nice.

Fighter/Thief
Huntsmen: Bonus Net WP, NWPs of Hunting and Tracking. +10% to Move Silently and Hide in Shadows on top of everything else. They "take a smaller bonus to their Tracking proficiency than other non-rangers", but what this smaller penalty might be is never mentioned. Just that it's smaller. Cannot take Read Languages like other thieves, and get a -2 to reaction penalties with good people (he's a bounty hunter) and evil people (he's a bounty hunter). Neutral people apparently don't care.

This one is just poorly written, IMO. How do you say they get a smaller penalty then not tell me what the smaller penalty is? Sure, it's +20 to thief skills, but it's also taking away an entire thief skill, and making you disliked.

Fighter/Mage/Thief
Collector: Bonus NWP (Ancient History and Engineering), half of a bard's chance to know about magic items (5% per 2 levels), plus a bonus if they can search for references and spend their time looking into it. By spending a lot of money (10d100 gp), they can figure out more or less where an item might lie. They get a +10% to Find/Remove traps, and can at +1 or -1 to a roll once a day. Nice benefits; the Find/Remove Traps bonus, incidentally, is better than the one Spellfilchers get... a +10% to all traps equals a +5% to magic traps, but also applies to all traps. While a spellfilcher gets +5%/4 levels, and the Collector is flat, I think the Collector comes out ahead on that.

But the downsides? -2 reaction penalty to everyone. Will not knowingly use a charged magic item, will not destroy a magic item if at all possible, and destroying one gives them -2 to attacks and saves for a week. Now, I got a question, here... does that include potions and scrolls, which are destroyed by their very use? Logically, as they are magic items, it does. However, you are a wizard who cannot use scrolls. This isn't QUITE as bad as the peasant wizard who is technically forbidden from owning a spellbook, but sweet monkey, think through your kits!

Infiltrator: Good bonus NWPs (FIVE!), and a +1 to all of them. They also can pass themselves off as a tall dwarf or a short human with disguise at a -4 (half the normal -7 penalty), which disappears at a rate of 1 per 4 levels in their most expensive class, and +10% to two thief skills of choice. Downside? Reduced resistance to sleep and charm spells of 10% per level (minimum 30%), and supposed to role-play being unsure of themselves and their own identity. Hefty penalty, but they are good at what they do.

Any Class
Undead Slayer: Bonus WP (Medium-sized bludgeon available to their class), NWP (Blindfighting, only), +2 to Hit and Damage against one kind of undead, and can find undead lairs, without any mechanics attached. In return, they must fanatically hunt undead, especially intelligent undead, even to the point of dying themselves if it means killing more. Won't work with non-evil undead. Have to buy holy water and a silver mirror at the start. In a lot of ways, they feel like a concept with a bit of mechanical cover (the +2 to hit and damage one kind of undead), rather than something fully developed.

Overall? The kits kinda suck. I like the concepts, but I don't really want to play any of them as written. I do not understand why either the Collector or the Infiltrator need to be Fighter/Mage/Thieves; they could have been pure thief kits without a lick of change, and the Collector has a crippling flaw of being unable to use potions or scrolls. Herbalists are nice, if limited. Archers are reasonable, but leverage an out-of-left field bonus. Wilderness runners aren't bad, but somewhat narrow, Windriders could be replaced by Complete Fighter Beast Riders who have had a bath, Spellfilchers get a lot of bonus spells... well, one bonus spell a lot of times... Bladesingers don't practice bladesinging. War Wizards really have no reason to be fighters. Huntsmen are incomplete. Undead Slayers are basically a member of any class who got a ranger's species enemy for a single type of undead. And every single one of them is written with paens to the wonderful nature of elves.

An that, I think, is the essential problem with the Complete Book of Elves: It doesn't treat elves seriously. There's no real examination of them that isn't purely laudatory... even the story about four elves capturing and torturing a dwarf for decades comes across as a testament to elven ingenuity. Complete Dwarves talked about dwarves having flaws; Complete Elves waves them away, and makes new abilities and equipment to make elves even kewler. Did you know they can claim a +3 to reaction checks on their homeworld? That they have up to 50% resistance to disease? It's suggested you give elves 3 or more bonus NWPs. And they have not just elven chain, but full plate armor that doesn't interfere with casting. And they can make cybernetics. Not magical limbs... they are explicitly not magical.

An entire book like this; bonus abilities and new stuff where every elf is totally cool.

Krond Heights & Goblin Deeps, Part 11: Slaves, Cities, and Vermii

 This is the last of the major part of the work; the rest is going to be monster stats and races. Then I'm not sure if I should do "Blood and Sunshine: Grel and Pixie Faeries" or "The High Cantons: Vrykarr Mountains, Jendasha-Jenshyta River Valley, and Rokk Woodlands." I am open to suggestions of preferences as to which to do first.

 

Complete Bard Kit Evaluations

 I think I can say pretty confidently that the Complete Bard is one of the best Complete Handbooks of the series; I've heard few bad things about it, and, usually, their reasoning is incomprehensible to me, so they're obviously entirely wrong. Unlike the previous books, the kits in the Complete Bard are close to being new classes. They take four abilities of bards... Influence Reactions, Rally Allies, Countersong, and Legend Lore... and make them optional, mixing in other abilities that fit a particular type of performer. They also take the 4 NWPs bards begin with... Singing, Musical Instrument, Reading, and Local History... and swap them around, too. It results in one of the most dynamic complete handbooks.

I should note, all of the kits (except True Bard) get a modification to their thieving abilities, and these can vary pretty widely; Gallants get a net -25, all from Pick Pockets, while the best net +15%. Of the 17 kits in the book, five of them are net negative thieving skill points.

True Bard: The True Bard is just the bard class, as written up in the PH, and sort of a template for how the rest of them will come out. Bards are jacks of all trades, with tons of abilities and very little synergy... they're thieves but have the least-taken thief abilities, fighters but they have bad HD, and wizards who can't take advantage of their fightery armor while casting spells. Their Rally Allies ability remains simply horrible (+1 to hit OR +1 to saves OR +2 to morale, IF the bard can do nothing for three rounds, and then it only lasts 1 round per bard level), but their Legend Lore ability got a bit of an interesting change... as an optional rule, if the bard succeeded, the DM should roll 3d6 once per level of the bard, and give the bard information base on the table; an 18 means you should just let them read the DMG entry, a 3 will tell them how many charges are left, and all sorts of other things. It's a neat addition, which takes bards from being the identify machine and into someone who knows random bits of stuff about stuff.

Blade: Oooh, sexy and scary! Dark clothes and weapons and they definitely appealed to a younger me a lot more. The first thing to note is the NWPs... Armorer, Bowyer-Fletcher, Gambling, and Weaponsmith... that's 7 slots worth of bonus proficiencies, not the 4 the bard gets. Their Weapons Display is actually better than Rally Allies... it hurts the enemy's morale, and gives allies a +1 to hit, while taking only a round to do (and lasting the same round/level). Two effects, one round, as opposed to a bard getting one of three effects for three rounds of work. They also get some combat benefits (better TWF and automatically ambidextrous), and spins, another kind of weapons display. They give up the 10th level ability to read any magic item. It's a potent ability, but... it's a 10th level ability. The restriction isn't going to come up much.

Charlatan: One thing I missed when younger... Charlatans can wear any armor. They don't like to, but they can. And, sweet monkey, are they powerful. They can charm person, without magic, 1 person per level at a time. Not "A 3rd level charlatan can have 3 people charmed"... as written, they can charm 3 people, then go on and charm another 3 people, and another 3 people. Indefinitely. They can pretend to have any NWP, and have a chance to actually succeed at it... roll Int-10, and if you do, roll a NWP check and, if you succeed at THAT, you successfully used the NWP. They can detect lies, they can detect alignments, they can pick pocket people with words. There's no specific hindrances to this kit, save that people are mad when you swindle them. It is an amazingly powerful kit if people read it.

Gallant: Gallants are if bards were knights in shining armor... literally. They can wear any armor, but only want the coolest stuff... they will always choose pretty over better protection. It's not backed up by mechanics, though, just "This is what Gallants do." Their special abilities are pretty potent, including a +1 HP per level, a floating +2 that can be applied once each round, and, improving reactions with, and the ability to charm, someone of the opposite sex (or appropriate sex, I would argue, given that we're not under TSRs Hayes Code equivalent... Zorro, after all, is sometimes a Gay Blade). Their hindrance is that they cannot gain the soldiers of a True Bard, instead getting a 1st level fighter as a squire starting at 5th level, and their Code, which, among other romantic ideals, requires that they spend half their money.

Gypsy-Bard: Drinking deep the stereotypes of "gypsies", the gypsy-bard is a free-spirit, nature-loving, dancer. They can cast certain animal-related spells as spell-like powers, can free cast any enchantment/charm they know in a long ritual (1d10 turns of dancing and music), and they can tell fortunes with any magical item designed for divination, even if they normally couldn't use the item; they can even use the Deck of Many things this way, and do it safely (but they can't use it normally any safer than others can). If the DM allows, they have a psionic wild talent, all in exchange for a -25 to climb if it isn't a tree. They have a small restriction on weapon choices, and armor, too. All in all, I think they're kind of scattered... there's the fortune-telling and the dancing which fits with the stereotype they're going for, but there's also the animal magics and the "oh, yeah, they might have any weird psionic power the dice give them." It's not a very cohesive idea, and is a bit real-world racist.

Herald: Heralds are supposed to be either wandering bearers of news or James Bond. The intro text is literally "Hello, my name is Bard, James Bard, and I'm a Herald working for His Majesty, the king." They identify rumors, learn who's-who in a given town or district, sway crowds (similar to a True Bard's Influence ability), and can, with luck, speak to anyone, regardless of language. This is a really social kit, and doesn't carry much advantage in a dungeon, but would be an invaluable member of a thieves guild or other espionage game.

I think my biggest complaint is with the sway crowds ability, and this applies to the True Bard, and a few others, as well... if someone fails at their save, they go with the bard's opinion. If someone makes their save, they go opposite the bard's opinion. There's no chance that people listening to the bard just won't have their opinion swayed, which seems odd to me.

Jester: Oh, the Jester. I think I could kill several grognards at a time by suggesting I was going to play a kender jester, as they are deeply unserious characters with some seriously powerful abilities. They do have some weapon and armor restrictions, but relatively minor. Fool's luck gives them a +1 to AC and almost everything else (except attack and damage). They can communicate with anyone through body language, if the person is wise enough to figure out the jester's actions, or they can use it to try to make people hit them. They can use jokes to influence reactions or dispel fear. And they get a big bonus to save v. enchantment/charm and a chance to confuse (as the spell) anyone who tries to read their mind. Fools luck makes them a potent jack of all trades, but as the book observes, it's going to take a special player, in the right campaign, to not make them an annoyance.

Jongleurs: Jumping and tumbling around as entertainment; they're kind of neat, and have some similarities to the Complete Thief Acrobat kit, in that one of their big benefits is enhanced proficiencies... not only do they get Jumping, Tumbling, Juggling, and Tightrope Walking for free, they're better at it than other people. They also dodge certain attacks and calamities, and entertain crowds, with only minimal downside (weapon and armor restrictions, and no 10th level reading ability). They're a nice one... a very physical character, with nice benefits that aren't overpowering.

Loremaster: If Bards were wizards, really. They have a bard's legend lore, but can attempt to use ANY magical item from the jump, and have at least a 70% chance of doing do (minimum Wisdom 14, and it is a Wisdom check). They cast spells from 1st level, as a 2nd level caster, can influence people and, unlike True Bards, Jesters, etc., only turn people against them on a 20 on the save. They can also try to read ancient languages twice, but they have restrictions on weapons and armor.

I don't hate it; I wouldn't be opposed to entirely replacing wizards with this kit. They have a slower ramp-up in power; while they cast at 1 level higher, they get fewer slots, and the numbers bear out that normal wizards would surpass them in spells. Because of their mastery of magic and legend lore, they feel more like characters who know things, rather than the rather hyper-focused wizards who do nothing but cast spells.

Meistersinger: If Bards were Druids... or maybe Disney Princesses. They have an odd weapon proficiency restriction; they have to start with a melee weapon and a ranged weapon, but then they must select proficiencies in the order hurled (4th) melee (8th), ranged (12th), and so on. It's not overly restrictive. Their music is oriented towards animals... they pick up animal companions and magical abilities from them (but those animal companions dying might kill the bard), they can influence the reaction of animals, protect others with their song, and even straight-up charm animals. They don't get standard followers, just animal companions. They're a nice, focused, class, but the risk of dying if their animal companions do throws me right out of interest in the kit. Animals are so very squishy in D&D, it feels like few will make it to 10th level, when they can shapechange into their Large animal companion.

Riddlemaster: While I kind of like the Loremaster, the Riddlemaster rubs me wrong; they're supposedly super-intelligent and oriented towards solving puzzles, so they get extra time and attempts to work through things, bonuses to learn spells, and can use written magical items at 8th, instead of 10th. They have some minor restrictions on weapons, but their "Common Sense" ability is kind of what spoils it for me. Like the Jester's Fool's Luck, it adds +1 to AC and +1 to a lot of rolls... including attack and damage. Why are these guys, of all people, the better fighters? Blades don't get any attack or damage bonuses, why do Riddlemasters? It's out of place, and the whole ability feels off.

Skald: Skalds are more fighty, less casty, bards. Their War Chant is better than a bard's, kind of... while they can choose more and different effects, they still require the 3 round pre-combat chanting. The effects end instantly if the skald is hit. They get a +1 to hit and damage under pretty common circumstances (must be chanting, must use one of their kit's preferred weapons), and can influence reactions and do legend lore like a regular bard (though they only turn people against them on a 20, not on any successful save). But they ALSO might not be able to cast spells, if the DM doesn't want them to. Their cultures are presented as illiterate and non-spellcasting, and so Skalds can't learn Reading/Writing at first, don't get the Read Languages ability at first, can't use written magic items at all, and don't start casting spells until the level after they encounter it. It is a very stiff penalty, and, to be honest, I'd rather just be a regular bard and wear a horned helmet... War Chant isn't THAT much better, and +1 to Hit and Damage is nice, but hardly game-changing.

Thespian: I never liked the Thespian, much. They're able to use any armor (with a 1 AC penalty if it's heavier than a bard's usual chain mail), get a -2 non-proficiency penalty with all weapons (except the 3 that they are allowed to be proficient with), and can influence reactions. But they're also implied to be able to convince anyone of anything they act out... they can pretend to be dead from a light blow, they can pretend to be a powerful wizard, even force people to make morale checks by pretending to cast spells. I don't like it; it's a bit too much bullshit, too dependent on the DM willing to let you do whatever zany thing you come up with. Their "Observe Motions" ability gives them a +2 to AC and a +1 to hit if they win initiative, which is a nice restriction on the bonuses for a non-combat variant.

Demi-Bards. Bards who are neither human nor half-elven. Gnome and elven demi-bards are pretty standard, though gnomes have to abide by illusionist spell restrictions for some reason. But dwarves and halflings? Instead of actually casting spells, they can become partially immune to them. See, they learn a spell, right? And then, instead of being able to cast the spell, they get, effectively, magic resistance against that spell. Learn Magic Missile? You now have a % chance to ignore any and all magic missiles. Fireball? % chance it won't affect you. But you have to learn the spell. How does this work if a halfling encounters a Wall of Fog? Can he see through the fog?

Dwarven Chanter: So, Dwarven chanters can not only resist spells they know, they can also try to dispel them. A dwarven chanter can attempt to chant at a spell in place, that they know, to dispel it, which is kind of neat. Their War Chant is a better combat music than we've seen so far, because it doesn't require a 3 round prep time, just 1d10 rounds to get started. It improves dwarven morale and initiative, and degrades opponents... not hit or damage bonuses, but definitely worthwhile, especially on the battlefield. Their timing chants (which increase productivity during mining and other dwarven activities) and trance chants (which let them chant for a long time, up to and including their own deaths) are not that inspiring... explanation for NPCs, more than anything else. They can wear any armor except plate, but can't use shields, and are supposed to only take bludgeoning weapons. Apparently, the author never heard of smacking your shield as part of a chant.

Elven Minstrels: I'm not 100% sure this kit is a benefit. Bonus to save v. musical attacks, counter song, influence reactions, and a completely different method of spellcasting that requires them to have a bag made of deer leather, as well as be able to sing and play an instrument. This is neat, but I don't get how it's supposed to be a benefit to the Minstrel, because it seems like it's adding additional components to an spell with Somatic or Material components, and that's it. If it were paired to something like specialist benefits or SOMETHING, it might be interesting, but it's not, and so it's just "So, you cast your spells from a bag?" And they top it off with weapon and armor restrictions.

Gnome Professor: I want to like them, but they do some weird things. First all, their weapon proficiency options are weird, only allowing complex things like crossbows, arquebuses, mancatchers, whips. They're limited in armor, but they can, once a month, wear anything for 1d10 days. Do you have spare suits of armor lying around? But their abilities are kind of cool. Standard legend lore, but they also have floating bonuses (+1 per level, limited to +1 per action) to hand out if everyone is following the plan... but that means you have to develop a plan. They can find/remove traps, and figure out strange devices. They can design stranger things... but they also have a 1% chance of killing someone every time they do. Not as vulnerable as the Meistersinger, with their small furry bags of vulnerability hanging around, waiting to kill them, but still something concerning, especially since you can't, BTB, do anything to defend against it. Your rotary potato peeler might kill someone.... maybe even you.

Halfling Whistler: A more druidy, less Disney-princessy, bard. Halfling whistlers can Influence reactions like bards, and cast a small number of druidy spells through whistling, as well as communicate with some animals through making weird noises. But they also whistle to defend themselves against spells... which is odd, since other halfling and dwarven demi-bards don't have to do anything to defend themselves against a spell sent against them. Overall a neat idea, but I don't know what they were going for with the counter-whistling.

Overall, I still like this book. I think it approached kits in a unique way that was better suited to the more complex classes... there's not a lot you can take away from a fighter and still have it be good at its job (qv the Savage, who gives up their armor), but pulling chunks out of the bard and putting new things in their place is a good one. I still like the gnome professor, and got a new respect for the Loremaster. Blades and Gallants are interesting variants on the fightery-bard, and while Skald tries, I think it ultimately takes away too much for too little gain. Charlatans were simply not thought through, Riddlemasters are somehow more annoying than Jesters, and elven spell-singing looks to be a new and fascinating way to need more to do less.

Krond Heights & Goblin Deeps part 10: The Lady of Webs and the Goblin Kingdom

 The Lady of Webs and the Great Queen’s Region 

North and east of the Goblin Kingdom, and east of the headwaters of the Omdal River, lie the lands claimed by the Lady of Webs and her familiar, the Great Queen. An ancient hag and her gargantuan spider familiar, the two have ruled over the Broad River Valley for centuries. On the surface, they continue a war with the wyrm Spiderslayer, but beneath the Krond Heights, they lead a nation of spiders and kobolds through the darkness. Their goals are somewhat inscrutable, and may have changed over the centuries. 

In the Spider’s Lands, passage is nearly impossible, unless you are a spider or as slight as a kobold. Webs choke many passages, and silk is used as a building material. Influence from the Lady of Webs means that kobold sorcerers and witch doctors are exalted, and that spiders are the most common familiars and enthralled animals; the kobolds even train some of the smaller spiders as humans might train a dog, and ride larger spiders as one might ride a horse. However, the chiefs of their clans are often subservient to the greater spiders; massive and gargantuan spiders who are, themselves, subservient to the Lady of Webs and the Great Queen. 

It is difficult to describe life with omnipresent spiders. Whereas the orcs and Dejy of the Broad River Valley worship and propitiate the spiders, the kobolds of the Deeps simply embrace them. They speak with them. Spiders crawl across kobold’s bodies and they do not notice, unless the spider bites them to request attention. The kobolds themselves are never prey of the spiders among them, and conflict between tribes is resolved between the spiders. Few enter the domain of the Lady of Webs and her consort, but those kobolds who leave are equally disturbing. Goblins have reported searching kobold emissaries or escorts for weapons and finding that their clothes contained egg masses, or that they would poke through blankets and several spiders would spill out and scurry to their kobold, climbing up their bodies without the kobold even blinking. Those goblins who have entered the domain of the Lady of Webs report kobolds riding on the back of spiders, tracking their movement with long spears and bows. When the two realms have clashed, goblin dead left on the field are given to the spiders, then dessicated or filled with a writhing mass of spiderlings. Goblins, superstitious to a fault, loathe the Spider Lands, but the Goblin King knows of deposits of silver and iron in the north, and alternately treats and battles with the Lady of Webs. 
 
*** 
Sidebar: Spider Legs and Bodies 
Gigantic and larger spiders have two different DR numbers, depending on whether one strikes their legs or their body. Their legs are more difficult to damage, and are immune to damage from crushing or piercing weapons. Why would anyone ever strike their legs, then? The answer is reach. If your reach does not exceed the spider’s own (two feet for Gigantic and Massive, three for Gargantuan), then you may only attack the legs. Furthermore, ranged attacks from the flanks allow the body a cover save of 16; if the save succeeds, the missile has struck the legs, instead of the body. Unsurprisingly, spider-hunting is often done with spears or other pole-arms. 
*** 

 The Kingdom Under the Mountain 

 
Built in the ruins of the dwarven kingdom of K’Ran’da, the Goblin Kingdom spans the upper reaches of the Netherdeep beneath the Krond Heights. Its tunnels allow quick passage from the Durimdar river in the Shashyf Hills to the Omdal River above Dorndern in Cosdol in a matter of days in well-patrolled safety, provided you are a goblin of sufficient rank. From its mines flow a wealth of silver, copper, and iron, each ingot stamped with the blood of the slaves whipped to death to produce it. This wealth flows through the region; the goblins use it to purchase slaves from humanoids on both sides of the mountain, to purchase food from the muscheron, even to hire spies to look into the doings of P’Bapar, Cosdol, Korak, and Norga-Krangrel. 

Almost a million goblins, male and female, live within the Krond Heights, under the dominion of the Goblin King, and another half a million slaves; some stolen, some bred for centuries in the dark. Similar to Norga-Krangrel and other humanoid realms, the Goblin Kingdom is capable of incredible mobilization, if necessary; in the event of an invasion, they could field four hundred thousand troops for a few months, with the remaining 20% of their male population staying behind to manage slaves and keep the economy from completely stagnating. 

Government in the kingdom is goblin society writ large. The “king” is a chief of chiefs, as well as the titular head of the House of Shackles and Order of Agony. The chiefs of the various tribes answer to the King, much as a sergeant might answer to a chief. However, the sheer size of the kingdom means that even this level of organization is inadequate; there are hundreds of tribes in the kingdom, and so another layer of organization is imposed, which is the city. Each city is ruled by a single chief, or a council of chiefs, who report to the king. The official religious representatives in each city advise the chief or council, and, sometimes, will take control of it for a time, until a chief comes along to dispute their claim. A chief in a city must answer to the chief of the city, but may choose to challenge him at will.  

Punishments are decided by one’s immediate superior, but failing to impose adequate punishment is, itself, a crime, so punishments for goblins tend to be harsh, though seldom fatal. “The dead do not suffer” is a common phrase among goblins; while humans may take it as an expression of nihilism, goblins use it to remind themselves that if you kill someone, you can’t torture them any further, and so almost killing them is far preferred. Many goblins, when faced with punishment, will challenge their leader’s right to punish them, forcing a dominance challenge. If the goblin wins, then it becomes the responsibility of his new leader to punish him, and he simply may not care; what is against the rules for a private is not necessarily against the rules for a sergeant or a captain. 

 *** 
Sidebar: The Goblin King 
Who is the Goblin King? What month is it? The Goblin Kingdom gains and loses kings quite rapidly, sometimes several in a year; the record is 16 kings in one year, while the longest in the office held it for almost ten years.. In theory, any goblin may, at any time, challenge the king for the crown, just as any goblin may challenge their chief. In practice, those goblins who try but are not deemed worthy will be counter-challenged by his bodyguards, a slightly irregular procedure with lower-ranked goblins, but acknowledged as how things work with the king. In practice, the king only needs to meet challenges of chiefs or those goblins famous enough to be worthy of his time. Since dominance fights are not necessarily to the death, some goblins have been kings on several occasions, replacing their usurpers or another king down the line. 
*** 
 
Approximately half of these goblins live in smaller communities in the hinterlands, near smelters or mines, farms or military outposts. The rest live in the fabled Seven Cities of the Dwarves, the Jewels of K’Ran’da, each named for a dwarven precious metal. Iron, Copper, Tin, Silver, Gold, and Platinum surround the capital, Orichalcum. Broad roads carved long ago connect the cities, with Orichalcum at the hub, Iron at the north Silver to the northeast (closest to the Broad River Valley), Copper to the southeast (near the Shashyf Hills and the Durimdal River Valley), Platinum to the south, Gold to the southwest, and Tin to the northwest. That there was a spindle of Iron and Platinum, and that the other two pairs formed alloys with their opposite (bronze and electrum) was of deep significance to the dwarves; there was a balance based on usefulness and harmony, with iron at the top and nigh-unmeltable platinum as a base. In the middle was the mythical Orichalcum, the metal of metals. Many of the broadways have fallen in the intervening centuries; the road between Silver and Copper collapsed with the fall of K’Ran’da, Gold is connected only to Platinum, and much of the path between Iron and Silver belongs to the Lady of Webs and her spiders. 

 The cities are massive caverns, holding tens of thousands of goblins, slaves, and allies. Where they have been maintained or repaired, water flows to most of the buildings from a lake or river through a system of aqueducts; where they have fallen into disrepair, the cities may be dry or partially flooded. Waste might be taken away by sewers, or back up into the streets, or fall into a cesspool inhabited by muck men and stercuses. Giant flies buzz through the skies; some carrying goblin riders, others simply carrying disease. The walls glisten with respirating slime molds, and colonies of glowing fungus provide a constant dim light through much of the city. Rooftop prowlers haunt the ruins, rats the size of dogs may roam the street, and vermii scuttle through shadows. 

City goblins squat in dwarven buildings or construct ramshackle shanty-towns amidst their rubble. Lacking the art of the dwarves, the goblins’ own buildings are ugly blocks; functional, but only for their original function. Many of the lowest live in tents, and slaves are often kept in open pens or broken buildings. Filth accumulates everywhere, to the point where cleanliness is suspicious, indicating that a giant amoeba might have come through. Larger buildings may keep an amoeba for waste disposal, giving them just enough space for fission, then killing the offspring; more common is to simply dump waste in the street, reasoning that the slaves will get it. It would be a fire hazard, if the primary building material were not broken stones. 

At one time, the cities had well-organized layouts, with different quarters given over to different clans or guilds; now, the only remains of that organization is the tribal structure of goblins, with each chief claiming the most choice territory he is able to keep, erecting what facilities his tribe needs, and ceding that territory when a superior chief comes to the fore, abandoning facilities that may then fall to ruin. Knowing where one is going in the cities is less a matter of Cartography than Current Affairs; who has access to clean water and solid housing, and who is contributing to the maze of tents and shanties in the outer rubble. 

There are only two constants in organization: The King’s Hall, and the Market. Frequently on opposite sides of the city, the King’s Hall is where administrative tasks under the authority of the king will happen. Most often, this is a meeting place for the chiefs in a given city, where the king’s representatives will confer with the city’s chief’s and give them directives and hear their grievances. Formal challenges for higher ranks (captain or above, plus any challenge that demands neutral territory) will happen at these locations, and there’s often a bookie nearby to take bets. 

 The Market will be where individual goblins spend what coin they have, but also a place for goblins wielding authority (theirs or a master’s) to negotiate larger trades of goods. While many chiefs will prefer to be self-sufficient, the fact remains that few in the cities will have the breadth of resources under their command to maintain complete autonomy (something that the king seldom allows). So, chiefs with significant agricultural holdings will seldom have mines and smelters, those with mines and smelters may not have many craftsgoblins, and those with significant numbers of blacksmiths may have to outsource much of their leatherworking. This interconnectedness of the goblin economy keeps power from concentrating in the hands of a few chiefs, and kings have, in the past, destroyed or disabled chiefs who were able to gather too much independence. 

Like human markets, there will be a variety of goods. Raiders may sell excess weapons, slaves, or booty. If a slave has a special talent, their output might be sold, as will the work of enterprising goblins of all levels. Goblin liquor is truly foul (they use urine to regulate pH in the process), but a popular hobby among city goblins, and more than a few slaves will be prostituted for coin. Since most goblins are illiterate, there’s no market for parchment or ink; the few mages and clerics who require such things will frequently have arrangements with those who produce them, rather than gathering them at the market. Goblins do not mint coins, but copper and silver are relatively common, and are traded by weight. 

There are temples to the major faiths in each city, and a variety of shrines, totems, and chapels, as well, dedicated to a variety of deities. The House of Shackles always maintains the most prominent temple, prefering to usurp a dwarven temple to the Founder or The True and pervert it to their own ends. The Order of Agony, always more concerned with the lives of the average goblin, tends to have a number of shrines throughout the city, while the House of Knives will have a single, well-located but not ostentatious, temple in a well-fortified building. Other temples will scatter themselves throughout a city, vying for supremacy among themselves, while shamanic shrines and underground cults will have more humble (or entirely secret) locations. 

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Hopefully, I won't forget a week this time! 

Complete Book of Dwarves Kit Evaluation

 This is actually the oldest of my kit evaluation posts; I wrote it a couple years ago, and am reposting it since we've reached the Complete Book of Dwarves (PHBR6) in our progression.

 

 Warrior:
Animal Master: A neat kit, specifically allowing for a druid-like animal friend, though slower. Really enhances a single proficiency, at the cost of some influence with dwarves... the reaction penalty is even somewhat textually mitigated (you get a penalty, but it doesn't make them HATE you, just not like you as much) You're a weirdo dwarf, but still a dwarf.

Axe For Hire: Pretty much bonus proficiencies in exchange for some loss of reaction among dwarves. Might be an argument that it's a backdoor for non-single-class fighters to get weapon specialization, but that's only going to happen if the DM lets it happen.

Clansdwarf: Proficiencies and a reaction bonus in exchange for behavior restrictions. Kind of like a paladin, you're not going to take it unless you're willing to live it.

Hearth guard: A bonus weapon proficiency (to make it a specialization), some bonus NWPs, a very situational attack bonus, and a situational reaction penalty (i.e. "Is this place sexist enough to make this a big deal?"). Since, IME, most places in D&D aren't sexist enough to make "female warrior dwarf" a big deal, I don't see it as much hindrance... but also don't see what they get as an overwhelming bonus.

Battlerager: Battlerager is a lifestyle choice. In a lot of ways, you're at the whim of the DM to decide if you go absolutely psycho and try to kill everyone around you. And, somehow, they are considered more acceptable than kender. But you also get to/have to specialize in two weapons, and the rage bonuses are pretty significant... if you don't accidentally kill the party wizard because you were in the bounce of a lightning bolt.

Highborn: Some social bonuses in exchange for a LOT of social penalties, and conspicuous consumption "tax". Might work for a dwarf-focused campaign; if I wasn't in a dwarf heavy campaign, I'd just play up being a snooty jerk.

Outcast: Sort of like the highborn, this is mostly a social kit, unless you're willing to pay a 10% XP tax to be able to move silently. Not hide in shadows. Just move silently. Not worth it. Just say you're an outcast.

Rapid Response Rider: Free horse, bonus on horseback, penalty to dwarf reaction rolls. Similar to the Animal Master but, IMO, not NEARLY as good. An Animal Master can do pretty much everything an RRR can do, and do it better.

Sharpshooter: Somewhat specialized, but with a DM who isn't determined to be a jerk (i.e. nitpicks about whether your bolts are properly cared for, except when things are explicitly new to you), it could be a good take on an archer character. Benefits are nice without being overwhelming; everything is a gear-based bonus, offset by a gear-based penalty.

Priest:
Crafts Priest: Better than a Craftsdwarf... same sorts of benefits, but without the explicit behavior restrictions on those bonuses.

Pariah: See Outcast. XP penalty to be able to sneak, otherwise, eat social penalties.

Patrician: See Highborn. Play it straight and play it snooty.

Ritual Priest: Free reaction adjustment with dwarves! No specific social role, no hindrances, a couple bonus NWPs. OTOH, the same can be said of a Crafts Priest, whose bonuses are better, but whose NWPs aren't as cool (IMO).

Warrior/Priest:
Champion: Free Magic Weapon, can specialize as multiclass priest. Extra money at character creation. However, you're looking at behavior restrictions... follow orders, protect your religion, and protect your magic weapon (the last until you get a better one). Not terribly onerous, unless the DM wants them to be.

Temple Guard: Kind of an NPC kit, if not in a stronghold, location-focused, campaign. The bonuses aren't bad, but they're location specific.

Vindicator: Multiclass Battlerager, but with even less restrictions. The wisdom cap is rough, but if you don't have the rolls, it is what it is.

Thief Kits:
Diplomat: Bonus to detect noise and open locks, penalty to pick pockets (which I rarely see used) for a net +5%, some bonus languages and bonus money. Reaction benefits with everyone. Pretty solid choice, if you've already got the charisma.

Entertainer: Bonus to certain NWPs, slight RP restraint ("reluctant to perform for audiences not made up of dwarves"), small starting gold penalty. Mechanically, not much going on. Niche choice, can be ignored and played as a concept.

Locksmith: Your typical box man thief. They boil down to a net +5% in thief skills... +10 to two, -10 to one, -5 to another. A little bit more money. Pretty much a concept.

Pest Controller: Just garbage. They get a +5 to two skills, -10 to one (so, no net gain), and get a reaction penalty. You're paying reaction penalty for two bonus proficiencies.

Warrior/Thief Kits:
Ghetto Fighter: Really, not that bad if you want a knife-fighting dwarf. You can't specialize (unlike the couple of multiclass priest kits that allow it), but you do get some nice bonuses with daggers and knives, and a net +5% thief skills. Less money, and a social penalty that applies in one city.

Trader: Again, mostly a concept or an NPC; a bonus when defending your goods, a penalty if you're a known cheat, and start with a bit less money.

Vermin Slayer: A Pest Controller that doesn't suck. Net +0% on thief skills, bonus when fighting small enemies with a specific type of weapon (of choice), and an initiative bonus in tight spaces. They lose a bit on defense against large creatures (-2 instead of -4), but also start with some free equipment.

Wayfinder: Net +0% on thief skills. They get half-cost language NWPs, and a penalty on reaction from other dwarves. Not a bad trade-off, IMO, but not fantastic, either.

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Having now gone through the kits, most are kinda meh. Most are just character concepts with bonus NWP, a reaction adjustment, and some situational bonus. Axe For Hire, Clansdwarf, Heath Guard, Highborn, Outcast, ALL of the priest ones, Temple Guard, all the thief ones (except Pest Controller, which is even worse), and Trader.

Rapid Response Rider is, IMO, a strictly worse version of Animal Master. Not bad in and of itself, but, mechanically, it is a worse version of something a couple pages earlier. Champion is, IMO, kinda meh... not BAD, and starting with a magic weapon is nice, but also nothing to write home about... you'll likely get a magic weapon soon enough. Wayfinder isn't bad, if you want languages.

The Good Ones?
Animal Master. Sharpshooter. They sacrifice little to nothing in exchange for some nice bonuses.

More situational?
Ghetto Fighter. Vermin Slayer. Battlerager. Vindicator. These aren't bad, but they're definitely A Choice. If you go Ghetto Fighter, you want to play a knife-fighter. If you go Vermin Slayer, you're looking at fighting kobolds, not giants. Battlerager and Vindicator are not good to me, but I can see why others might like them, and they're not mechanically BAD.

In my view, the only one that is really and truly bad is the Pest Controller. You gain essentially nothing. It is a character concept given suck. Rapid Response Rider isn't bad, but it's overshadowed by someone else doing the same thing, better. My biggest criticism is that it seems like the developers didn't read the other kits being written... and there's only one credited writer. Clansdwarf and Crafts Priest are exactly the same, just one is for Warriors and one is for Priests... and the Priest one doesn't have the same restrictions, such as they are, as the Warrior one. The difference between Highborns and Patricians, and between Outcasts and Pariahs is similarly such that they don't need to be separate kits.