Monster Hunter Image

You are one of the few trained from childhood to face the horrors that plague the world. Raised as an orphan in one of the hunter schools, you endured brutal training, countless trials, and life-threatening challenges. Those who survive this grueling process emerge as hardened warriors, skilled spellcasters, or versatile hybrids. Your profession is both respected and feared—your name whispered with awe in cities but cursed in the poorer villages that cannot afford your fees.

 
Skill Proficiencies: Choose two: Athletics, Arcana, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Perception, or Survival
Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan's tools or the herbalism kit.
Languages: One language of your choice (to represent learning from scholars or other hunters).
Equipment:
  • A hunter’s journal filled with monster notes and sketches (empty or partially filled).
  • A trophy from a monster you slew (claw, tooth, feather, etc.).
  • A set of common clothes.
  • A small pouch with 10 gp, earned from a recent hunt.
 
feats

Background Feat: Monster Hunter Training- you get to choose one feat from every one of the following lists:

  • Fighting Initiate (Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything)
  • Magic Initiate (Player’s Handbook)
  • Skilled (Player’s Handbook)
  • Tough (Player’s Handbook)

Varient: you can choose one of the following hunter paths (feats):

  1. Path of the Blade (Full Combat): You trained relentlessly with weapons, mastering physical techniques to combat monsters. You gain proficiency with martial weapons and the Athletics skill.
  2. Path of the Arcane (Full Magic): You honed your mind and magic to weaken or destroy monsters. You gain proficiency in Arcana and one cantrip from any spell list. Your spellcasting ability for this cantrip is Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma (your choice).
  3. Path of the Hybrid (Half Combat, Half Magic): You balanced combat and magic. Choose one simple or martial weapon to gain proficiency with. Additionally, you gain a cantrip from any spell list (using Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma as your spellcasting ability).

You can choose one of the following monster researchers families to train under:

During your training, you had the rare opportunity to learn from one of the four renowned monster researcher families. Each family specializes in a unique field of study, and their teachings have left a lasting impact on your skills and approach to hunting. Choose one family to reflect this specialization:

  1. The Valemont Family (Magical Weaknesses)
    • Focus: Identifying and exploiting the magical vulnerabilities of monsters.
    • Benefit: You gain proficiency in Arcana. Additionally, when you make an Intelligence (Arcana) check to identify a magical effect or weakness in a monster, you can add double your proficiency bonus to the roll.
  2. The Whisperthorn Family (Languages of Monsters)
    • Focus: Deciphering monster languages, vocal patterns, and communication.
    • Benefit: You gain proficiency in Linguistics (from the 2024 rules) or Insight. Additionally, you can mimic the sounds or language of monsters you’ve encountered with a successful Intelligence (Insight) or Wisdom (Performance) check (DC determined by the DM). This may help in calming or deceiving them.
  3. The Drakestone Family (Physical Weaknesses)
    • Focus: Discovering physical and biological vulnerabilities of monsters.
    • Benefit: You gain proficiency in Medicine. When you make a Wisdom (Medicine) check to assess a creature’s physical state or weakness, you can add double your proficiency bonus to the roll. Additionally, you can harvest usable materials (e.g., venom, claws) from slain monsters more effectively.
  4. The Aetherfall Family (Monster Behavior)
    • Focus: Observing and predicting the behavior, movement, and tactics of monsters.
    • Benefit: You gain proficiency in Survival. Additionally, you can predict a monster’s likely actions during combat or its preferred habitats and hunting patterns by making a successful Wisdom (Survival) or Intelligence (Nature) check.

 

 
Feature: Hunter’s Reputation

Your profession often precedes you, opening some doors while slamming others shut. In larger cities or wealthy areas, you can find people willing to house or feed you in exchange for your tales or services. However, in poorer villages, people distrust or resent you for the high cost of your aid. You can typically find work or information about monsters in towns and cities.

 
Suggested Characteristics

Monster hunters are shaped by their brutal upbringing and constant exposure to death. Some become stoic and honorable, while others grow callous and distant.

Personality Traits

  1. I study every monster I encounter to ensure I’m ready for future hunts.
  2. I value discipline and hard work above all else.
  3. I face danger with dry humor or sarcasm to mask my fear.
  4. I don’t form attachments; losing people is part of my life.
  5. I despise those who exploit others, even if it’s my profession.
  6. My first instinct is to assess how dangerous a situation is.

Ideals

  1. Honor. I uphold the code of hunters and protect others, even at great cost. (Lawful)
  2. Survival. The strong survive, the weak perish—that’s the way of the world. (Neutral)
  3. Sacrifice. I risk everything to ensure others don’t suffer as I did. (Good)
  4. Fame. My name will be spoken in every hall and tavern. (Any)
  5. Wealth. Every coin I earn is proof of my value. (Chaotic)
  6. Justice. Monsters are not the only evil that must be eradicated. (Good)

Bonds

  1. My fellow hunters are my family, and I’d die to protect them.
  2. I owe my life to a mentor who guided me through the worst of training.
  3. A monster killed someone I loved; I will destroy every creature like it.
  4. I fight to protect the helpless, no matter their ability to pay.
  5. I carry the guilt of surviving when others did not.
  6. I strive to reclaim my humanity after years of violence and fear.

Flaws

  1. I take more pride in my trophies than in saving lives.
  2. I am quick to judge others for their perceived weakness.
  3. I demand high payment for my work, even from those who can’t afford it.
  4. I distrust others and rarely share my thoughts or feelings.
  5. My anger at monsters blinds me to more subtle dangers.
  6. I see everything as a potential threat.
 
omrisalmon
Monster Hunter Image