Homebrew Bison Folk Species Details

Like their close cousins, the Bison Folk are strong, barrel-chested humanoids with heads and body characteristics that resemble those of a bison.  Where the minotaur have a strong sense of direction, the Bison Folk possess an innate ability to defend themselves and battle in close contact in ways that give their allis assistance.  

Bison Folk horns are shorter than their cousins, ranging in size from several inches to nearly a foot long, curling upward toward the sky.  Bison Fok with arcane talents will often carve intricate designs and runes into their horns that give hint to their powers, while those who rush forward into battle will often sheathe them in bronze or lead to prevent them from shattering during battle.

Thick hair extends down Bison necks and powerful backs, and some have long patches of hair on their chins and cheeks. They will also have a shaggy beard hanging from their chin, which they will often braid with mementoes taken from foes they have killed.  Their legs end in heavy, cloven hooves, and they have long, tufted tails.

Creating Your Character

Ability Score Increases

When determining your character’s ability scores, increase your strength score by 2 and increase your constitution score by 1.  Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. You cannot raise any of your scores above 20.

Languages

Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. 

Creature Type

Bison Folk are humanoid, even if they have beast characteristics.

Life Span

Bison Folk will live naturally long lives, usually 110 to 135 years.  They usually reach adulthood at about 20 years old, when they will go through a tribal ceremony the celebrate this achievement in their lives.

Height and Weight

Bison Folk will usually stand 6 1/2 to 7 feet tall, and can weigh as much as 400 pounds, most of which is solid muscle.

Bison Folk Traits

As a Bison Folk, you have the following racial traits.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid.

Size

You are Medium.

Speed

Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Horns

You have horns that you can use to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with them, the strike deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier piercing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Goring Rush

Immediately after you take the Dash action on your turn and move at least 20 feet, you can make one melee attack with your Horns as a bonus action.

Hammering Horns

Immediately after you hit a creature with a melee attack as part of the Attack action on your turn, you can use a bonus action to attempt to push that target with your horns. The target must be within 5 feet of you and no more than one size larger than you. Unless it succeeds on a Strength saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier, you push it up to 10 feet away from you.

Herd Response

In melee combat, the Bison Folk have advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the Bison's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.  While involved in combat, a Bison Folk will sense when any ally within sight and/or sound has dropped to or below 1/4 of their total hit point amount.