Homebrew Skaven Species Details

The Skaven are humanoid rats which, unlike the Wererat, are not lycanthropic. They live in clan-based societies in which the number 13 holds important significance. All Skaven pay homage to the Horned Rat, their only deity, to whom they worship primarily out of fear of retribution. Skaven are portrayed as sneaky, conniving, selfish, cowardly, and backstabbing. They are also closely linked to plague and disease. The Skaven believe themselves to be superior to all other races, especially those that live above ground.

Creating Your Character

Ability Score Increases

When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow those suggestions or ignore them, but you can’t 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

You are humanoid

Life Span

Unless they meet their untimely demise at the end of a blade, skaven commonly has a lifespan of about 50 years.

Height and Weight

Skaven come on all shapes and sizes, but most tend to be on the lither side, which is portrayed in the choice of small or medium size upon character creation.

Skaven Traits

As a skaven, you have the following racial traits.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid.

Size

You are Medium or Small. You choose the size when you select this race.

Speed

Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.

Plague bearer

You have advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end diseases as well as the poisoned condition on yourself. Though you may still carry diseases with you.

If you manage to avoid or end a disease due to your advantage, but the first roll is a fail, you are still a bearer of the disease and it will run its course until cured.

Merciless

When you damage a creature with an attack, you can cause the attack to deal extra damage to the creature. The extra damage equals your proficiency bonus.

You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all expended uses when you finish a long rest, and you can use it no more than once per turn.

Skittish

You can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of your turns.

Cowardly

You have disadvantage on all saving throws to avoid or end the frightened condition.