Homebrew Ettin Species Details

Ettins resemble orcs or ogres with one major exception—they have two massive heads. Some legends say they are direct descendants of the Demogorgon, while others claim they originate from cursed orcs. The two heads often have vastly different personalities and may be frequently at odds. When they work together, they are formidable—collectively solving problems and sleeping in shifts to avoid ambushes. Each head can control their own side of the body or cede control to the other for better synchronicity.

Ettins often have difficulty understanding or connecting with creatures who have a single head, though some have been known to live among the orcs. As two souls bound to a single body from birth, they have never experienced privacy. Some may envy creatures who know solitude, while others find the concept frightening. Whether they resent their other head or consider them their best friend, their bond is stronger than family.

Typical Habitats

Ettins typically live in hills or mountains, though some have been known to live in the underdark. They often live alone, but have been known to form small villages. Some even serve as guards or warriors in orcish settlements, though it is rare for an orcish settlement to have more than one or two Ettins. While they are not a common sight in most settings, most adventurers and commonfolk will be aware of their kind and may have encountered them. Larger Ettins are more likely to interact with other giants as most humanoid towns are not built to support their size.

Creating an Ettin

When selecting this species, you are creating two distinct individuals that share a body and, thus, a Character Sheet. Each head should have its own name, personality, and flaws. Consider the following questions to help make a compelling character:

• Are the heads antagonistic towards one another or in-sync?
  • What are their individual dreams or goals and do they conflict with the other's?
  • Under what circumstances does this change—what things do they agree or disagree on?
• Does either head resent the other? If so, why—do they long for privacy or simply wish to be the dominant soul?
• Did both heads wish to join the party and do they feel the same about each party member?

2014 Rules

This species was designed for the 2024 rules. To use this with the 2014 rules, add the Replacement and Additional Features from the Origin Manager.

Ettin Traits

Creature Type: Giant
Size: Medium (about 6–7 feet tall)
Speed: 30 feet

Ettin Traits

As an Ettin, you have these special traits.

Better than One

There are benefits to having two heads. They grant you the following benefits.

• You have Advantage on saving throws to prevent or end the Blinded and Deafened conditions.
• When you make a saving throw to prevent or end the Charmed condition, you roll for each head. At the beginning of each of your turns, if only one head is Charmed, you may choose to halve your Speed (rounded down) and make all attack rolls with Disadvantage to gain Advantage on the saving throw to end the Charmed condition that turn.

Darkvision

You have Darkvision with a range of 120 feet.

Unflappable

Some creatures can be flapped. You are not one of them.  You cannot be surprised while Unconscious.

Was that Supposed to Happen?

Starting at Level 5, when you make Death Saving Throws, you roll for each of your heads. If one heads dies, your body immediately dissolves and reforms into a Medium-sized creature with only one head. You determine if you retain the personality or memories from one of the heads, some combination from both of the heads, or is entirely new. Few Ettin ever experience this change and those that do are often driven to madness. Your new race is known as the Bluggatin, a Giant word that translates to "Cursed One".

Your new body has 0 Hit Points and is Unconscious, but Stable. You lose the Better than One, Unflappable, and Was that Supposed to Happen? features and become a Bluggatin with all of their species features.

Note: The Bluggatin is another Homebrew species.