Homebrew Demi-Human Species Details

Demi-Humans are humanoids born with distinct animalistic features and natural adaptations. Some have feline ears and tails, others bear antlers, horns, scales, feathers, unusual eyes, powerful limbs, or other traits associated with animals. These characteristics are a natural part of who they are and can vary dramatically from one individual to another.

A Demi-Human’s animal traits do not determine their personality, class, background, or way of life. A wolf-featured Demi-Human might be a quiet scholar, a rabbit-featured warrior might charge fearlessly into battle, and a bear-featured rogue might rely on patience and subtlety rather than brute strength. Their animal heritage shapes how they interact with the world, but the person they become is entirely their own.

When you create a Demi-Human character, you choose an Animal Heritage representing the natural adaptation that has the greatest influence on your character. Your physical appearance is not strictly tied to the mechanics of that choice, allowing you to create the animal-inspired character you imagine.

Available Animal Heritages include:

Feline. Agile and sure-footed Demi-Humans inspired by cats and other felines. Feline characters are faster than most humanoids and possess exceptional balance.

Canine. Demi-Humans inspired by wolves, dogs, coyotes, and similar animals. Their keen hearing and sense of smell make them exceptionally alert, and they can quickly search their surroundings for hidden threats.

Leporine. Rabbit- and hare-inspired Demi-Humans with exceptionally powerful legs. They can leap extraordinary distances and bound away from danger without leaving themselves exposed.

Ursine. Bear-inspired Demi-Humans possessing powerful builds and tremendous physical resilience. Their sturdy bodies make them particularly effective at grappling, shoving, carrying, and moving heavy objects.

Caprine. Demi-Humans inspired by goats, sheep, ibexes, and similar animals. They are natural climbers and exceptionally sure-footed, making them difficult to knock from their feet.

Cervine. Deer-, elk-, antelope-, and gazelle-inspired Demi-Humans built for speed. They can rapidly cross the battlefield and are especially difficult to strike when sprinting past enemies.

Bovine. Demi-Humans inspired by bulls, cattle, buffalo, and bison. Their powerful horns allow them to make devastating charges capable of knocking enemies from their feet or throwing them backward.

Vulpine. Fox-inspired Demi-Humans known for quick reactions and evasive movement. When an opponent leaves an opening, a Vulpine can slip away before the enemy can recover.

Rodent. Demi-Humans inspired by mice, rats, squirrels, beavers, porcupines, and other rodents. Their flexible bodies allow them to slip through narrow openings, dart around larger creatures, and wriggle free from those who try to restrain them.

Avian. Bird-inspired Demi-Humans whose traits might resemble hawks, owls, ravens, parrots, or countless other birds. Their exceptional eyesight helps them notice distant details, while their feathers or partial wings allow them to control dangerous falls.

Reptilian. Demi-Humans inspired by snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles, and other reptiles. Their unusual physiology makes them highly resistant to poison and other toxins.

Aquatic. Demi-Humans inspired by sharks, dolphins, whales, seals, fish, and other aquatic animals. They are natural swimmers capable of remaining underwater for long periods and navigating dangerous currents with ease.

In addition to their Animal Heritage, every Demi-Human possesses Bestial Instincts. When you create your character, you choose proficiency in Acrobatics, Athletics, Perception, Stealth, or Survival, representing the particular instincts and natural talents your character has developed.

Demi-Humans also possess Darkvision, allowing their heightened animal senses to help them see in dim light and darkness.

The appearance of a Demi-Human is intentionally flexible. A character might possess only subtle animal features, such as unusual eyes or pointed ears, or they might have a tail, horns, antlers, feathers, scales, patches of fur, claws, or several related features. Your chosen Animal Heritage represents your character's most significant natural adaptation rather than placing strict limitations on their appearance.

Whether you want to play a cat-eared duelist darting across a battlefield, a towering bear-like guardian, a rabbit scout bounding over obstacles, a fox thief slipping away from danger, a horned warrior crashing through enemy lines, or something entirely your own, Demi-Humans are designed to let you build the animal-inspired adventurer you want without locking that character into a single personality or role.

Demi-Human Traits

Your Demi-Human character has the following species traits.

Animal Heritage

Every Demi-Human possesses animalistic characteristics that grant them a natural adaptation. When you create your character, choose one Animal Heritage from the options available for this trait.

Your Animal Heritage determines one of your species abilities and represents the animal characteristics that have the greatest influence on you. These characteristics might appear as ears, a tail, horns, antlers, claws, scales, feathers, unusual eyes, patches of fur, or another appropriate physical feature.

The appearance of your Demi-Human is yours to determine. Your chosen Animal Heritage describes your natural adaptation rather than placing strict limits on what your animal features must look like.

Bestial Instincts

Your animalistic instincts and natural adaptations sharpen certain abilities. You gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Acrobatics, Athletics, Perception, Stealth, or Survival.

Darkvision

You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.