Homebrew Wolperting Species Details
Wolpertings, or Wolpertinger as they are sometimes call'd by Other Mortals, are so much and yet not so much like Dogs. They are Loyal, Dependable, Honourable,— yet isolationist, preferring their own Company to others, and Suffer No Commands from other Beings.
During a Festival in their Home City I study'd them, and Ate the Fine Foods that they Enjoy,— with Horns mighty they Butt One Another and Fight,— yet also poetry and games are loved by them, and Fencing, their most Noble Art,— for they partake in Battles of the Body as well as the Mind.
The Wolpertings are one of the most isolationist races in the Spire. They were discovered in Wiltwood in their only city, the heavily guarded Wolper. Only Wolpertings are allowed entrance, other than the famous three-week Open Doors festival. Because of their size and propensity to fight, Wolpertings who travel abroad are often hired as guards, bouncers, or mercenaries, though when given the chance are excellent leaders and tacticians.
Diversity in Form
There are seven subraces of Wolperting, divided as they are similar to dogs among Herding, Hound, Sporting, Terrier, Toy, Working, and Gentle.
Battle of Many Sorts
Wolpertings relish play and battle. They are adept fencers, often hosting tournies and trying their best against themselves, and, once a year, opening their gates to other races, though Wolpertings almost always win. Their sense of smell and quick wit often leads to a brutal, decisive battle. Their love of swords and fencing is well-known, and many are smiths and crafters.
Above all, some Wolpertings adore competitive games: chess, most famously. Some Wolpertings travel the Spire looking for opponents to best.
Tradition
Wolpertings relish tradition, and love the annual Open Doors festival where the twin Wolperting cities open their gates to outsiders for an intense 3 weeks of tournaments, battle, games, shows, and culinary delights. Their society is deeply structured and reticent to change. Their love of training and schooling is rigerous and intesive.
They hold a rigorous breeding program akin to eugenics called the Wolperting Purity Breeding Project to create breeds ideal in training and vigor for particular circumstances.
Although some wolpertings can be xenophobic, most are merely distrusting of strangers, and their society is simply not fit for others to freely roam their cities.
Culinary Lovers
Wolpertings delight in food and cooking, preferring meat and salty foods over sweets, though some develop a passion for baking. Their food is renowned.
Wolperting Names
Wolperting names are often direct, honest, and to-the-point — much like they are, with vowels punctuated by consonants. Male names often but not always end in O and female names in A.
Male Name Examples: Rumo, Ornt, Urs, Rolv.
Female Name Examples: Nala, Biala, Orga.
Wolperting Traits
Wolpertings are strong, hardy, and clever.Ability Score Increase
You gain 2 to Strength.
Age
Wolperting puppies walk on all fours, and they reach adulthood after 6 months of puppihood in which they go through a sudden growth spurt. Wolpertings live relatively short lives, until about 60 years at most.
Alignment
Wolpertings tend toward Lawful alignments, usually neutral or good.
Size
Wolpertings are between 7 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 200 and 150pounds. Your size is Medium.
Natural Gamer
Wolpertings love games. You gain Proficiency in Chess (or an equivalent game).
Keen Smell
Thanks to your sensitive nose, you have advantage on Wisdom (Perception), Wisdom (Survival), and Intelligence (Investigation) checks that involve smell.
Darkvision
Wolpertings rely on their excellent senses and sense of smell in the dark. 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 can't discern color in darkness, only shades of grey.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and Wolpertinger.
Bite
Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Charming
Charming breeds, a well-known term for which is toy (often considered derogatory) are a smaller breed of Wolperting. They are often excitable, passionate, well-meaning and very charismatic. They are protective and quirky and have big personalities. These include: Chihuahua, Maltese, Chin, Havanese.
Ability Score Increase
Add 1 to Charisma.
Fuzzy Likeability
You are generally considered to be adorable by humanoid races. You gain proficiency in Persuasion.
Sniff Out
You can sense things about people. Once per short or long rest, you can make an opposed Insight (with CHA modifier) check vs. the target's Insight (with WIS modifier) check. On a success, you detect the target's Alignment.
Gentle
Gentledogs are often crafters, leaders, teachers, or artisans. They often prefer a good job and the use of tools to things like gaming, hunt, battle, or fencing. Types of Gentledogs include Dalmatians, Poodles, Bulldogs, or Chow Chow.
Ability Score Increase
Add 1 to Intelligence.
Natural Artisan
You gain Proficiency in two tool sets of your choosing.
Canine Serenity
Your calm temperament can help in emotional situations. You have advantage against being charmed or frightened.
Hound
Wolperting Hounds are excellent runners. Some have floppy ears and wide jowels, giving them a wrinkled, often humorous look; others are sharper-faced, nobler, and handsome. All tend to have larger ears. These include: Bassett hounds, beagles, daschunds, and greyhounds.
Ability Score Increase
Add 1 to Dexterity.
Adept Runner
Hound wolpertings can move at incredibly rapid speeds for a short term. Your movement speed is 40 feet.
Lightning Reflexes
Your finely honed reflexes are staggering. Gain a +1 to Initiative.
Leading
Leading, sometimes called Herding wolperting, are often natural leaders. Their intelligence and tact, as well as their calm nature allows them to assess, carry out, and organize society, events, training, guilds, and projects. These wolperting are very noble. They include: shepherd, corgi, and collies.
Ability Score Increase
Add 1 to Intelligence.
Versatile Tactician
Your knowledge of tactics is impressive. At the start of combat, after initiative is rolled but before initiative begins, you can swap your turn with an ally's in the Initiative order. You can use this trait once per short or long rest.
Keen Nature
You gain Proficiency in Insight.
Mutt
About half of all wolpertings are mutts, a mix of at least two purebreeds. Mutts are often more robust and healthy than their purebred kin.
Ability Score Increase
Gain 1 to Dexterity, Constitution, Charisma, Wisdom, or Intelligence.
Mixed Lineage
Pick one trait from any of the other wolperting subraces (other than Ability Score Increase).
Sporting
Sporting Wolpertings are often long-haired and excellent swimmers. They are alert and personable, using their quick wit to assist in hunt and in tactics. These include: spaniels, retrievers, pointers, and setters.
Ability Score Increase
Add 1 to Wisdom.
Natural Swimmer
Your sleek coat and long limbs let you be a natural swimmer. You gain a swimming speed of 30 ft.
Pointing Mark
As a bonus action, you can mark one creature you can see or smell within 30 feet of you. For 1 minute, you know the direction to that creature, and any creature that can see you has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks made to perceive that creature. This effect ends if you can neither see nor smell the target. Once you use this feature, you cannot do so again until you finish a short or long rest.
Terrier
Terriers are shorter Wolpertings, yet sturdy, astute, and often stubborn. They adore physical fights and duels. Almost all of them are self-confident and courageous, probably to a fault. These include: Boston Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier.
Ability Score Increase
Add 1 to Constitution.
Natural Digger
You are a confident yet slow digger. You can spend five minutes to dig up to 15 feet in any direction without the use of tools, up to a maximum of 30 feet under.
Barking Taunt
The terrier wolperting can spend an action to bark at a target within a 30 foot radius for a (8+ proficiency +Con modifier) Wisdom Saving Throw. Upon a failed save, the target will fall for the taunt and try to attack the terrier until the end of its next turn.
Working
Working wolperting are strong, hardy, and excellent fighters. These are the most powerful and often the best duelers, adoring the sword and the fierceness of battle. These tend to be the largest. These include: Great Dane, Mastiff, Dogo, and Doberman.
Ability Score Increase
Add 1 to Dexterity.
Fierce Loyalty
Once per short or long rest, when you see an ally take damage in range of a weapon you are wielding, you can use your reaction to make an attack against that creature.
Physical Training
You are the most adept fighter of all subraces of wolpertings. You gain Proficiency in Athletics.
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