Homebrew Troglodyte Species Details

If you’re considering taking a scaled one along on an adventure, remember this important fact. The strange, inhuman glint in its eyes as it looks you over is the same look you might give a freshly grilled steak.

— Tordek, dwarf fighter and adventurer

Only a fool looks at the troglodytes and sees nothing more than scaly humanoids. Their physical shape notwithstanding, troglodytes have more in common with iguanas or dragons than they do with humans, dwarves, or elves. Troglodytes are notorious for being simple minded folk, but on occasion there rises an individual who's intellect is either comparable, or in extreme cases, superior, to that of other races. These creatures usually are a benefit for the tribe, often making their way to the top through their cunning rather than their strength. Some, however, flee to civilization to escape the brutality of the tribe, believing they can find acceptance, but find the civilized world just as hostile to their presence. Other, simpler troglodytes, can simply be more adventurous, or be cast away form the tribe. These individuals usually find themselves in some fold of civilization, considered thugs or brutes, and often hired as such.

Despite their alien outlook, some troglodytes make an effort to understand and, in their own manner, befriend people of other races. Such troglodytes make faithful and skilled allies.

Alien Minds

The troglodyte's reptilian nature comes through not only in their appearance, but also in how they think and act. Troglodytes experience a more limited emotional life than other humanoids. Like most reptiles, their feelings largely revolve around fear, aggression, and pleasure.

Troglodytes experience most feelings as detached descriptions of creatures and situations. For example, humans confronted by an angry troll experience fear on a basic level. Their limbs shake, their thinking becomes panicked and jumbled, and they react by instinct. The emotion of fear takes hold and controls their actions. In contrast, troglodytes see emotions as traits assigned to other creatures, objects, and situations. A troglodyte doesn’t think, “I’m scared.” Instead, aggressive, stronger creatures register to the troglodyte as fearsome beings to be avoided if possible. If such creatures attack, troglodytes flee, fighting only if cornered. Troglodytes aren’t scared of a troll; instead, they understand that a troll is a fearsome, dangerous creature and react accordingly.

Troglodytes never become angry in the way others do, but they act with aggression toward creatures that they could defeat in a fight and that can’t be dealt with in some other manner. They are aggressive toward prey they want to eat, creatures that want to harm them, and so on.

Pleasurable people and things make life easier for troglodytes. Pleasurable things should be preserved and protected, sometimes at the cost of the troglodyte’s own safety. The most pleasurable creatures and things are ones that allow troglodytes to assess more situations as benign rather than fearsome.

 

Utility and Survival

The troglodyte mindset might seem unnecessarily cruel, but it helps them survive in a hostile environment. The caves they inhabit are filled with a staggering variety of threats. Troglodytes focus on survival above all, without sentiment.

Troglodytes assess everyone and everything in terms of utility. Art and beauty have little meaning for them. A sharp sword serves a useful and good purpose, while a dull sword is a dead weight without a whetstone.

Troglodytes see little need to plan more than a season or so into the future. This approach allows them to maintain their current level of influence in the world, but it limits their growth. Troglodytes have no interest in developing writing, making long-term plans, or cultivating other methods to progress beyond their simple existence as hunters.

Hapless Soft Ones

At their core, troglodytes view other humanoids with an indifference verging on pity. Born into the world lacking stout scales and sharp teeth, it’s a wonder they have managed to survive for so long. The typical human would barely make it through a day in the caves.

Still, if other creatures prove useful to troglodytes, those creatures can trigger a protective response made all the stronger by their apparent weakness. The troglodytes assess such beings as hatchlings, young ones incapable of protecting themselves but who might prove useful in the future if they receive care.

Troglodyte Personality

You can use the Troglodyte Quirks table to determine a personality quirk for a troglodyte character or to inspire a unique mannerism.

Troglodyte Quirks

d8	Quirk
1	You hate waste and see no reason not to scavenge fallen enemies. Fingers are tasty and portable!
2	You see typically disgusting smells as a piece of olfactory artwork.
3	Money is meaningless to you.
4	You think there are only two species of humanoid: scaled ones and meat.
5	You have learned to laugh. You use this talent in response to all emotional situations, to better fit in with your comrades.
6	You still don’t understand how metaphors work. That doesn’t stop you from using them at every opportunity.
7	You appreciate the soft humanoids who realize they need chain mail and swords to match the gifts you were born with.
8	You enjoy eating your food while it’s still wriggling.

Troglodyte Names

Troglodytes don't have the imagination for arbitrary names, so they often simply give their children descriptive names, such as 'One-Who-Stalks' or 'One-With-Pale-Frills'. Such names are of a utilitarian nature and rarely have any bearing on the individual gender. Troglodytes from different clans will often combine their individual name with their clan's name, such as 'One-Who-Stalks of Those-Of-The-Stony-Bluffs'. Most other races will simply shorten these names to 'Who-Stalks' and 'Stony-Bluffs'

Personal Names: One-Who-Stalks, One-With-Pale-Frills, Him-With-Two-Fingers, One-Who-Frowns, She-With-Pale-Skin, One-Who-Seeks, One-Of-White-Frills, etc...

Clan Names: Those-Of-Stony-Bluffs, Those-Of-White-Caves, Them-With-Iron-Claws, etc...

Common Names: Some troglodytes will take names from the cultures they find themselves in, so it is not unheard of for a troglodyte to have a Common, Elvish, or Dwarvish name.

Troglodyte Traits

Your troglodyte character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, your Strength score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score decreases by 1.

Age

Troglodytes, due to their tribal life style, have a short life span. They are considered adults at the age of 15, and usually live to a maximum of 60 years.

Alignment

Troglodytes are naturally chaotic evil, making lawful or good troglodytes particularly rare. They see the world as a place of predators and prey, where life and death are natural processes. They wish only to survive and prosper.

Size

Troglodytes are a little bulkier and taller than humans, and their spines make them appear even larger. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet, you can climb at 20 feet with your sharp claws, and you have a swimming speed of 20 feet.

Sharp Claws

You are considered proficient with your unarmed strike. You deal 1d6 slashing damage with your claws. Use your Strength modifier for both your attack and damage rolls.

Specialized Senses

You can see in dim light as if it were bright light for 60ft, and in darkness as if it were dim light for 60ft. Troglodytes have an extremely keen sense of smell which allows them 10 feet of blindsight. This however can be a drawback if the area is suffused with smoke or another overwhelming smell.

Natural Hunter

You gain proficiency with Stealth and Survival.

Sunlight Sensitivity

You have disadvantage on all attack rolls and Wisdom checks that rely on sight if either you, or the target, is in direct sunlight.

Natural Armor

You have tough, scaly skin. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Stench

Troglodytes are extremely fond of strong smells and use them as ways to mark territory, identify themselves, and even communicate. Any creature that starts its turn within 5ft of you must succeed in a DC 12 Constitution save or be poisoned until the start of their next turn. A creature that succeeds is immune to the odor of all troglodytes for 1 hour.

This smell can be washed away if need arises, such as for stealth or the constant complaints of a companion, but the troglodyte will certainly grumble about their lack of smell until they can reacquire it.

Languages

You can speak Common and Troglodyte. Most troglodytes have not learned, or find any interest in written language.