Homebrew Giff Species Details

It's easy to spot the giff in a room: a group of 7-foot-tall, hippopotamus-headed humanoids attired in gaudy military uniforms, with gleaming pistols and muskets on display. These spacefaring mercenaries are renowned for their martial training and their love of explosives.

Every aspect of giff society is organized along military lines. From birth until death, every giff has a military rank. It must follow orders from those of superior rank, and it can give orders to those of lower rank. Promotions don't depend on age but are granted by a superior as a reward for valor. Giff are devoted to their children, even as most of their education is geared toward fighting and war.

Giff are in high demand as warriors for hire, but they insist on serving in units composed entirely of giff; a giff hiring itself out individually is unheard of. Giff refuse to fight other giff, and will never agree to a contract unless it stipulates that they can sit out a battle rather than wage war against their kin. A giff prizes the reputation of its unit above its own life. Life is fleeting, but the regiment endures for generations or even centuries.

Muskets and grenades are the favorite weapons of every giff. The bigger the boom, the brighter the flash, and the thicker the smoke it produces, the more giff love a weapon. Their skill with gunpowder is another reason for their popularity as mercenaries. Giff revel in the challenge of building a bomb big enough to level a fortification. They gladly accept payment in kegs of gunpowder in preference to gold, gems, or other currency.

Some giff become wizards, clerics, and other kinds of spellcasters, but they're so infrequent that most giff mercenary units have no magical capability. Typical giff are as smart as the average human, but their focus on military training to the exclusion of all other areas of study can make them seem dull-witted to those who have more varied interests.

Giff Traits

Giff, the hippo-headed mercenaries of the cosmos.

Size

Adult giff tend to be about 7 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

You have a 30 foot walking speed.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common.

Age

Giff mature at age 17, and rarely live longer than 90 year olds.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength Score increases by 1, your Constitution Score increases by 1, and your Intelligence Score increases by 1. Your alien biology allows for great strength, and your upbringing for tactics and memory of the Astral Plane has required great memory from you.

Headfirst Charge

When you travel at least 20 feet in a straight line and you hit a Large or smaller creature with a melee attack, it must make a Strength saving throw equal to 8+your proficiency bonus+your Strength modifier, or take 2d6 additional bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. On a successful save, the target takes half damage and is not knocked prone.. You can use this once per short or long rest. 
The additional damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level.

Alignment

Giff tend to lean towards lawful neutral, as they sail throughout the Astral Sea not getting involved in others' business unless crimes against life are being committed. They excel as mercenaries for hire for all manner of creatures.

Giff Combat Training

You gain proficiency with hand crossbows, light crossbows, heavy crossbows, and firearms.

Firearms Knowledge

Your mastery of weapons enable you to ignore the loading property of all weapons you are proficient with.

Giff Armor Training

You gain proficiency with light and medium armor.