Homebrew Wookiee Species Details

"Let him have it. It's not wise to upset a Wookiee."
"But sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid."
"That's 'cause a droid don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."
"I see your point, sir. I suggest a new strategy, Artoo. Let the Wookiee win."

―Han Solo, and C-3PO

Strong, intelligent, and fierce in battle, Wookiees make the best of friends for those to whom they are loyal—and the worst of enemies for anyone to whom they are not. Unfortunately, Wookiees have virtually disappeared from the population at large and are be­coming a faded memory of the Old Republic.

 

Biology and Appearance

Averaging over 6 feet in height, Wookiees strike fear into the hearts of their op­ponents because of their sheer size. There is good reason to be scared; few other species in the galaxy match either the strength of a Wookiee or the depths of a Wookiee’s temper. Their limbs are long, with re­tractable claws on their fingers and toes for the ar­boreal environment of their homeworld. These claws are only used for climbing, never for combat, as such an act is seen as dishonorable in Wookiee culture. Their fur grows in a variety of colors, becoming darker in middle age and then graying or whitening in later years (Wookiees can live for centuries).

Society and Culture

Although their physique makes for an intimi­dating appearance, Wookiees live by strict codes of honor and loyalty. Friendship and family bonds knit Wookiees tightly together, for there are dangers on Kashyyyk that frighten even the most ferocious Wook­iee. Kilometers-tall wroshyr trees cover nearly half of Kashyyyk’s surface, defining the world’s unique ecol­ogy and serving as homes for most Wookiee commu­nities. On the seventh level of these forests, Wookiees have built immense cities in the trees, blending tech­nology in harmony with the environment. Mechanical skills and engineering come naturally to the Wookiees.

Having dominated much of Kashyyyk’s upper lev­els, the Wookiees were on the path to explore the stars on their own when a neighboring species, the Trandoshans, arrived on Kashyyyk to colonize and exploit the world. Even though the Trandoshans had more advanced weaponry, the Wookiees fought the would-be colonizers off the planet. The Wookiees wasted no time in disassembling the technology Tran­doshans left behind. This included a starship with sublight engines. When the Trandoshans returned, the Wookiees drove them away for a second time, then took flight to the stars.

The Wookiee-Trandoshan wars continued in spats throughout the later years of the Old Republic, with the Republic mediators usually siding with the honor­able Wookiees. The Trandoshans saw an opportunity, however, when Palpatine declared his Empire. They sent emissaries to Palpatine to recount their griev­ances against the Wookiees. The Imperials heeded Trandoshan advice and placed the cantankerous Wookiees in labor camps. Wookiee children were held at gunpoint unless Wookiee adults used their techni­cal expertise to build Imperial war material.

Wookiee Names

Wookiee names are incredibly diverse. Some names are simple and short, others are incredibly long and complicated, but the majority of names do have softer big sounds and more melodic tones to them.

Prefix: Arri, Chal, Chew, Dry, Gra, Kalla, Low, Nag, Shor, Sno

Suffix: An, Bacca, Chit, Kazza, Mum, Nik, Ova, Tarr, Warr

Wookiee Traits

Your wookiee character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Wookiees mature at the same rate as humans, but they’re considered young until they reach the age of 50. On average, they live about 350 years.

Alignment

Wookiees tend toward good alignments. Wookiees tend to be honorable, rash, loyal, and short-tempered

Size

Wookiees are typically over 6 feet tall, with some standing over 7 feet. Your size is Medium.

Here’s how to determine your height and weight randomly, starting with rolling a size modifier:

Size modifier = 2d10

Height = 5 feet + 6 inches + your size modifier in inches

Weight in pounds = 180 + (2d6 × your size modifier)

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Claws

Because of your claws, you have a climbing speed of 20 feet; using them for anything else violates the wookiee honor code. In addition, your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Daunting Roar

As a bonus action, you can let out an especially menacing roar. Creatures of your choice within 10 feet of you that can hear you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the end of your next turn. The DC of the save equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Hunter’s Instincts

You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, or Survival.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Shyriwook. You can understand and read Galactic Basic, but cannot speak it.

Shyriiwook, the Wookiee tongue, contin­ues to amaze scholars with the incredible nuances of grunts and growls that form the language. Few non-Wookiees can speak it. Conversely, Wookiee physiology prevents them from speaking the languages of other species, including Basic, though most Wookiees have no problem com­prehending them.