Grimlock as a Playable Race for 5E D&D
Hey Nerdarchists out there, Nerdarchist Ted here and it is time for yet another installment of customized races for D&D 5th edition. Inspired by the name alone can make one remember the quote, “Grimlock strongest of the . . .” If you remember that, I hope I made you chuckle.
Grimlocks are descended from humans but being worshipers of evil for so long and living underground has caused them to change. They no longer posses the ability to see adapting their senses to just know what is around them instead of actually trying to see it.
Grimlocks in 5th edition
As a culture Grimlocks still worship the evil powers that they have served that made them get perverted them from their human heritage. Constantly at war with whatever they can fight, Grimlocks are a brutal race. They still make attacks on the surface on a regular basis.
A player character Grimlock can come from a failed raid on the surface and be a lone survivor looking for his way back home. If could be captured from the underdark and raised on the surface having to deal with his lack of site, quite a challenge for anyone. If you want to use this in a game check with your DM and see if they agree and come up with a back story that makes sense.
Grimlocks posses quite a few abilities but not being able to see beyond 30 feet and 10 if they are deafened is a big drawback is a huge drawback as ranged combat is basically out of the question for you. So because of this they make excellent martial melee characters.
A Grimlock Traits
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Dexterity and Constitution score by 1.
Age. Gromlocks age much like humans reaching adulthood in late teens and if not killed in battle can live to old age around 60 years.
Alignment. Most Grimlocks are driven by battle and their evil masters, they tend towards neutral 
evil. Player character Grimlocks may be of any alignment.
Size. Grimlocks stand between 6 feet and 6and a half feet tall and average around 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30.
Sightless. Not possesing eyes you have adapted to life with out them. You posses blindsight at a range of 30 feet. This gets reduced to 10 feet if you are deafened. Additionally you are immune to illusions that rely on sight.
Keen Hearing and Smell. You have advantage on Wisdom(Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Stone Camouflage. You have advantage on Dexterity(Stealth) checks made to hide in rocky terrain.
Languages. You can understand Undercommon and Common. Not having eyes, your eyelids are sealed, you do not posses the ability to read or write.
More back story on how cool this race is in your Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual page 175. Let me know what you think in the comments below. Are they too weak, too powerful? Regardless of our opinion you know the phrase, “Until next time – Stay Nerdy!!”
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Andrés Ruiz
March 19, 2015 at 9:00 amTed Adams I gotta say we would get along SO WELL as player and DM!! I love playing this kind of races, I love the social challenge, and I love grim stories.
The only thing I'd change is that I feel like the blindsight range should have some kind of progression because at higher levels being blind beyond 30ft of you means you'll be most likely dead soon. But it's just an impression I have, I never had the chance to playtest it.
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September 4, 2021 at 1:50 pm