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Customized Races – The Saurials| Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition

Hey Nerdarchists out there, Nerdarchist Ted here and it is time for yet another installment of customized races for D&D 5th edition. Saurials, humanoid Dinosaurs brought to you by the Finders stone trilogy.  It was an amazing read all those years ago.  But after reading it plagued the question, well how do I play a humanoid dinosaur in my game.

Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition

I will level with you.  I love playing unique races in Dungeons and Dragons and I have loved dinosaurs since I was a kid.  When I was in fourth grade I got the illustrated dinosaur dictionary and I have read through it many times.  Now as scientists uncover more facts about dinosaurs and change in some or many ways the way they are viewed the coolness factor of them have not changed.

So dragon magazine and other books have brought you the saurials in other editions it totally does not help those playing Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition.  Well rest assured here I am ready to swoop in and save the day.

So we have four types of Saurials and each fills a roll in their society.  They come from a rich culture, too much that I can share here, but if you are curious there is plenty of information on line and in other D&D books.

Saurials have their own language but without the proper vocal cords and body cavaties no other race can duplicate it.  In their own tongue each sub-race has its own name but the Suarials have come to accept the human terms for each sub-race, after all it is not their fault that they cannot pronounce it.

Finheads are the first Saurials to be shared with the world.  They resemble a humanoid Corythosaurus with a fin, mohawk style, on top of their head.   They make excellent fighters and tend to be the militia of any Saurial Fighting Force.

Bladebacks are the leaders and faithful of the saurials.  They are wise and slow to anger.  They resemble a humanoid Stegosaurus.  As leaders they serve as excellent clerics or those traveling the wilds favor the life of a druid.

Hornheads are the largest but also the most intellectual of the Saurial world.  Here is an excellent situation where judging one by its size is totally wrong.  Hornheads resemble a humanoid triceratops.  Being studious the hornhead is a natural for taking up the class of wizard.

Flyers are the smallest of the Saurials and resemble tiny humanoid pterodactyls.   With being tiny they are very agile and of course have the ability to fly.  This makes them superb scouts and couriers.

Customized Races in 5th edition

Saurial Traits

Ability Score increases. Your Constitution score is increases by 2.

Age.  A Saurial reaches adulthood fairly quickly, after about 5 years and can manage to live to see a century.

Alignment.  Most saurials are good natured but do not bother with the struggle of law and chaos.  They lean towards neutral good.  Player character Saurials may be of any alignment.

Languages.  You can speak, read and write Common and Draconic.  Additionally Saurial is another laguage that only Suarials can speak do to the unique make up of their bodies and vocal cords.

Subraces.  There are four main kinds of Saurials; finheads, bladebacks, hornheads and flyers.  They are distinctly different in appearance and abilities.  Choose one of these subraces.

Finhead

Ability Score increases.  Your strength score increases by 2.

Powerful.  You have proficiency with the Athletics skill.

Tactics.  As an itelligent fighter You have a superiority die which is a d6.  You may learn a manuever from the battle master archetype under fighter:PHB 74.  Should you take levels in fighter and choose battle master this die will be upgraded.

Size.  Finheads stand between five and half feet to six and a half feet tall.  Your size is medium.

Speed.  Your base walking speed is 30.

Bladebacks

Ability Score increases.  Your Wisdom score increases by 2.

Observant.  You have proficiency with the Insight skill.

Temperature controlled.  Once per day you may use the blades on your back to either draw in heat or release heat.  As a reaction you can gain resistance to fire or cold for an attack.  You regain the use of the feature when you finish a short or long rest.

Size.  Bladebacks stand between five and half feet to six and a half feet tall.  Your size is medium.

Speed.  Your base walking speed is 30.

Hornheads

Ability Score increases.  Your Intelligence score increases by 2.

Studied.  You have proficiency with the choice of one knowledge skill.  You may choose between; Arcana, History, Nature or Religion.

Sturdy. Calling upon your stout size you may use your reaction to gain resistance to non magical piercing, bludgeoning and slashing damage until the start of your next turn. You can regain the use of this after you finish a short or long rest.

Size.  Hornheads stand between six feet and six and a half feet tall.  Your size is medium.

Speed.  Your base walking speed is 30.

Flyers

Ability Score increases.  Your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Keen eyes.  You have proficiency with the Perception skill.

Flight.  You have a fly speed of 40 feet.  You lose this feature if you are wearing medium or heavy armor.

Size.  Bladebacks stand between three feet to three and a half feet tall.  Your size is small.

Speed.  Your base walking speed is 25.

Are these cool enough for your game?  More back story on how cool this race is in your Dungeons and Dragons books from previous editions.  If you go back to 2nd edition llok for a copy of the humanoids handbook.  Now that I have given you these four be on the look out for more as I have used at least 6 different versions in previous editions.

Let me know what you think in the comments below.  Are they too weak, too powerful?  You know the phrase, “Until next time – Stay Nerdy!!”