Loader image
Loader image
Back to Top

Blog

Nerdarchy > Dungeons & Dragons  > Play Your Next 5E D&D Game as a Simian Adventurer with this New Race Option
custom race

Play Your Next 5E D&D Game as a Simian Adventurer with this New Race Option

Otherworldly Patron - Custom Warlock - Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition
Guest Post - Class Options For Your Steampunk 5th Edition Game - The GM's Table

Here for your perusal is a custom race for fifth edition Dungeon & Dragonssimians. Deep in the untamed forest lives a race of intelligent apes and monkeys.  Whether they exist due to natural evolution or as the result of a druid who began awakening them no one knows for sure. One thing is known — they have staked out their own territory and guard it fiercely. Simians are fierce at whatever they do. They are fiercely loyal if you have gained their trust.  They are fierce competitors if you feel the need to engage them in combat. Those filled with compassion love with the heat of a volcano. And lastly those who have been wronged hunt down the one who wronged them until the end of their days. Being creatures of nature simians build their homes in trees and at times you might look into the trees and see nothing out of the ordinary as they try to blend their homes into the natural surroundings for protection. They live off of the land and are a part of it.

custom race 5E D&D simian

Ruthazek, the Gorilla King. [Art by Mauricio Herrera]

Custom race option for 5E D&D — Simian

Simian Traits

Your Simian character has a variety of natural abilities.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 1

Age

Simians reach maturity rather quickly, within 8-10 years. They typically live between 50-60 years.

Alignment

Simians feel a part of nature and some long to protect it. Rarely do they unify on any side of law and chaos or good or evil. They tend toward neutrality. Player character simians may be of any alignment.

Speed

You have a walking speed of 30. You also have a climbing speed of 30.

Subrace

Your ancestral heritage determines you overall size and abilities. Ape or baboon each possess their own abilities and appearance.

Dungeons and Dragons

Simian Ape

As an ape you are the more powerful and larger of your simian brethren. You are the natural leaders of your kind. Apes tend to be more serious then their babooon cousins.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2.

Size

Simian apes tend to be between 6 and 7 feet tall. You have a humanoid build but your arms are longer than an average human of your size. Your size is Medium.

Naturally Athletic

You are proficient in Athletics. Some Simians train in physical traits but all of them posses a natural affinity with using their Strength.

Physically Intimidating

As an action you can release a roar against an enemy within 30 feet of you. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw with a DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom Modifier. If they fail they must drop what they are holding and are frightened by you for 1 minute. Once you use this feature you cannot use it again until you finish a long rest.

Simian Baboon

As a baboon you are smaller than your ape relatives. While they are strong you are agile.  You use this sometimes for grace other times for fun. While you still adore nature you tend toward a more carefree lifestyle. Perhaps that is why the apes are the leaders.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Size

Simian baboons tend to be between 4 and 5 feet tall. You have a humanoid build but your arms are longer than an average human of your size. Your size is Medium.

Naturally Agile

You are proficient in Acrobatics. From an early age you swing through the trees without a care, flipping and swinging the whole time.

Prehensile Tail

You have a tail that can be used as an appendage. It has a reach of 5 feet, and it can lift a number of pounds equal to your Strength score. You can use it to hold an object, pick something up or even open a door. Your DM might allow other tasks to be added to these options. Your tail can’t wield weapons or shields or do anything that requires manual precision, such as using tools or magic items or performing the somatic components of a spell.

Stories your games

So there it is — a new custom race options for your 5E D&D game. Now we want to know what you’re up to around your gaming tables. Did you find inspiration from one of our videos, website posts or products? Let us know! Comment on this post, tag us on social media or send us a message and share your stories and images. We love making all sorts of content for you and we want to hear about your adventures too. We recently started a Community Spotlight on our weekly Nerdarchy the Newsletter too and maybe your skill challenge story will wind up there. You get a special coupon for $9.99 when you sign up for the newsletter too.

Until next time, stay nerdy!

Share
Ted Adams

The nerd is strong in this one. I received my bachelors degree in communication with a specialization in Radio/TV/Film. I have been a table op role player for about 20 years 17 of which with the current group. I have played several itterations of D&D, Mutants and Masterminds 2nd and 3rd editions, Star wars RPG, Shadowrun and World of Darkness. I am an avid fan of books and follow a few authors reading all they write. Favorite author is Jim Butcher I have been an on/off larper for around 15 years even doing a stretch of running my own for a while. I have played a number of Miniature games including Warhammer 40K, Warhammer Fantasy, Heroscape, Mage Knight, Dreamblade and D&D Miniatures. I have practiced with the art of the German long sword with an ARMA group for over 7 years studying the German long sword, sword and buckler, dagger, axe and polearm. By no strecth of the imagination am I an expert but good enough to last longer than the average person if the Zombie apocalypse ever happens. I am an avid fan of board games and dice games with my current favorite being Quarrios.

3 Comments

  • Pete van W (@Mr_van_W)
    June 5, 2017 at 8:48 am

    I do love me an Apeling and this seems really cool.

  • PAUL COY
    February 9, 2018 at 11:18 pm

    I have a mini of an orangutan, so I guess I’ll have to squish these two sub-races together, to make the one I need.

  • Charles
    June 2, 2018 at 5:02 pm

    Baboons don’t have prehensile tails.