Kobold
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By Lord RasputinLord Rasputin

Kobolds are reptile men half the height of men. Small, weak, and pathetic, they live a meager life, often as the slaves of larger, stronger races. They do make good miners, and they have the uncanny skill of surviving.

Calculate height and weight normally for ST before applying the racial ST modifier, then halve height and quarter weight. A kobold has SM -2, regardless of height, and is subject to Tiny Tools. However, he is big enough to wield human weapons at -2 skill, and can buy off this penalty with a special perk, which is not part of the racial template:

Giant Weapons: You’re familiar enough with the clumsy weapons of big folk (SM 0) that you can ignore some or all of the -2 to use them. Giant Weapons 1 [1] eliminates -1; Giant Weapons 2 [2] removes the full -2.

10 points.

Attribute Modifiers: ST -4 [-40]; DX +1 [20]; IQ -1 [-20]; HT +2 [20].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: SM -2; Per +2 [10]; Basic Speed +0.25 [5]; Basic Move -2 [-10].
Advantages: Claws (Sharp) [5]; Damage Resistance 1 (Tough Skin, -40%) [3]; Infravision [10]; Nictitating Membrane 1 [1]; Peripheral Vision [15]; Teeth (Sharp) [1]; Wily Little Bugger 2* [10].
Disadvantages: Cowardice (12) [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10].
Features: Born Biter†

* Wily Little Bugger: You know how to survive under the toughest circumstances, especially underground. This Talent aids Prospecting, Scrounging, Survival (Underground), and Traps. Only kobolds can have it, and may buy up to two more levels at character creation. Reaction bonus: Miners and survivalists. 5 points/level.

† Born Biter: You have an elongated jaw optimized for trapping prey. You can opt to hold on after you bite; thus, the bite doubles as a grapple. On later turns, you can worry, which counts as an attack but always hits – simply roll biting damage! If your victim’s SM is three or more greater than yours, you can only do this to an extremity (hand, foot, etc.), and the grapple is considered one-handed. If his SM is only one or two larger, you can target anything, and the grapple is treated as two-handed. The same is true if his SM is equal to or smaller than yours, but you can also attempt to pin him while standing! The catch is that foes get +3 to target your protruding snout, allowing them to attack your face (not skull) at only -2.

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Adventure Ideas