Bullywugs

AD&D (1e/2e) Rules

by OldSchoolDL

Ability Score Adjustments: +1 Dexterity (maximum 19), -1 Intelligence and Charisma (maximum 14 each).

Player Classes: Bullywugs can be fighters, barbarians, clerics/tribal shamans, and thieves.

Hit Dice: Bullywugs receive Hit Dice by class.

Alignment: Bullywugs tend to be chaotic evil. Bullywug PCs can be any alignment but are often neutral.

Natural Armor Class: AC 6.

Monstrous Traits: Appearance, chaotic tendencies, webbed hands and feet.

Superstitions: Bullywugs fear dry heat and areas that have little standing water.

Racially Preferred Weaponry: Bullywugs normally employ weapons such as clubs, daggers, short swords, spears, and tridents. Those bullywugs who adventure from their swampy lands can employ any weapon they wish.

Racially Preferred Nonweapon Knowledges: Direction sense, fishing, hunting, survival (swamp), weather sense, wild fighting.

Bullywugs employ a hop attack which can carry them up to 30 feet forward and 15 feet upward. A hop attack gives them a +1 bonus to their attack rolls. If they are using impaling weapons, these cause double damage. Bullywugs receive swimming as a bonus proficiency.

Bullywugs have chameleon abilities that make them 75% undetectable in natural surroundings. This lets them ambush opponents, whose surprise rolls to receive a -2 penalty (-6 if attacked by the bullywug's hop attack).

Bullywugs must wet their entire bodies three times a day (at least a waterskin full of water is required). If they are unable to find moisture, they begin to lose Constitution at a rate of 2 points per missing bath. If their Constitution falls to zero they die from dehydration.

Bullywugs are bipedal frog-like amphibians inhabiting swamps, marshes and other dank locations. They are covered with a smooth, mottled olive-green hide that gives them a natural protection. They have the faces of enormous frogs, characterized by wide mouths and bulging eyes. Like frogs their hands and feet are webbed. They wear no clothing, but do make use of crude armor weapons and shields.

Bullywugs have learned to cooperate with each other in order to survive and to work together when hunting. They are skilled hunters and fishermen, and can use and build snares and nets.

These frog-men grow up in a savage society. Males are dominant, while females are looked upon as nothing more than egg bearers. Only leaders and their goddess Zeboim are shown any kind of respect. Bullywug Tribal Shamans can advance only as high as 7th level and will always be male. Adventuring bullywugs who have found the more sophisticated clerical teachings and study of the gods can advance as far as anyone else can.

Bullywugs need to keep their skin moist which is why they favor the swamps and marshes. Since they live so deep within the swamplands of Krynn, bullywug tribes and settlements are almost never seen. Generally, bullywugs have been spotted in places like Nordmaar, the swamps south of Xak Tsoroth, the Plains of Dergoth surrounding Skullcap, and since the Nightmare of Silvanesti during the War of the Lance, bullywugs have been known to travel and settle in northern Silvanesti and among the waterways. Bullywugs love treasure, even if the regular benefits of wealth are lost on their society. Coins, jewels, and magical items are hoarded whenever they can be found.

The average bullywug does not display the greed or lust of power seen in other chaotic races. They rarely fight among themselves, except when the leader grows too old or when the smaller, more savage bullywugs meet the more larger and advanced cousins. Bullywugs tend to harm their environment, often hunting and fishing an area until its natural resources are depleted. Most hate humans and attack them on sight.

Languages: Bullywugs speak their own froglike language, while those who adventure or are more in a leadership role can grasp the common tongue.

Role Playing Suggestions: Bullywug PCs are assumed to be the larger, more intelligent type. These range in size from 6 to 7 feet tall, and are broader than their tribal relatives. They are more aggressive and better organized, and better equipped than the normal bullywugs.

Often it is the females who decide to leave the lair and take up the life of an adventurer, for the opportunities in their own society are extremely limited. While bullywug PCs tend to remain chaotic, they sometimes shed their evil natures as they try to find a place for themselves in the outside world.

Of course, as most other humans and humanoids fear and detest bullywugs, life for adventurer bullywugs is difficult and dangerous. The successful ones will learn to depend on and cooperate with whatever adventuring group they can latch onto, for their survival depends on cooperation.

The main religion of bullywug society is the worship of Zeboim. When adventuring bullywug shamans or clerics leave the tribe to take up life on the road, it is often to flee the wrath of their chaotic evil goddess. The clerical bullywug often takes up service with another god. Depending on their manner, its usually a god or goddess of nature or war.

This item has been published here with permission from the author(s) and may not be reproduced without permission. This is a fan submission and its contents are completely unofficial. Some characters, places, likenesses and other names may be copyright Wizards of the Coast.