Dungeons and Dragons and D&D are registered trademarks of TSR, Inc. Their use in this essay in no way is to be construed as a challenge upon their ownership or to imply approval or permission on the part of TSR, Inc., even though TSR has crapped out on us die-hard fans and completely abandoned the system.
While the Dungeons & Dragons game holds a special place in my heart, I would hardly call it perfect. I find that the game limits demihumans too severely for my desires as a DM. However, an AD&D-esque proliferation of multi-classes doesn't really fit the simple elegance of the game.
Thus, I have rewritten the demihumans to increase their flexibility, but I've also tried to preserve a D&D flavor. I began by ruling that the demihumans present in the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (DDC) actually only represent that race's version of the Fighter class. Since fighters are the most common of adventurers, it makes perfect sense that most humans would think that the rarer nonhuman races would all be of a that type.
Presume that the rules in the DDC apply at all times except where noted otherwise.
Level limits have been eliminated. All characters may reach 36th level in their respective classes. Experience tables have been extended for all demihumans. Demihumans do not begin play with proficiency in all permitted weapons. Demihuman fighters begin play with proficiency in four weapons plus the specified "racial weapon". All other demihumans begin play with proficiency in two weapons plus the specified racial weapon. Alternatively, demihumans can sacrifice the "extra" proficiency to be at the "skilled" level of weapon mastery in the racial weapon.
Return to Bryan's Game Stuff page.
NOTE: Originally written by Bryan J Maloney and posted to "Bryan's Game Stuff Page" which is no longer available. I have reposted it here since the original is no longer available; people ask about this idea from time to time, and Bryan's rules are well done. However this content is posted without the original author's consent and will be removed if requested. Return to Mike's D&D page.