If you haven’t heard, the price for the hardcover of the Book of Heroic Races: Advanced Compendium is going to be going up on July 1st (printing costs). So until then, we’ve got it for 25% off the regular price. So I thought I would just take a few moments today to reflect on this awesome book.
What I realized was that picking my favorite race was like picking my favorite child. I just can’t do that. Well, okay I can because I only have one child, but you know what I mean.
Catfolk, I will always have a special place in my heart for this race. I mean I’m a child of the ’80s. I grew up watching the ThunderCats. If I want a rogue or a ranger I reach for a catfolk.
If I want a cleric with a better melee attack than most I’m pulling out a tengu. Bonus, the Gifted Linguist ability lets them evangelize to everyone they encounter.
Well I don’t normally mix science fiction with my fantasy, the android race is exceptionally well built and works well as a sci-fi mix in.
What can I say about wyvarans? You get to play a dragon! Need I say more?
When I want a race with a monstrous connection and temptation of dark powers, I am reaching for a changeling. This fun race speaks to power and corruption as a central point about the character with a troubled past.
Speaking of a monstrous connection, the gillfolk do this for an underwater, but these has the added benefit of being the humans of the environment. For a race with a history of abuse by another, gillfolk do this well.
Sticking with underwater for a moment, the merfolk are the elves of the sea. As someone who grew up playing a number of elves, this race appeals to the child in me, while still being new and unique.
Another race with a dark connection and a history of abuse, the wyrwoods have a long memory of what their abusers have done. Even better, their abusers are mages, instead of a monstrous race.
Playing a werewolf can be difficult mechanically. So when I’m looking for that same experience in a game, I reach for a skinwalker. This race carries much of the same flavor and feel while still being mechanically balanced.
Some people say that the psionic races are difficult to understand. That does not hold true for the elans. This human-of-the-psionics world is easy to understand and a real joy to play.
I know many people that don’t feel like they belong in the body there in. Either that or they feel like they are out of time or simply do not belong here. When I want to play this aspect in a game, samsarans are my choice of race.
Lastly, we have the lizardfolk. This scaly, misunderstood race of noble savages is one with nature more than anyone else here. Lizardfolk are what many druids or shamans wish they could be.
Do you love all these races as much as I? Are there any others you want to see delved as indepth as we had in the Book of Heroic Races: Advanced Compendium? Order your copy of this book before the price goes up at DriveThruRPG.
Jon Brazer Enterprises 