New Hackmaster Races

The Common Minotaur

Minotaurs are broad, muscular humanoids with bullish bovine head, cloven feet and callused hands. Minotaurs are almost always male, very muscular and broad, and very tall (7 to 7 ½ feet tall). It is believed they were created by an unknown gawd eons ago. That the first Minotaur was an ill-tempered fighter who wished to be as strong as a bull. He was cursed for his pride and became a Minotaur. Due to this, Minotaurs must breed with human or demi-human females to procreate. Though most Minotaurs believe that female Minotaurs do not exist, on a rare occasion the offspring of Minotaur will create a female Minotaur (1 in 10,000 chance or so). As such, female Minotaurs are highly valued by male Minotaurs who learn of their existence. And contrary to popular belief, they do not have utters. Female Minotaurs also have the same statistics as males. In addition to this, there are rare mutations to the Minotaur breeds that give them feet, rather then hooves(10% chance). Of course, few Minotaurs care, as long as they can fight. This doesn't affect their abilities, other then they can wear boots rather then use horseshoes. There is rumor of entire Minotaur clans with this trait (and also have a large number of females!).
Minotaurs tend to venerate physical strength above all else. The strong, they believe, should naturally rule. They believe might is right and surrender is viewed as weakness, so Minotaurs fight (or argue) to the death. They are extremely cunning and have excellent senses. They will attack without fear and retreat only if their opponent is beyond their ability to defeat.
Minotaurs value honor, strength and the superiority of their race. Minotaurs will honor their word, no matter how painful the consequences. Strength as mentioned above is: Might makes right. They believe that any problems they have can be solved with strength, cunning, and skill. Those who solve problems this way are clearly in the right. Minotaurs are also believe strongly in competition. Competition allows one to measure oneself against other Minotaurs and against lesser beings. Minotaurs believe in their superiority of their race. The see themselves as the chosen of the gawds and that all other races are weak and riddled with dishonorable folk. They see themselves as the ones to inherit the wurld.
While many Minotaurs are brutal, uncivilized savages, they are not mindless killers. Most are ruthless, harsh, and stubborn, but some are thoughtful and even sophisticated. A few are known for their gentleness and friendly ways(usually runt Minotaurs who couldn't take getting beat up). Minotaurs usually live in very primitive areas, such as caves, forests, or ruins. There are even rumors of a large Minotaur society across the sea, in which Minotaurs lord over all other races and have ruled that land for eons. Of course, it could just be rumors started by a few Minotaur supremacists.

Minotaurs have a good selection of professions. They may choose from cleric, chosen one, shaman, zealot, fighter, barbarian, berserker, bounty hunter, gladiator, knight errant, pirate, soldier, magic-user, blood mage, thief, brigand, infiltrator. In addition, a Minotaur can choose from the following multi-class combinations: fighter(or berserker)/thief, fighter/magic-user, fighter(or berserker)/shaman, fighter(or berserker)/pirate(thief version), and pirate/magic-user.

Minotaurs at the Glance

The Upside:
Racial Bonuses:
*Infravision with a 60' range.
*Natural Armor Class of 6.
*Gain a one time bonus of +6 hitpoints at first level.
*Minotaurs gain a +1 bonus to their surprise rolls(stacks with Active Sense of Smell).
*They can track prey by scent, adding a +50% bonus to any tracking skill when scent is a factor.(half chance for those without training in a tracking skill)
*Immune to all Maze spells.
*+3 bonus to their morale scores(including saves vs magical fear)
*Can head-butt medium-sized opponents only for twice per round for 2d4 damage (in exclusion to other attacks). If the Minotaur has 30 feet of room, it can charge an opponent for double normal head-butt damage.
*Can bite small-sized or smaller for 1d4 points of damage in addition to normal weapon attacks.

Initial Languages:
Minotaur, Common

Talents:
Active Sense of Smell

Allowable Classes:
Cleric, chosen one, shaman, zealot, fighter, barbarian, berserker, bounty hunter, gladiator, knight errant, pirate, soldier, magic-user, blood mage, thief, brigand, infiltrator, pirate(thief)

Allowable Multi-Classes:
Fighter(or Berserker)/Thief, Fighter/Mage, Fighter(or Berserker)/Shaman, Fighter(or Berserker)/Pirate(thief version), Pirate/Magic-User
Attribute Modifiers:

Minotaur gain/suffer the following bonuses/penalties: +2 Strength; +2 Constitution, -2 Wisdom, -3 Charisma, -4 Comeliness

Building Point Bonus: 7

Restricted Talents Which May be Purchased:
(HMPH)-Acute (high) Alertness, Ambidextrous, Attack Bonus, Axe Bonus, Blind-fighting, Damage Bonus, Dense Skin, Endurance, Sibling Empathy, Warhammer Bonus.
(CG)*-Aquatic Background, Attack Higher Bonus, Called Shot Bonus, Critical Hit Bonus, Damage Cap Bonus, Defend Bigger Bonus, Hardy Traveler, Mountain Fighting, Multiattack Bonus, Pain Resistance, Unyielding.
(SSG)*-Arcane Swindler, Blind Casting, Martial Tradition.
(ZG)*-All Talents that say Any.
(GG)*-All Talents that say Any, Good Immune System, High Tolerance.

*-Must be applicable class to take these talents unless allowable regardless of class.

The Downside
*Minotaurs take damage as large creatures.
*-4 reaction adjustment for attitude towards other races and frightening reputations.
*Distrust spell casters. Will view all spell casters with suspicion. While they won't attack them on sight(sometimes), they will view them weak and treat them in the same manor and possibly provoke them. This treatment goes for Minotaur spellcasters also. Minotaur spellcasters have overcome this distrust, but (90% of the time) their clan has not and will hunt them.
*Their armor costs 300% that of humans. Other garb costs 200% that of humans.
*Enmity towards Gnolls.
*Cannot take Take After Talent, since they are not a true half breed race.


Racial Ability Requirements
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA COM*
12/20 5/16 12/20 5/18 3/15 2/15 -/14

*Comeliness in the eyes of humans and demi-humans. This score can be much higher in the eyes of their own people. For own race, just modify by removing the original comeliness racial modifier.

Minotaur Class and Level Limitations

Class Level

Cleric 8
Chosen Ones 12
Shaman 9
Zealot* U

Fighter U
Barbarian U
Berserker 15
Bounty Hunter 10
Gladiator 15
Knight E. 11
Pirate U
Soldier 12

Magic-User 14
Blood mage 10

Thief 8
Brigand 12
Infiltrator 8
Pirate(Thief) 9

* With GM approval only. The appropriateness of the race depends on the individual zealot class.

Thieving Skill Racial Adjustments
PP OL FRT MS HS DN CW RL
-5% -5% -- -- +5% +5% -5% -5%

Average Height and Weight
Height in Inches Weight in Pounds
Base Modifier Base Modifier
Minotaur(Male/Female) 84/80 2d6 450/390 4d20

Age
Starting Age Max. Age Range
Base Age Variable (Base + Variable)
Minotaur 12 3d6 150+1d100

Aging Effects
Middle Age Old Age Venerable
Minotaur 75 years 100 years 150 years

Social Class and demi-humans: (modifier outside Minotaur society to table 4F in players handbook)

Minotaur: -45 (Halved in an area where Minotaurs have civilized areas next to non-minotaurs)

Racial Modifiers to Circumstances of Birth

Table 4G Table 4H*
Minotaur +50 0

*If result of <01-05 is rolled, it is usually assumed(90% of the time) that the mother(almost always human or demi-human, read above) of the child escaped/left for dead/etc. from the Minotaur father and the mother abandoned the child. In all other cases, the father is known since Minotaurs usually capture and hold the mothers of their children. What they do with the mothers afterward is rarely known, though a select few are released. Of course, there are those rare Minotaur groupies who seek out Minotaurs and marry them to bear their children. These groupies tend to be treated well, despite not being Minotaur. Of course, some don't survive giving birth.
In a civilized Minotaur area(should such a thing exist), the circumstance table modifiers are halved. In such areas, Minotaurs might be more accepted and female Minotaurs numbers tend to increase(1 in 100), as natures way of dealing with a concentrated Minotaur population. Females also tend to have more power in such areas, because they're in such demand. It's not uncommon for them to have many mates.