Monsters/NPCs: Gnolls
Here we have gnolls from Monster Manual and Monster Manual IV for D&D 3.5. Their racial template is very cheap - fits for a player character.These humanoid hyenas can be up to 7-1/2 feet tall, which makes them SM+1 creatures. They are stronger and tougher than humans, but are less intelligent. The gnolls have thick, furry hides, so let’s give them DR 1 with Tough Skin and the Fur perk.
Gnolls are nocturnal carnivores who do not really care about what or who they eat. Let’s give them Acute Taste and Smell 2 [4], Sharp Teeth [1], Restricted Diet (Carnivore) [-10], Night Vision 5 [5], Reduced Consumption 2 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [2], and Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15].
The lifespan of a gnoll changed between editions. In D&D 3.5, they had normal human lifespans, but in 4e, they were said to have a much shorter lifespan. I actually don’t mind that change, so I will add Short Lifespan 1 [-10] to the template.
In terms of mentality, gnolls are very ill-tempered and lazy. Let’s give them Bad Temper, Callous, and Laziness.
Finally, gnolls have a reputation for savagery, so let’s give them Social Stigma (Savage) [-10]. You can find this disadvantage in GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 3: The Next Level.
That’s a lot of disadvantages, but let’s also take a look at GURPS Furries, as it has the crocutid racial template that is basically an anthropomorphic hyena – maybe we missed something? First of all, let’s add Blunt Claws [3] to the template, Striking ST 4 (One Attack Only, Bite, -60%) [8], and Unattractive [-4].
Now we get the following racial template that costs -16 points total. It can work as a player character race, but there are many mental and social disadvantages that will make interacting with others difficult.
Some gnolls may leave their barbaric ways behind, and thus would have to buy off some of their mental disadvantages, which would increase their point value. I should also mention that there is some worldbuilding potential that isn’t really explored in the published settings, but you might do that in your own game. You probably know that the gnolls worship the demon prince Yeenoghu, right? But did you know that they also used to have a racial pantheon of proper deities? Most of them are long gone, but there are two weak remnants left – Gorellik and Refnara – and I believe that you can create pockets of gnolls in your world that still worship these ancient gods.
GNOLL [-16] (Monster Manual, page 130)
Attributes: ST+4 (Size Modifier, -10%) [36]; IQ-1 [-20]; HT+1 [10].
Secondary Characteristics: SM+1; Will+1 [5]; Per+1 [5].
Advantages: Acute Taste and Smell 2 [4]; Blunt Claws [3]; DR 1 (Tough Skin, -40%) [3]; Reduced Consumption 2 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [2]; Sharp Teeth [1]; Striking ST 4 (One Attack Only, Bite, -60%) [8].
Disadvantages: Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Callous [-5]; Laziness [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Restricted Diet (Carnivore) [-10]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10]; Unattractive [-4].
Perks: Fur [1].
There is also a subrace of gnolls called flinds. They are, honestly, uninteresting. They are just slightly stronger and smarter gnolls, and their signature feature is not a racial ability, but a racial weapon – the flindbar.
FLIND [3] (Monster Manual III, page 62)
Attributes: ST+5 (Size Modifier, -10%) [45]; HT+1 [10].
Secondary Characteristics: SM+1.
Advantages: Acute Taste and Smell 2 [4]; Blunt Claws [3]; DR 1 (Tough Skin, -40%) [3]; Reduced Consumption 2 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [2]; Sharp Teeth [1]; Striking ST 4 (One Attack Only, Bite, -60%) [8].
Disadvantages: Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Callous [-5]; Laziness [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Restricted Diet (Carnivore) [-10]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10]; Unattractive [-4].
Perks: Fur [1].
The flindbar is a pair of chain-linked iron bars. So, basically iron nunchaku. Just for fun, let’s make it in GURPS. First, open up GURPS Fantasy-Tech 2: Weapons of Fantasy – there are rules for making full-metal weapons. A full-metal nunchaku will deal sw+2 crushing damage, cost $100, weigh 4 lbs., and require ST 8.
Then, since flinds are SM+1 creatures, let’s scale this weapon up using rules from GURPS Low-Tech Companion 2. A SM+1 flindbar will deal sw+3 crushing damage, cost $225, weigh 9 lbs., and require ST 12.
Gnoll Warrior [Monster Manual, page 130]
Typical Stats
|
ST: |
15 |
HP: |
15 |
Speed: |
5.25 |
|
DX: |
10 |
Will: |
10 |
Move: |
5 |
|
IQ: |
9 |
Per: |
10 |
|
|
|
HT: |
11 |
FP: |
11 |
SM |
+1 |
|
Dodge: |
10 |
Parry: |
10U |
DR: |
1* (tough skin), 2 (hardened leather; torso
and limbs) |
Sharp Teeth (10): thrust 1d+2 cutting (KYOS: 2d+2 cutting), Reach C.
Blunt Claws (10): thrust 1d+1 crushing (KYOS: 2d crushing), Reach C-1.
Traits: Acute Taste and Smell 2; Bad Temper (12); Callous; Fur; Laziness; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings); Reduced Consumption 2 (Cast-Iron Stomach); Restricted Diet (Carnivore); Short Lifespan 1; Social Stigma (Savage); Striking ST 4 (One Attack, Bite); Unattractive.
Skills: Axe/Mace-11; Shield-11; Stealth-11; Tracking-11.
Creature Type: Humanoid (Gnoll).
Gnoll Slave-Taker [Monster Manual IV, page 67]
Typical Stats
|
ST: |
15 |
HP: |
15 |
Speed: |
6 |
|
DX: |
12 |
Will: |
11 |
Move: |
6 |
|
IQ: |
10 |
Per: |
12 |
|
|
|
HT: |
12 |
FP: |
12 |
SM |
+1 |
|
Dodge: |
10 |
Parry: |
10 |
DR: |
1* (tough skin), 3* (light mail; torso and
limbs) |
Large Net (13): May entangle or ensnare the target; see Special Ranged Weapons (pp. B410-411). A net has no 1/2D range. Max range is 7 yards.
Sharp Teeth (12): thrust 1d+2 cutting (KYOS: 2d+2 cutting), Reach C.
Blunt Claws (12): thrust 1d+1 crushing (KYOS: 2d crushing), Reach C-1.
Traits: Acute Taste and Smell 2; Bad Temper (12); Callous; Combat Reflexes; Fur; Laziness; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings); Reduced Consumption 2 (Cast-Iron Stomach); Restricted Diet (Carnivore); Short Lifespan 1; Social Stigma (Savage); Striking ST 4 (One Attack, Bite); Unattractive.
Skills: Brawling-12; Net-13; Shortsword-13; Stealth-14; Tracking-14; Wrestling-13.
Techniques: Off-Hand Weapon Training (Net)-13.
Creature Type: Humanoid (Gnoll).
Gnoll Barbarian [Races of the Wild, page 101]
Typical Stats
|
ST: |
15 |
HP: |
15 |
Speed: |
6 |
|
DX: |
12 |
Will: |
10 |
Move: |
6 |
|
IQ: |
9 |
Per: |
10 |
|
|
|
HT: |
12 |
FP: |
12 |
SM |
+1 |
|
Dodge: |
10 |
Parry: |
11U |
DR: |
1* (tough skin), 2 (hardened leather; torso
and limbs) |
Sharp Teeth (12): thrust 1d+2 cutting (KYOS: 2d+2 cutting), Reach C.
Blunt Claws (12): thrust 1d+1 crushing (KYOS: 2d crushing), Reach C-1.
Traits: Acute Taste and Smell 2; Bad Temper (12); Berserk (9); Callous; Combat Reflexes; Fur; Laziness; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings); Reduced Consumption 2 (Cast-Iron Stomach); Restricted Diet (Carnivore); Short Lifespan 1; Social Stigma (Savage); Striking ST 4 (One Attack, Bite); Unattractive.
Skills: Stealth-11; Tracking-11; Two-Handed Axe/Mace-14.
Creature Type: Humanoid (Gnoll).
Fiendish Cleric of
Yeenoghu [Monster Manual IV, page 67]
Typical Stats
|
ST: |
14 |
HP: |
14 |
Speed: |
5.25 |
|
DX: |
10 |
Will: |
12 |
Move: |
5 |
|
IQ: |
11 |
Per: |
12 |
|
|
|
HT: |
11 |
FP: |
11 |
SM |
+1 |
|
Dodge: |
10 |
Parry: Block: |
11 11 (medium heavy shield, DB 2) |
DR: |
1* (tough skin), 3 (light segmented plate;
torso and limbs), 5 (vs. cold and fire) |
Sharp Teeth (10): thrust 1d+1 cutting (KYOS: 2d+1 cutting), Reach C.
Blunt Claws (10): thrust 1d crushing (KYOS: 1d+2 crushing), Reach C-1.
Spells (Alternative Abilities):
Berserker (11);
Seek Good (11).
Traits: Acute Taste and Smell 2; Bad Temper (12); Callous; Divine Empowerment 5 (Yeenoghu); Fur; Laziness; Magic Resistance 2 (Improved); Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings); Reduced Consumption 2 (Cast-Iron Stomach); Restricted Diet (Carnivore); Short Lifespan 1; Social Stigma (Savage); Striking ST 4 (One Attack, Bite); Unattractive; Vow (Monthly human sacrifice).
Skills: Axe/Mace-12; Religious Ritual (Yeenoghu)-12; Shield-12; Theology (Yeenoghu)-12.
Spells: Path of Divinity-11; Path of Rage-11.
Creature Type: Outsider.
Half-Fiend Gnoll
Warlock [Monster Manual IV, page 68]
Typical Stats
|
ST: |
15 |
HP: |
15 |
Speed: |
5.5 |
|
DX: |
11 |
Will: |
13 |
Move: |
5 ground, 11 air (cannot hover) |
|
IQ: |
12 |
Per: |
13 |
|
|
|
HT: |
11 |
FP: |
11 |
SM |
+1 |
|
Dodge: |
10 |
Parry: |
11 (unarmed) |
DR: |
1* (tough skin), 3* (light mail; torso), 5
(vs. acid, cold, electricity, and fire) |
Sharp Claws (14): thrust 1d+1 cutting (KYOS: 2d cutting), Reach C-1.
Darkness: By spending 2 FP and taking a Ready maneuver, the half-fiend can project a 2-yard-radius area of darkness around himself. This effect imposes a -3 penalty on Vision-based tasks, but does not impede Infravision.
Spells (Alternative Abilities):
Berserker (12);
Might 2 (12);
Planar Summons (Abyss) (13).
Traits: Acute Taste and Smell 2; Bad Temper (12); Callous; Flight (Cannot Hover; Winged); Fur; Immunity to Poison; Infravision; Laziness; Magic Resistance 2 (Improved); Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings); Reduced Consumption 2 (Cast-Iron Stomach); Restricted Diet (Carnivore); Short Lifespan 1; Social Stigma (Savage); Striking ST 4 (One Attack, Bite); Unattractive; Vow (Monthly human sacrifice).
Skills: Brawling-14; Expert Skill (Planology)-12; Innate Attack (Gaze)-12; Symbol Drawing (Summoning Circles)-13; Thaumatology-12.
Creature Type: Outsider.
Flind Warrior [Monster Manual III, page 62]
Typical Stats
|
ST: |
15 |
HP: |
15 |
Speed: |
5.25 |
|
DX: |
10 |
Will: |
10 |
Move: |
5 |
|
IQ: |
10 |
Per: |
10 |
|
|
|
HT: |
11 |
FP: |
11 |
SM |
+1 |
|
Dodge: |
10 |
Parry: |
11U |
DR: |
1* (tough skin), 2 (hardened leather; torso
and limbs) |
Sharp Teeth (10): thrust 1d+2 cutting (KYOS: 2d+2 cutting), Reach C.
Blunt Claws (10): thrust 1d+1 crushing (KYOS: 2d crushing), Reach C-1.
Traits: Acute Taste and Smell 2; Bad Temper (12); Callous; Fur; Laziness; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings); Reduced Consumption 2 (Cast-Iron Stomach); Restricted Diet (Carnivore); Short Lifespan 1; Social Stigma (Savage); Striking ST 4 (One Attack, Bite); Unattractive.
Skills: Flail-12; Shield-11; Stealth-11; Tracking-11.
Creature Type: Humanoid (Gnoll).
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