View source for SRD:Race Descriptions

{{OGL Top}}
==Race Descriptions==

===Character Size===

{{:SRD:Table of Creature Size and Scale}}

A [[SRD:Small|Small]] character generally moves about two-thirds as fast as a [[SRD:Medium|Medium]] character.

A character must use weapons for creatures of his size.

===Race and Languages===

All characters know how to speak Common. A [[SRD:Dwarves (Race)|dwarf]], [[SRD:Elves (Race)|elf]], [[SRD:Gnomes (Race)|gnome]], [[SRD:Half-Elves (Race)|half-elf]], [[SRD:Half-Orcs (Race)|half-orc]], or [[SRD:Halflings (Race)|halfling]] also speaks a racial language, as appropriate. A character who has an [[SRD:Intelligence|Intelligence]] bonus at 1st level speaks other languages as well, one extra language per point of [[SRD:Intelligence|Intelligence]] bonus as a starting character.

=====Literacy=====

Any character except a [[SRD:Barbarian|barbarian]] can read and write all the languages they speak.

=====Class-Related Languages=====

[[SRD:Cleric|Clerics]], [[SRD:Druid|druids]], and [[SRD:Wizard|wizards]] can choose certain languages as bonus languages even if they’re not on the lists found in the race descriptions. These [[SRD:Class|class]]-related languages are as follows:

======Cleric======

Abyssal, [[SRD:Celestial|Celestial]], Infernal.

======Druid======

Sylvan.

======Wizard======

Draconic.

===Favored Class===

A character’s favored [[SRD:Class|class]] doesn’t count against them when determining experience point penalties for multiclassing.

===Level Adjustment===

Add this number to the creature’s total [[SRD:Hit Dice|Hit Dice]], including [[SRD:Classes|class levels]], to get the creature’s effective character level (ECL). A character’s ECL affects the experience the character earns, the amount of experience the character must have before gaining a new level, and the character’s starting equipment.

===Vital Statistics===

====Age====

=====Starting Age=====

You can choose or randomly generate your character’s age. If you choose it, it must be at least the minimum age for the character’s race and [[SRD:Class|class]]. Your character’s minimum starting age is the adulthood age of their race plus the number of dice indicated in the race's random starting ages table corresponding to the character’s [[SRD:Class|class]].

Alternatively, refer to the race's random starting ages table and roll dice to determine how old your character is.

======Simple======

[[SRD:Barbarian|Barbarian]], [[SRD:Rogue|rogue]], [[SRD:Sorcerer|sorcerer]], [[SRD:Soulknife|soulknife]], [[SRD:Wilder|wilder]].

======Moderate======

[[SRD:Bard|Bard]], [[SRD:Fighter|fighter]], [[SRD:Paladin|paladin]], [[SRD:Psychic Warrior|psychic warrior]], [[SRD:Ranger|ranger]].

======Complex======

[[SRD:Cleric|Cleric]], [[SRD:Druid|druid]], [[SRD:Monk|monk]], [[SRD:Psion|psion]], [[SRD:Wizard|wizard]].

=====Aging Effects=====

With age, a character’s physical ability scores decrease and their mental ability scores increase (see each race's aging effects table). The effects of each aging step are cumulative. However, none of a character’s ability scores can be reduced below 1 in this way.

When a character reaches venerable age, secretly roll their maximum age, which is the number from the Venerable column on the race's aging effects table plus the result of the dice roll indicated on the Maximum Age column on that table, and records the result, which the player does not know. A character who reaches their maximum age dies of old age at some time during the following year.

The maximum ages are for player characters. Most people in the world at large die from pestilence, accidents, infections, or violence before getting to venerable age.

====Height and Weight====

The dice roll given in the Height Modifier column determines the character’s extra height beyond the base height. That same number multiplied by the dice roll or quantity given in the Weight Modifier column determines the character’s extra weight beyond the base weight.

{{SRD Race Footer}}
[[Category:Rule|{{BASEPAGENAME}}]]