Half-ogre PC race.

Half-ogres seem to be all the rage lately, so this is my take on it. I tried to come up with something a little different than the half-orc or goliath, while attempting to keep it competitive. Let me know what you think.

Half-Ogre

A half-ogre is a crossbreed between a human and an ogre, distinct from an ogrillon, which is the result of a union between an orc and an ogre. This interbreeding is almost never, if ever, a happy thing. A half-ogre raised by a human community will typically find himself mistrusted, possibly pitied, and sometimes outright hated by his neighbors. A half-ogre raised by his ogre kin will be looked down on until he has proven himself in battle.

As one might expect, a half-ogre is typically very large and very strong. They are bigger and somewhat more bestial in appearance than a half-orc, with skin tones ranging from pale yellow to dull brown, or even occasionally grey. Warts are common, and a half-ogre’s hair is usually dark-colored. Eyes are usually human-like, though some half-ogres are born with the black eyes of their ogre lineage.

Runts of the Tribe

Ogres look upon these half-breeds as small and weak compared to a full-fledged ogre. Until a half-ogre has a chance to prove himself in battle, he will be pushed around by his full-blooded kin. Once he manages to show the rest of the tribe his fury in combat, he will gradually gain respect. It’s not unusual for a half-ogre to be smarter than his tribemates, and it’s not entirely unheard of for a half-ogre to work his way into a position of leadership. Ogres led by a half-ogre will tend to fight with a surprising amount of strategy and tactics, rather than behave like an unruly, chaotic mob which is how ogres usually fight.

Mistrusted Outcasts

A half-ogre raised in a human community will find it extremely difficult to find acceptance amongst his human kin. Many will fear and mistrust him, due to both his size and bestial appearance. Others will outright hate him, if for no other reason than that the half-ogre is a constant reminder of a tragic chapter in the community’s past. The half-ogre learns to be a solitary survivor, untrusting of those around him.

People generally view a half-ogre as big, strong and stupid, with impulse and anger control issues. Some half-ogres can be surprisingly intelligent, though, and are commonly underestimated. The one group that a half-ogre can expect to find acceptance from is the half-orcs, who experience some of the same issues in human society. And the one line of work a half-ogre is always welcome is one that involves inflicting violence.

Half-Ogre Names

A half-ogre raised by ogres will have an ogre type of name, usually something short, simple, and harsh sounding. A half-ogre raised by humans will have a name typical for that community.

Half-Ogre Traits

Boosted Ability Score. Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age. Half-ogres have lifespans comparable to humans. They reach adulthood in their mid teens and don’t usually live longer than a century.

Alignment. Regardless of where they are brought up, half-ogres tend more towards chaotic than not. A half-ogre raised among ogres will almost certainly be evil, while one raised by humans will not usually be terribly inclined towards good.

Size. Half-ogres are between 7 and 8 feet tall, and weigh between 300 and 400 pounds. Your size is medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision. Your ogre blood gives you superior vision in dark and dim lighting conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of grey.

Large and Threatening. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Ogre Toughness. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.

Languages. You speak, read, and write Common and Giant. Half-ogres raised by an ogre tribe are rarely literate and may not know Common.

Based on feedback, I've dropped the speed to 30 ft and added the note about literacy if the half-ogre is raised in an ogre tribe.