Minotaur Ranger [Archive] - Wizards Community

Minotaur Ranger [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tugaran
05-06-07, 12:14 PM Hi

We are planning to start an Underdark/Drow Campaign and one of my friends wants to play a male Minotaur Ranger.
I need some guidelines for this brute. How would you play this kind of "Hero" :-)
The Minotaurs are allies/servants of the Drow House from which the other Characters come and he acts as a guide to some long-forgotten place.
Which god would he venerate ? Baphoment ? Where can I find infos about Minotaurs ? Any idea for a Prestige Class ?

Michael
Dxzauvrinn
05-06-07, 05:27 PM Savage Species has the minotaur monster class as well as some good feats for the "brute." Also, check out Champions of Ruin for the Thayan Gladiator prestige class. It's perfect for a minotaur.

With everything else, such as his god and all, let the player decide on his own.
Old Sage
05-06-07, 09:23 PM The minotaur race doesn't feature prominently in the Realms. There are of course minotaurs in Faerun, but they are not a wholly organised people with a land or nation or their own.

We know, from Ed, that -

"Faerunian minotaurs are very rarely seen or mentioned for the same reason psionics was downplayed for so long; they’re considered essential elements of another TSR/now WotC product line (minotaurs meant Dragonlance, psionics meant Dark Sun). So while they’re in the Realms (the ‘home of everything’ for 2nd Edition D&D), we weren’t allowed to feature them in adventures or novels, or make more than passing mention of them."

and,

"Capn Charlie. I like both of your minotaur isle ideas, and yes, I have always included a FEW intelligent, refined minotaurs, though most are brutish, barbarian-level “grunting beasts.” I’ve always treated lizard men the same way; most are tribal warriors with much cunning but not a whole lot of inspirational intellect (i.e. they can learn a new weapon, trap, or battlefield danger in a hurry in a fight with PCs, but don’t lead lives of complex culture), but a few are every bit as intelligent and accomplished as most humans. This usually means that they’re smart enough to keep isolated and largely hidden from humans."

...

So while there *are* of course minotaurs in Faerun, they are not a wholly organised people with a land or nation or their own.

That being said, most of the FR-related references to minotaurs in 1e, 2e, and 3e establish that they seem to fill mostly bodyguard or slavery roles. Fahd yn Ralan el Pesarkhal of Calimport is said to be personally guarded by a contingent of 12 minotaurs. Some Red Wizards utilise minotaurs as personal bodyguards as well. Small numbers of minotaurs are seen regularly in many slave pens of the Drow Houses of Menzoberranzan were they sometimes also double as foot soldiers when the drow go to war.

And then of course there is Taurus, the "famous" Hillsfar arena fighter, who has garnered an impressive measure of fame during his time in the arena.
Old Sage
05-06-07, 09:24 PM That being said... the only known minotaur community lies in the depths of the Northdark in an area known as the Labyrinth. It's covered briefly in one of the Perilous Gateway articles here at WotC, Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide the Underdark, Underdark, and one of the WotSQ novels.

Note also the presence of baphitaurs (basically minotaur tieflings) from the Dungeon of Death who now reside in the Labyrinth. They are detailed in Underdark.
The_Shaman
05-07-07, 08:17 AM A minotaur ranger might be from any of the free communities, or perhaps a runaway slave (drow value minotaur slaves, I believe) - probably from another city. Now, why would exhibit #2 want to see any drow and not kill them is beyond me, but who knows. Maybe s/he was "elevated" for his exploits - drow "servants" are little better than slaves afaik.

If you start as ranger, I'd suggest any of the more animalistic ranger PrCs out there. A modified version of the animal lord, beastmaster, or primeval is one of your more flavorful options. If not, just get yourself TWF, a hefty two-handed weapon, and armor spikes. You won't be much of a sneaksman (although you can eventually get quite good, especially with a few choice spells), but you can be a great outdoorsman/guide.
Fabius Maximus
05-07-07, 05:17 PM Relating to The Shaman's post, try and find an issue of the Dragon Magazine #326. It has alternate Ranger combat styles. The archery and two-weapon tree don't really fit a minotaur.
Tugaran
05-08-07, 09:33 AM Thanx to all of you :-) The alternativ Ranger combat styles make sense and the PrC is also great ... with one or two little modifications ;-)
Mad Mage
05-08-07, 12:55 PM If you have access to said sourcebook, you might want to consider the Beast Heart Adept PrC from Dungeonscape. If you ask me, it fits any sentient creature - humanoid or not - that may bond with non-sentient creatures, especially in a place like the Underdark.
LoneBikerOfTheApocalypse
05-08-07, 04:27 PM I love minotaurs.

For PrCs, there's also the Thrall of Baphomet in Dragon Magazine #341 which seems designed almost specifically for minotaur rangers.

And provided you can get a good enough Int, a minotaur should be able to qualify for Warrior of Darkness (from BoVD) with racial qualities alone.
Tugaran
05-08-07, 05:27 PM Perfect. That´s it. Thrall of Baphomet. I just read the article in the magazine. great.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tugaran 05-06-07, 12:14 PM	Hi We are planning to start an Underdark/Drow Campaign and one of my friends wants to play a male Minotaur Ranger. I need some guidelines for this brute. How would you play this kind of "Hero" :-) The Minotaurs are allies/servants of the Drow House from which the other Characters come and he acts as a guide to some long-forgotten place. Which god would he venerate ? Baphoment ? Where can I find infos about Minotaurs ? Any idea for a Prestige Class ? Michael
Dxzauvrinn 05-06-07, 05:27 PM	Savage Species has the minotaur monster class as well as some good feats for the "brute." Also, check out Champions of Ruin for the Thayan Gladiator prestige class. It's perfect for a minotaur. With everything else, such as his god and all, let the player decide on his own.
Old Sage 05-06-07, 09:23 PM	The minotaur race doesn't feature prominently in the Realms. There are of course minotaurs in Faerun, but they are not a wholly organised people with a land or nation or their own. We know, from Ed, that - "Faerunian minotaurs are very rarely seen or mentioned for the same reason psionics was downplayed for so long; they’re considered essential elements of another TSR/now WotC product line (minotaurs meant Dragonlance, psionics meant Dark Sun). So while they’re in the Realms (the ‘home of everything’ for 2nd Edition D&D), we weren’t allowed to feature them in adventures or novels, or make more than passing mention of them." and, "Capn Charlie. I like both of your minotaur isle ideas, and yes, I have always included a FEW intelligent, refined minotaurs, though most are brutish, barbarian-level “grunting beasts.” I’ve always treated lizard men the same way; most are tribal warriors with much cunning but not a whole lot of inspirational intellect (i.e. they can learn a new weapon, trap, or battlefield danger in a hurry in a fight with PCs, but don’t lead lives of complex culture), but a few are every bit as intelligent and accomplished as most humans. This usually means that they’re smart enough to keep isolated and largely hidden from humans." ... So while there are of course minotaurs in Faerun, they are not a wholly organised people with a land or nation or their own. That being said, most of the FR-related references to minotaurs in 1e, 2e, and 3e establish that they seem to fill mostly bodyguard or slavery roles. Fahd yn Ralan el Pesarkhal of Calimport is said to be personally guarded by a contingent of 12 minotaurs. Some Red Wizards utilise minotaurs as personal bodyguards as well. Small numbers of minotaurs are seen regularly in many slave pens of the Drow Houses of Menzoberranzan were they sometimes also double as foot soldiers when the drow go to war. And then of course there is Taurus, the "famous" Hillsfar arena fighter, who has garnered an impressive measure of fame during his time in the arena.
Old Sage 05-06-07, 09:24 PM	That being said... the only known minotaur community lies in the depths of the Northdark in an area known as the Labyrinth. It's covered briefly in one of the Perilous Gateway articles here at WotC, Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide the Underdark, Underdark, and one of the WotSQ novels. Note also the presence of baphitaurs (basically minotaur tieflings) from the Dungeon of Death who now reside in the Labyrinth. They are detailed in Underdark.
The_Shaman 05-07-07, 08:17 AM	A minotaur ranger might be from any of the free communities, or perhaps a runaway slave (drow value minotaur slaves, I believe) - probably from another city. Now, why would exhibit #2 want to see any drow and not kill them is beyond me, but who knows. Maybe s/he was "elevated" for his exploits - drow "servants" are little better than slaves afaik. If you start as ranger, I'd suggest any of the more animalistic ranger PrCs out there. A modified version of the animal lord, beastmaster, or primeval is one of your more flavorful options. If not, just get yourself TWF, a hefty two-handed weapon, and armor spikes. You won't be much of a sneaksman (although you can eventually get quite good, especially with a few choice spells), but you can be a great outdoorsman/guide.
Fabius Maximus 05-07-07, 05:17 PM	Relating to The Shaman's post, try and find an issue of the Dragon Magazine #326. It has alternate Ranger combat styles. The archery and two-weapon tree don't really fit a minotaur.
Tugaran 05-08-07, 09:33 AM	Thanx to all of you :-) The alternativ Ranger combat styles make sense and the PrC is also great ... with one or two little modifications ;-)
Mad Mage 05-08-07, 12:55 PM	If you have access to said sourcebook, you might want to consider the Beast Heart Adept PrC from Dungeonscape. If you ask me, it fits any sentient creature - humanoid or not - that may bond with non-sentient creatures, especially in a place like the Underdark.
LoneBikerOfTheApocalypse 05-08-07, 04:27 PM	I love minotaurs. For PrCs, there's also the Thrall of Baphomet in Dragon Magazine #341 which seems designed almost specifically for minotaur rangers. And provided you can get a good enough Int, a minotaur should be able to qualify for Warrior of Darkness (from BoVD) with racial qualities alone.
Tugaran 05-08-07, 05:27 PM	Perfect. That´s it. Thrall of Baphomet. I just read the article in the magazine. great.