Trolls as a PC Race

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

The_Jester

Jul 26, 2014 20:41:00

While Warcraft is no longer as big as it was, it did establish the foundation for how an entire generation viewed fantasy. 

 

In the game there were the standard fantasy races: human, dwarf, gnome, goblin, orc, wood elf, and magic elf. Plus minotaurs. All playable in D&D. Warcraft also had the undead Forsaken, which could equate with 4e's revenants. 

But D&D never made trolls a PC race. Not even half-trolls or a smaller subspecies. 

 

Should trolls become a player race in 5e?

Yes, as, a liberal DM could permit trolls at any time. Steve Winter had a fun story of taking a troll into the Tome of a Horrors during 1st Edition, and you could use Level Adjustment on trolls in 3e. But the troll was never designed as a player race.

Could we do that now? Is it finally the era of the PC troll? 

#2

MechaPilot

Jul 26, 2014 20:47:22

The_Jester wrote:
#3

GhostStepper

Jul 26, 2014 21:01:33

Hard to do without watering down the regen. 

#4

Novacat

Jul 26, 2014 21:05:06

Warcraft Troll

 

+1 Dexterity, +2 Strength

Medium, 30-ft speed, etc

Regeneration: A Troll recovers one hit die of the player's choice at the end of each Short Rest, and all hit dice at the end of a Long Rest.

Troll Weapon Training: A troll is proficient with all thrown weapons.

#5

Luciender

Jul 26, 2014 21:07:53

What would that be then? Darkvision, bonus' to Con and/or Strength, plus vulnerability to fire. Regen that scales with level, which pauses after suffering fire damage, similar to the way 4E did the vampire. What else? A bite attack?

#6

The_Jester

Jul 26, 2014 21:12:46

GhostStepper wrote:
#7

Trillinon

Jul 26, 2014 21:29:40

The original Iron Kingdoms campaign setting had gobbers, Ogrun, and Trollkin as playable races. And they were a fantastic part of that setting. While not official WotC material, they're without a doubt where I would start if I wanted to make a playable troll, ogre, or goblin race for 5E.

#8

TheLyons

Jul 26, 2014 22:02:48 		They are pretty OP. Watered down would be mandatory and significantly at that. I'm an almost anything goes as far as race and class as I run Planescape, but I don't think I would allow that without being significantly toned down. And if it were that toned down, it wouldn't really be a troll anymore.
#9

TheLyons

Jul 26, 2014 22:02:53 		They are pretty OP. Watered down would be mandatory and significantly at that. I'm an almost anything goes as far as race and class as I run Planescape, but I don't think I would allow that without being significantly toned down. And if it were that toned down, it wouldn't really be a troll anymore.
#10

MechaPilot

Jul 26, 2014 22:07:59

TheLyons wrote:
#11

Hebitsuikaza

Jul 26, 2014 22:24:12

If they are WarCraft like Trolls then I think you might need to call them something other than simply "Troll" in D&D.

 

In D&D "Trolls" are 9-10' tall monstrousities whose bodies are in constant growth. For instance, you cut off its arm and it will come back within a minute. Their mentality is on the level of beasts and they tend to be slow and lumbering with long, long arms with deadly claws at te end.

 

The Trolls in WarCraft are tall, but not nearly that tall, they recover faster, but only about twice as fast as any other race. They aren't the brightest race in their world, but they are certainly more intelligent than beasts-- or Ogres for that matter. And their most noteable feature is their high level of agility and acrobatics.

 

So you might need to call such a race "Trollkin" or "Forest Trolls" or "Lesser Trolls" or something along those lines.

 

Trillinon wrote:
#12

thewok

Jul 26, 2014 22:51:41

Warcraft?  Pff...  If you want PC trolls, look to EverQuest.  At least they did trolls right. ;)

 

The EQRPG used the following for trolls:

 

* Abilities: +4 Strength, +6 Constitution, -4 Intelligence, -2 Wisdom, -6 Charisma.

* Favored Class: Warrior.

* Classes: Trolls can become beastlords, shadow knights, shamans or warriors.

* Experience: -20%

* Large size

* Speed 30'

* Trolls begin with only 3 ranks in Language: Common and 3 ranks in Language: Troll.

* Trolls begin play with the Slam feat as a bonus feat.

* Infravision

* fast recovery (heal level in hp per hour of rest, rather than per day of rest)

* +20% (minimum 1 point) damage from heat and fire attacks.

 

Now, granted, the ability adjustments are way out of line with 5E.  And, in the EQ2 RPG, they got rid of the class limitations (which I never abided by in the first place).  But, you could start with this and make a decent troll race for 5E if you wanted.  Of course, these trolls are more traditional and not the jungle trolls from WoW.

#13

Gatt

Jul 26, 2014 23:29:34

The_Jester wrote:
#14

Luis_Carlos

Jul 27, 2014 0:36:48

The weakest subrace is the tree troll from Dragon Magazine #299, with the canon background closest to the trolls from warcraft.

 

Maybe it could be possible in a future "Savage Species" 5th Ed like monster class, or with a lower power of regeneration. 

 

Or a trolltouched race was created by a vampire lord to be slaves in a blood farm. 

 

Also we could suggest a troll-like race without a too powerful trait of regeneration, but only bladeling and piercing damages are no-lethal damage. 

#15

ankiyavon

Jul 27, 2014 0:36:56

Gatt wrote:
#16

Hebitsuikaza

Jul 27, 2014 1:02:58

ankiyavon wrote:
#17

Veleria

Jul 27, 2014 1:31:37

Take the longtooth shifter and make it look like a troll. That will probably be the way to balance it compared to other races.

 

#18

pukunui

Jul 27, 2014 1:59:49

I've always wanted to see Discworld's stone trolls made into a playable D&D race ...

#19

Mephi1234

Jul 27, 2014 3:31:51

Troll as a PC race.    Is it doable?    Possibly.   I mean, after all?    We have playable Giants without breaking the game.    They're just smaller than normal, and they're called Goliaths.   

 

Are there settings that want to do it?    Honestly, with orcs, goblins, bugbears, hobgoblins, minotaurs... the niche that WoW trolls have is exceedingly crowded already.    

 

And yeah, D&D orcs aren't the same as WoW orcs - the latter plays more like evil humans than the savage marauders of the former.

#20

Uchawi

Jul 27, 2014 5:06:20

I would separate the troll monster, from the troll people. Just like you can have a feral minotaur, and a minotaur race as described in the supplement for the continent of Taladas from Dragonlance. Overall, I would prefer the troll people to be closer to Norse or Scandinavian folklore. It would be easy to explain how the monster troll fits in.

#21

AaronOfBarbaria

Jul 27, 2014 5:17:12

The_Jester wrote:
#22

Mephi1234

Jul 27, 2014 6:12:40

Where the Troll-as-PC idea breaks down is on the social level.   WoW trolls have a tribal society, culture, and intelectuals.    D&D trolls?   You can play kind of as one ala Savage Species treatment, but the background?

#23

Orzel

Jul 27, 2014 7:21:44

I only have one response.

 

Tazdingo!!

#24

Bigsta

Jul 27, 2014 7:43:16

Would the player know that his PC is vulnerable to fire at the start of the campaign or would that only be revealed the first time an enemy hits the PC with a torch or he rolls a 1 on his "build campfire" roll?

#25

The_Jester

Jul 27, 2014 8:01:43

Gatt wrote:
#26

The_Jester

Jul 27, 2014 8:03:01

Trollkins sound small and cute. Sounds perfect for a race of diminutive trolls. ;)

#27

Alex_

Jul 27, 2014 8:19:58

Mephi1234 wrote:
#28

ChrisCarlson

Jul 27, 2014 9:31:11

Alex_ wrote:
#29

THEMNGMNT

Jul 27, 2014 10:08:48

Don't we already have enough trolls on this forum?

(Reply to #29)

Sailing_Pirate_Ryan

THEMNGMNT wrote:
#31

THEMNGMNT

Jul 27, 2014 11:45:28

I'm here all week.

#32

ankiyavon

Jul 27, 2014 12:37:31

Hebitsuikaza wrote:
#33

Orc_Welfin

Jul 27, 2014 14:39:44

 I've removed content from this thread. Trolling/baiting is a violation of the Code of Conduct as are off topic posts.

 

You can review the Code of Conduct here: company.wizards.com/conduct

 

Please remember to keep your posts polite, on topic and refrain from personal attacks. You are free to disagree with one another as long as it is done in a respectful manner.

#34

Gatt

Jul 27, 2014 19:36:19

The_Jester wrote:
#35

Gunthar

Jul 27, 2014 19:39:55 		No. Their size and regen would have to be nerfed too much to make them worthwhile.