Rubber Forehead Alien (5e Variant Rule)

Rubber Forehead Aliens

See this article for some context.

Travelling adventures are great. They're great because they're timeless. From the Odyssey and the Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor, to Star Trek: The Next Generation and Stargate SG1, who doesn't love the ongoing adventures of their favorite heroes as they heroically blunder across the wild and unexplored fringes of the known universe? But what is truly fascinating are the many bizarre and wonderful people they get to meet, fight, and make even stranger babies with. From women with fish tails, to black men with rumply foreheads, the unknown is a wonderful place to make new friends! Problem is, there aren't very many not-quite-human races available in the core material, making that degree of variety as separate races is simply unfeasible, and the core human race doesn't have a subrace feature for us to rapidly homebrew new material for! (Of course, one can always find a way to resolve that issue...) Even worse is when a player says they actually want to be a human-that's-not-really-much-of-a-human; what do you do? I'll tell ya whatcha do! You make something extremely simple, flexible, subject to opinion, and easily randomized! You can now generate countless civilizations to inhabit the far-off reaches of unknown islands/planets/planes, from anthropomorphs, to aliens, to whole-cloth extra-dimensional beings!

Physical Description

Species of the Spiral 1 by Manticoresoul

Pretty much, the race can look however you want! There is only one assumption: that you are human-shaped and human-sized. Below is a list (which can be easily randomized with a d100 roll) of example physical traits one of these races may have. I would recommend somewhere between 1 and 3 physical traits to distinguish them from actual humans.

1. An extra pair of eyes
2. A third eye
3. One eye
4. No eyes
5. No mouth
6. No ears
7. Feathers instead of hair
8. Body covered in feathers
9. Body covered in scales
10. Body covered in fur
11. A tail
12. Two heads
13. An impressively long neck
14. Horns
15. Tentacles instead of hair
16. Tentacle arms
17. Red Skin
18. Blue Skin
19. Green Skin
20. Glowing Eyes
21. Impressively long arms
22. Only one leg
23. Four legs
24. Tattoo-like body markings
25. Digitigrade legs
26. Tentacles instead of legs
27. Animal-like snout
28. Spikes
29. Fins
30. Sparkly
31. Transparent skin
32. Bald
33. Odd shaped pupils
34. Odd color eyes
35. Extra fingers/thumbs
36. Hands for feet
37. A proboscis or trunk for a mouth
38. Long, whip-like tongue
39. Uniquely long fingers
40. Antennae
41. Gems/rocks embedded in skin
42. Exoskeleton
43. Bird wings
44. Bat Wings
45. Bug Wings
46. Whiskers
47. A shell
48. External gills
49. Leaves instead of hair
50. Wood skin
51. Holes for eyes
52. Skeletal
53. Rotting/irradiated
54. Extra pair of arms
55. Extra pair of legs (like a centaur)
56. Arms are wings
57. Fish tail
58. The head of an animal
59. Sharp teeth
60. Tusks
61. Abnormally muscular
62. Genderless race
63. Faceless
64. A beak instead of a mouth
65. Slime-coated
66. Animal ears
67. Egg-layers
68. Eat minerals/soil
69. Weirdly thin frame
70. Weirdly wide frame
71. Particularly long legs
72. Marked with production/creation data
73. Sterile race
74. Childlike appearance
75. No lips
76. Rumply forehead
77. Spotted or Striped
78. Eyes in the back of their head
79. Eye Stalks
80. Large head crest
81. Very large eyes
82. Very large nose
83. Very large mouth
84. Very large ears
85. Webbed digits
86. Tentacle mouth
87. No skin color whatsoever; totally neutral tones
88. Compound eyes
89. Insect-like mandibles
90. Artificial limbs/features
91. Purple skin
92. Pink skin
93. Nostril holes in place of a nose
94. Frills
95. Communicate via whistles or clicks
96. Communicate via bioluminescent display or dance
97. Abnormally large head
98. Abnormally small head
99. Tiny feet
100. Tiny hands

History

Will vary from one group to another.

Society

Will vary from one group to another.

Names

This is really going to be mostly up to whoever decides a final race from this material.

Rubber Forehead Alien Traits

Species of the Spiral 1 by Manticoresoul

Ever wanted an infinite stream of alien weirdness? Well now you have it. Ability Score Increase. You may increase any number of ability scores up to a combined total of +3. You cannot increase a characters ability score above 20 in this way. Age. Let's just assume they have approximately the same lifespan as humans. Alignment. Same as human Size. Your size is medium. Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Blood Trait.. From your inhuman blood, you may choose up to 3 physical traits granted to you. You may take some of these features multiple times. Your DM may reject or alter your choices, if they feel that would be more appropriate. Strong. +1 STR score. You can increase a characters ability score above 20 in this way. You may take this feature multiple times. Agile. +1 DEX score. You can increase a characters ability score above 20 in this way. You may take this feature multiple times. Hardy. +1 CON score. You can increase a characters ability score above 20 in this way. You may take this feature multiple times. Smart. +1 INT score. You can increase a characters ability score above 20 in this way. You may take this feature multiple times. Aware. +1 WIS score. You can increase a characters ability score above 20 in this way. You may take this feature multiple times. Cute. +1 CHR score. You can increase a characters ability score above 20 in this way. You may take this feature multiple times. Slime Coating. Resistance to acid damage. Insulated. Resistance to cold damage. Acclimatized. Resistance to fire damage. Cushioned. Resistance to force damage. Electric. Resistance to lightning damage. Regenerative. Resistance to necrotic damage. Poisonous. Resistance to poison damage. Simply Complex. Resistance to psychic damage. Inert. Resistance to radiant damage. Dampened. Resistance to thunder damage. Fast. +5ft land speed. You may take this feature multiple times. Tact. +5ft climbing speed. You may take this feature multiple times. Leap. +5ft jump height and distance. You may take this feature multiple times. Amphibious. +10ft swimming speed. You may take this feature multiple times. Aquatic. You can breathe under water. Worm. +10ft tunneling speed in soft soil. You may take this feature multiple times. Wings. +10ft flying speed. You may take this feature multiple times. Talented. Choose any 2 skill Proficiencies. You may take this feature multiple times. Wily. +1 Proficiency Bonus. You may take this feature multiple times. Razor Sharp. Your unarmed strikes deal slashing damage. Spikes. Your unarmed strikes deal piercing damage. Acidic. Your unarmed strikes deal acid damage. Icy. Your unarmed strikes deal cold damage. Heat. Your unarmed strikes deal fire damage. Whoosh. Your unarmed strikes deal force damage. Electrolysis. Your unarmed strikes deal lightning damage. Bio-hazard. Your unarmed strikes deal necrotic damage. Sting. Your unarmed strikes deal poison damage. Psychic. Your unarmed strikes deal psychic damage. Irradiated. Your unarmed strikes deal radiant damage. Loud. Your unarmed strikes deal thunder damage. Weaponized. Your unarmed strikes deal an additional 1d4 damage. This feature does not stack with Martial Arts. You may take this feature multiple times. Swift. Your unarmed strikes have the Light trait. Deft. Your unarmed strikes have the Finesse trait. Long. Your unarmed strikes have the Reach trait. Blink. Your successful unarmed strikes blind the target for 1 round. Bang. Your unarmed strikes deafen the target for 1 round. Grip. Your successful unarmed strikes grapple the target. Venomous. Your successful unarmed strikes poison the target. Plow. Your successful unarmed strikes knock the target prone. Adept. You are proficient with your unarmed strikes. Parasitic. Your successful unarmed strikes restore you 1HP. You may take this feature multiple times. Fit. You have advantage on Athletics checks. Supple. You have advantage on Acrobatics checks. Adroit. You have advantage on Sleight of Hand checks. Sneaky. You have advantage on Stealth checks. Perfect Memory. You have advantage on History checks. Nosy. You have advantage on Investigation checks. Wild Wisdom. You have advantage on Nature checks. Latent Faith. You have advantage on Religion checks. Inter-species Relations. You have advantage on Animal Handling checks. Intuitive. You have advantage on Insight checks. Latent Medicine. You have advantage on Medicine checks. Keen. You have advantage on perception checks. Survivalist. You have advantage on Survival checks. Liar. You have advantage on Deception checks. Thuggish. You have advantage on Intimidation checks. Playful. You have advantage on Performance checks. Lassie. You have advantage on Persuasion checks. Prehensile. You have 1 extra object interaction per turn. You may take this feature multiple times. Work Animal. Your carrying capacity (and encumbrance limits) are doubled. Spines. Successful unarmed melee attacks made against you, (including special attacks, such as a wolf's bite or a goat's ram) deal half damage in return to the attacking creature. Armored. +1 AC. You may take this feature multiple times. Short. You are small. Incompatible with the Tall feature. Tall. You are large. Incompatible with the Short feature. Bouncy. You take half damage from falls. Catnap. You can finish a short or long rest in half the usual time, but cannot use or recover hit dice in doing so. Thick. You have 1 damage reduction. You may take this feature multiple times. Dark Vision. 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 gray. You may take this feature multiple times. Each time you take it, add 60ft to your dim light radius. If you take this more than once, you can see color in the dark. Chameleon. You can hide anywhere at any time, as long as you remain perfectly still. If you have no cover, you hide as if you were lightly obscured. Lung Capacity. You can hold your breath for twice as long. Warehouse. You need to consume only half as much food and water in order to avoid exhaustion. Scavenger. You can gain sustainable nourishment by feeding upon almost any organic matter, including rotting carrion. Howl. You can bellow single words loud enough to be heard within 10 miles. Quick Learner. Your xp threshold for levelup is reduced by 10%. You may take this feature a maximum of 3 times. This trait is incompatible with Life Stage Boneless. You can fit through spaces as small as 1/4 your size as difficult terrain. Reactive. You are immune to being surprised. Initiator. +1 to initiative rolls. You may take this feature multiple times. Phase. You can move through spaces occupied by other creatures as if they weren't there. Energizer Bunny. Your exhaustion consequence thresholds are doubled. (IE: level 1 takes 2 exhaustion, level 2 takes 4 exhaustion, etc.) Innate Spellcasting. You know 1 cantrip of your choice. Mineral Based. You can subsist off of soft or fine-ground inorganic material, such as sand. Aloft. +5ft Hover Speed. You may take this feature multiple times. Immune. You cannot be inflicted with non-magical diseases. Sound of Mind. You cannot be inflicted with non-magical madness or insanity. Appropriate Anatomy. Your body is shaped such that creatures equal or lesser in size to you can ride on you like a mount. Herculean. You can lift, push, and throw twice as much weight and twice as far, despite your actual strength score, its modifier, or your encumbrance limits. Light Step. You do not leave tracks, footprints, scents, or trace evidence behind you, so there is nothing people could use to track your movement. Shapeshifter. Once per long rest, you may cast Disguise Self on yourself. Recuperator. +1 Hit Die for the purposes of health regeneration during rests only. Quick Thinker. You have one extra Bonus Action per turn. Slippery. You do not provoke attacks of opportunity. Bioluminescent. You glow bright light in 10ft, and dim light for an additional 10ft beyond that. Life Stage. You may take this feature a maximum of three times. You enter a metamorphosis, changing form and entering a new life stage, gaining one additional blood traits. You metamorphose at level 4, at level 8, at level 12, at level 16, and once more at level 20. If you take Life Stage a second time you metamorphosis at level 2, at level 6, at level 10, at level 14, and once more at level 18. If you take Life Stage a third time gain two additional blood traits instead one. You cannot take Lifestage as a blood trait during metamorphosis. This trait is incompatible with Quick Learner.

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Languages. Common

Premade Builds

Here is a collection of examples of what can be done with this race. Notice how, with only 3 blood traits, it is extremely difficult to get a "perfect" hybrid anthropomorph. You always have to sacrifice one trait or another for something you feel is more definitive. For example, the "Cat" build doesn't have mechanically relevant claws!

Cat

Bouncy

Keen

Sneaky

Dolphin

Lung Capacity

Amphibious

Amphibious

Ant

Strong

Strong

Lifestage (lvl5)

Strong

Strong

Chameleon

Chameleon

Sneaky

Talented (Stealth & Deception)

Scorpion

Weaponized

Grip

Venomous

Electric Eel

Aquatic

Amphibious

Innate Spellcasting: Shocking Grasp

Rhinoceros

Plouw

Weaponized

Weaponized

Wasp

Weaponized

Sting

Lifestage (lvl5)

Fly

Fly

Mole

Digger

Digger

Digger

Monkey

Prehensile

Quick Learner

Wily

Ape

Quick Learner

Quick Learner

Wily

Crocodile

Weaponized

Grip

Amphibious

Jellyfish

Innate Spellcasting: Light

Boneless

Aquatic

Wolf

Howl

Grip

Keen

Turtle

Armored

Armored

Armored

Fox

Razor Sharp

Wily

Quick Learner

Coyote

Scavenger

Howl

Warehouse

Frog

Amphibious

Long

Life Stage (lvl5)

Leap

Leap

Mosquito

Parasitic

Parasitic

Life Stage (lvl5)

Fly

Fly

Tick

Life Stage (lvl5)

Parasitic

Parasitic

Life Stage (lvl10)

Parasitic

Parasitic

Life Stage (lvl15)

Parasitic

Parasitic

Sense Master

Talented (Perception & Insight)

Intuitive

Keen

Sloilm

Rock skin, Spots/Stripes, Furry

Innate Spellcasting. You know 1 cantrip of your choice.

Short. You are small. Incompatible with the Tall feature.

Intuitive. You have advantage on Insight checks.

Drurg

Abnormally large head, External gills, Extra fingers/thumbs

Innate Spellcasting. You know 1 cantrip of your choice.

Warehouse. You need to consume only half as much food and water in order to avoid exhaustion.

Aquatic. You can breathe under water.

Cleon

One eye, Tiny hands, Fish tail

Bang. Your unarmed strikes deafen the target for 1 round.

Playful. You have advantage on Performance checks.

Chameleon. You can hide anywhere at any time, as long as you remain perfectly still. If you have no cover, you hide as if you were lightly obscured.

Pafs

Uniquely long fingers, Very large nose, Abnormally muscular

Spines. Successful unarmed melee attacks made against you, (including special attacks, such as a wolf's bite or a goat's ram) deal half damage in return to the attacking creature.

Phase. You can move through spaces occupied by other creatures as if they weren't there.

Sneaky. You have advantage on Stealth checks.

Freoc

No lips, Wood skin, Weirdly wide frame

Appropriate Anatomy. Your body is shaped such that creatures equal or lesser in size to you can ride on you like a mount.

Quick Learner. Your xp threshold for levelup is reduced by 10%. You may take this feature a maximum of 3 times. This trait is incompatible with Life Stage

Intuitive. You have advantage on Insight checks.

Taimdud

Webbed digits, Green Skin, Slime-coated

Tact. +5ft climbing speed. You may take this feature multiple times.

Agile. +1 DEX score. You can increase a characters ability score above 20 in this way. You may take this feature multiple times.

Spines. Successful unarmed melee attacks made against you, (including special attacks, such as a wolf's bite or a goat's ram) deal half damage in return to the attacking creature.

Bupeon

A proboscis or trunk for a mouth, Eat minerals/soil, Eyes in the back of their head

Light Step. You do not leave tracks, footprints, scents, or trace evidence behind you, so there is nothing people could use to track your movement.

Tall. You are large. Incompatible with the Short feature.

Liar. You have advantage on Deception checks.

Vugsus

Webbed digits, A shell, Body covered in scales

Adroit. You have advantage on Sleight of Hand checks.

Armored. +1 AC. You may take this feature multiple times.

Perfect Memory. You have advantage on History checks.

Grichreoks

A third eye, Tattoo-like body markings, Compound eyes

Nosy. You have advantage on Investigation checks.

Mineral Based. You can subsist off of soft or fine-ground inorganic material, such as sand.

Wild Wisdom. You have advantage on Nature checks.

Oivammeans

Webbed digits, Green Skin, Four legs

Psychic. Your unarmed strikes deal psychic damage.

Lassie. You have advantage on Persuasion checks.

Quick Learner. Your xp threshold for levelup is reduced by 10%. You may take this feature a maximum of 3 times. This trait is incompatible with Life Stage

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