Races

Human

Humans are the predominant race in Faerun, and they rule most of the significant empires and kingdoms in the Forgotten Realms. Humans may choose any class and excel in it.

Favored Class: Whichever class has the highest level.


Aasimar

Aasimar carry the blood of a celestial being, the begotten offspring from the union of a mortal and a diety. Aasimar are usually good aligned and fight against evil in the world. They typically have fair skin, golden eyes, and often a birthmark in the shape of the deity's holy symbol. Aasimar are blessed with insight and personal magnetism and are typically paladins.

Favored Class: Paladin


Tiefling

The infernal counterpart to aasimar, Tieflings are human with a hint of the diabolical in their bloodline. Though their appearance is mostly human, they often have telltale signs that belie their ancestry. Tieflings usually have dusky skin and dark or reddish hair. Though many sport small horns, cat eyes, or other bizarre features, most tieflings try to hide their abnormalities from humans.

Favored Class: Rogue


Shield Dwarf

Shield Dwarves are short stocky humanoids with ruddy cheecks, dark eyes, and dark hair. Though there are exceptions, they tend to be a dour and taciturn people. Dwarves have a natural resistance to magic and poison and possess darkvision, which allows them to see objects in the dark.

Favored Class: Fighter


Gold Dwarf

In a time when the dwarven race is in sad decline, the Gold Dwarves of the Realms received a divine gift from Moradin, the Soul Forger. The father of the dwarven gods granted the Thunder Blessing upon his people, resulting in a slow growth of the gold dwarf population. Though its effects may not be felt for decades, gold dwarves are already starting to re-establish themselves in the Realms as shrewd traders and proud, if somewhat haughty, warriors.

Favored Class: Fighter


Duergar

Also known as Duergar, the Gray Dwarves of the Forgotten Realms live even deeper underground than their shield dwarf and gold dwarf cousins. The duergar share little in common with other dwarves and practice slavery in their monstrous subterranean cities. Often motivated by greed, and a thirst for power, duergar are known throughout the Realms as devious, effecient warriors. Duergar almost always have gray hair and skin.

Favored Class: Fighter


Moon Elf

Moon Elves tend to be shorter and slimmer than humans with delicate features. Elves are generally looked upon as being frivolous and aloof. Moon elves have a natural resistance to sleep magic, possess darkvision, and are skilled in the use of the bow and longsword.

Favored Class: Wizard


Drow

Dark elves, also known as Drow, are the subterranean cousins of high elves. Their black skin and pale hair are a curse for their allegience with the spider goddess, Lloth. Drow societies are usually ruled by cruel clerics of Lloth and their noble houses. Dark elves are known for their arrogance, cruelty, and penchant for civil war.

Special Abilities:

Favored Class: Male - Wizard, Female - Cleric


Wild Elf

Wild Elves are rarely seen by others, because they live in the heart of thick forests and have incredible skill at remaining hidden. Also called green elves, their skin tends to be dark brown and their hair ranges from black to light brown, lightening to silvery white with age.

Favored Class: Sorcerer


Gnome

Kin to dwarves, Gnomes are noticably smaller than their distant cousins. (Gnomes, as they proudly maintain, are also less rotund than dwarves.) Most have dark tan or brown skin, white hair, rather large noses and they can see in the dark with darkvision.

Favored Class: Illusionist Specialist Wizard


Deep Gnome

Also know as svirfneblin, the Deep Gnomes of the Realms are a secretive, mysterious race. Found in the deepest caverns of the Underdark, the deep gnomes live in constant fear of slavery or destruction at the hands of the drow, mind flayers, and duergar. Deep gnomes are legendary for their ability to handle stone and gems. They have gray skin and gray or white hair.

Favored Class: Illusionist Specialist Wizard


Lightfoot Halfling

Lightfoot Halflings are a short, generally plump people, much like small humans. Their faces are round and broad, and often quite florid. Their hair is typically curly, and the tops of their feet are covered with coarse hair.

Favored Class: Rogue


Strongheart Halfling

While the lightfoot halflings value the experience of travel and the sight of new lands and people, Strongheart Halflings are a more organized, orderly, and industrious race. They build to last, and fiercely defend their homelands against threats that their lightfoot kin would simply flee.

Favored Class: Rogue


Ghostwise Halfling

Ghostwise Halflings are the feral, reclusive cousins of lightfoot and strongheart halflings. They are found most often in the southern forests of the Realms living in small communities. Ghostwise halflings are rarely seen in large cities, but occasionally set out to explore the world for reasons known only to themselves. Visitors to ghostwise settlements often report that the halflings have a kinship so tight with their fellows that they can communicate without speaking.

Favored Class: Barbarian


Half-Elf

Half-Elves are a mix of human and elven blood. They are a handsome folk, combining the best of both races. A half-elf has the curiosity, inventiveness, and ambition of their human ancestors, and the refined sense, love of nature, and artistic tastes of their elven heritage.

Favored Class: Whichever class has the highest level.


Half-Orc

Half-Orcs are born from the union of human and orc parents. They are as tall as humans, but a little heavier, due to their muscular builds. Their greenish pigmentation, sloping forehead, jutting jaw, prominant teeth and coarse body hair make their lineage plain for all to see. Half-orcs are also known for their great strength.

Favored Class: Barbarian