Summary
The Humblewood campaign setting for 5eDungeons & Dragonsfeatures ten new playable species, all resembling adorable and precious woodland creatures who populate the world of Everden. While the Humblewood campaign setting is best used for first to fifth level characters, these species are all 5e compatible, though they’re best used in Everden itself.
So, if your table is preparing to hop into a woodland adventure, you might be wondering which species is best for you and your character build. That’s why we’ve created this list, which has a complete breakdown of every playable species in the Humblewood campaign setting.
Key Feature
Increased Stealth or Charisma
The corvum are a species of crow-like creatures that are highly intelligent, and, depending on which subspecies you select, either highly charismatic or stealthy. First, when you select this species, you increase your Intelligence by two points. Like most of the birdfolk in Humblewood, you can glide and have talons that can inflict damage on enemies.
Depending on whether you select dusk corvum or kindled corvum, you’ll increase either your Dexterity or Charisma, respectively. One of the most fun elements of this species, though, is the corvum’s appraising eye ability, which allows you to appraise the value andmagical properties of itemsonce per short or long rest.
Potential for Inspiration
Gallus take after hens and roosters, but can also resemble other fowl creatures like turkeys if the player so desires. They are highly focused on community and are incredibly social creatures. When you select this species, you increase your Wisdom by two. However, despite their interpersonal skills, Gallus are not pushovers as they also have proficiency in simple weapons.
Depending on which subspecies you select (bright gallus or huden gallus), you’re able to gain proficiency in Insight or Nature, respectively. Plus, if you select the bright gallus, you can inspire allies with d4s on their next ability check, attack roll, or saving throw, which is incredibly helpful and synergizes well should you choose to play a bard.
Charisma-based stat improvements
Luma resemble doves, or sometimes pigeons, often being characterized by having beautiful, bright plumages. One of the key characteristics of lumas is its perceived distractedness. Many in Hublewood believe luma to be dazed and confused most of the time, though this is not always the case.
Lumas are, in fact, very charismatic and can learn free cantrips fromthe sorcerer spell list. They also have abilities that can allow them to reroll attacks, skill checks, and saving throws, in addition to other Charisma-based stat improvements. Like most species in Humblewood, there are also two subspecies of lumas known as sable and sera lumas. These subspecies either increase Constitution scores and make lumas more resilient (sable), or can increase their already natural charisma by allowing them to cast Charm Person (sera).
Expert Hunters
Raptors are some of the prime predators in Humblewood thanks to their sharp senses, which they take after eagles, hawks, and other birds of prey from the real world. When you select this species, you increase your Dexterity score by two right out of the gate. Raptors are very perceptive and have proficiency with bows and spears. They are also extremely adept at finding cover for themselves in battle, increasing their AC.
Lastly, there are two subspecies of raptor known as the maran or mistral raptor. Maran raptors gain a swimming speed, while mistral raptors become more proficient in the air. Raptors typically have neutral alignments, making them ideal for either the bard, wizard, or rogue classes.
Added Stealth and Grapple Abilities
The last of the birdfolk species, strigs resemble owls and are incredibly hearty warriors. From the jump, when you select this species, you increase your Strength score by two. The largest and most powerful of the birdfolk, strigsmake for great fightersor barbarians.
Like the other birdfolk on this list, there are two subspecies of string: stout and swift. Stout strigs increase their Constitution score and can grapple opponents as a bonus action, which, again, synergizes well with melee classes. Swift strigs increased their Dexterity and speed, making them great monks.
Surge of Vigor
Cervan resemble deer, and live in small, intimate villages throughout Humblewood. They are often quite shy and reserved, but that doesn’t mean they should be mistaken for weak. The cervan are some of the heartiest creatures you may play as in the Humblewood campaign setting.
This is mostly thanks to their Surge of Vigor feature, which allows the character to regain hit points equal to 1d12 + Constitution. While you can only use this feature once per long rest, the best part about this feature is that you can use it even if you are reduced to zero hit points by an attack, so long as the attack deals damage over half of your remaining hit points. This means you’ll very rarely go down in combat, making cervan great melee combatants.
Burrowing Ability + Quills
Hedges are incredibly kind-hearted and much-loved throughout Humblewood. They are very in tune with nature and are highly charismatic. When you select this species, you improve your Charisma score by two and your Wisdom score by one. Hedgesmake for great bards, or Wisdom-based spellcasters like clerics.
The most unique feature the hedges have is their quills and their burrowing speed. Much like real hedgehogs, hedges can burrow underground and have a burrowing speed of 15 feet. Additionally, they have spiny quills on their backs that provide them with a buff to the armor class, meaning they’re pretty sturdy, despite their small size and lovable exterior.
Speedy & Nimble
Jerbeens resemble mice and other small rodents of similar stature. They are characterized by a bravery that far outstrips their physical size, and are highly collaborative and willing to stand in defense of a larger group. Jerbeens increase their Dexterity by two and their Charisma by one, and have a standard leap range of 30 feet thanks to their powerful legs and tail.
Jerbeens are incredibly nimble all around, and can easily maneuver their way through the space of other creatures that are larger than them, much in the way halfings can in DND. Plus, they have advantage on Strength saving throws and throw against being frightened as long as they’re in range of an ally. Lastly, they can use the Help action as a bonus action, meaning they excel in team combat situations.
Tinkering Abilities
Crafty and resilient, the mapach are incredibly curious raccoon-like creatures that are highly intelligent and also wise. They take junk that other creatures of the Humblewood don’t want and turn it into fine works of art and craftsmanship, as well as invention. They are often loners and like to work alone.
Mapachs increase their Wisdom score by two and their Constitution by one. Additionally, they are proficient with tinker’s tools and can construct basic weapons and items out of random materials, so long as they have time and gold. This ability can depend on your DM’s mercy, but if you’re able to find the right materials, you can end up quickly crafting just the right items you need to get out of a precarious situation.
Bite & Guile Abilities
Vulpins are often thought of as ‘the bad guys’ of the Humblewood thanks to their instinctual predatory nature. They are highly intelligent and charismatic, and often aligned more neutrally. They have darkvision, increases to their Intelligence and Charisma cores, and can cast Charm Person, Abmush Prey, and Fear at various levels, resetting on a long rest.
They are also unique in that they have a bite attack, which allows them to inflict 1d6 points of damage when they hit. They can also use either their Strength or Dexterity modifier for the attack roll and damage bonus; which one they choose is ultimately their choice, meaning character builds can be highly flexible, and this species is great for multiple melee classes like rogue, monk, or fighter.
