Half-Minotaur, Variant (3.5e Template)
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Half-Minotaur
This Half-Minotaur template is less overpowered while maintaining the +1 level adjustment of the original version.
Thanks to the magic of, well, magic, half-breed creatures are everywhere. Legends speak of fell beasts bred from full minotaurs with abilities and strength far beyond what they reasonably should have possessed. Sadly we must the legend false, and herein is recorded the true results of interbreeding some hapless creature with the shaggy lumbering murderbeasts known as minotaurs.
Regardless of the base creature's appearance, the half-minotaur takes on most of the physical characteristics of the minotaur. The half-minotaur is covered with coarse hair all over its body. The hair on the lower body is especially shaggy, with heavily muscled legs ending in cloven hooves instead of feet. A tail may or may not emerge. The upper body is broad and muscular, with arms slightly longer in proportion to its body. A thick, powerful neck is likewise heavily furred and is topped with a muzzled, bovine head complete with a pair of wickedly sharp horns. Despite the similarity in appearance to a herbivorous bovine, the half-minotaur's mouth is full of sharp, cruel teeth.
Creating a Half-Minotaur
The Half-Mintoaur template is usually inherited, but in rare cases can be acquired through unnatural and presumably uncomfortable means. It may be applied to any corporeal creature of Small to Large size (referred to hereafter as the base creature) except Aberrations, Oozes, Plants or Undead.
Size and Type
If the base creature's size is Small, it becomes Medium. Instead of the normal ability score adjustments, see the ability score section below. If Medium, the base creature gains Powerful Build (see below). If Large, the base creature remains large. In all cases the creature's type changes to Monstrous Humanoid and gains its previous type as an augmented subtype. Do not recalculate BAB, Hit Dice, skill points or saves.
Speed
The base creature retains all previous movement modes, and gains a +10 foot increase to its base land speed.
Armor Class
The Half-Minotaur gains a +2 bonus to its Natural Armor.
Attack
If the base creature lacked a gore attack, it gains a gore attack. When not using weapons, the half-minotaur may attack with its gore at its highest attack bonus, gaining its full Strength bonus to damage. When using a weapon, a half-minotaur often uses its gore attack as a secondary natural attack. The gore attack deals 1d6 base damage for a medium-sized half-minotaur, or 1d8 for large size.
Special Qualities
The half-minotaur retains all the special qualities of the base creature, and gains the following special qualities:
- Darkvision (Ex): A Half-Minotaur gains Darkvision out to 60 feet.
- Scent (Ex): A half-minotaur inherits a very keen sense of smell, gaining the scent ability. This allows him to detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell alone. A half-minotaur is treated as having the Track feat, but only for the purposes of following trails by scent.
- Directional Sense (Ex): A half-minotaur always knows where true North is, and always knows how far underground it is.
- Stability (Ex): Despite their top-heavy appearance, the hulking half-minotaur is not easily moved against its will. It gains a +4 bonus on ability checks made to resist being bull-rushed (ha ha) or tripped when standing on the ground (but not when climbing, flying, riding, or otherwise not standing firmly on the ground).
- Fearsome Charge (Ex): When charging, a half-minotaur's base land speed increases by an additional 10 feet, granting it 20 extra feet of distance on most charge attacks. As a swift action, a half-minotaur can attempt to demoralize the opponent being charged. If successful, the penalties last only until the end of the half-minotaur's turn instead of the usual 1 round duration.
- Powerful Build (Ex): If the base creature was medium-sized, it gains Powerful Build. Powerful build lets them function in many ways as if they were one size category larger. Whenever a half-minotaur is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the half-minotaur is treated as one size larger if it is advantageous to do so. A half-minotaur is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature’s special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect it. A half-minotaur can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, its space and reach remain those of a creature of its actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category.
- Hulking Brute: Half-Minotaurs add their Strength modifiers to Intimidation checks instead of their Charisma modifiers.
Abilities
If the base creature was small-sized, the half-minotaur gains a +4 to Strength, -2 to Dexterity and +4 to Constitution instead of the normal ability score adjustments for the change in creature size. If the small base creature had a racial penalty to Strength, the half-minotaur may choose to gain an additional +2 to its Strength score, lessening or negating the penalty. However, the half-minotaur takes an additional -2 penalty to their Dexterity score for doing so.
If the base creature was Medium the half-minotaur gains a +4 to Strength, a -2 to Dexterity, and a +2 to Constitution.
If the base creature was Large size, the half-minotaur gains a +2 to both Strength and Constitution.
All sizes take a -2 penalty to Intelligence and Charisma.
Skills
The half-minotaur receives a +2 racial bonus to Knowledge (dungeoneering), Spot and Survival checks.
Feats
Half Minotaurs gain Tough Muscle as a bonus feat, even if they do not meet the prerequisites (which they really should).
Environment
Half-Minotaurs are usually found in the same environments in which Minotaurs can be found. While not as universally evil as their parent creatures, they nonetheless tend to be shunned for their appearances by most civilized societies. Those that find their way to larger cities tend to take jobs that either require rough manual labor or violence, or both.
Challenge Rating
+1
Treasure
Standard
Alignment
Usually Chaotic and/or Evil
Advancement
By Character Class
Level Adjustment
+1
Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Monsters → Templates
| Author | Spanambula + |
| CR | 1 + |
| Identifier | 3.5e Template + |
| Level Adjustment | 1 + |
| Rating | Undiscussed + |
| Size | Medium + |
| Summary | This Half-Minotaur template is less overpowered while maintaining the +1 level adjustment of the original version. + |
| Title | Half-Minotaur, Variant + |
| Type | Monstrous Humanoid + |
