Large humanoid (goblinoid), chaotic evil
Armor Class 16 (Hide Armor, Shield)
Hit Points 37 (5d10+10)
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +3 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 15 (+2) | 8 (-1) | 11 (+0) | 9 (-1) |
Saving Throws Str +6, Con +4
Skills Perception +2, Stealth +4, Survival +2
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common, Goblin
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Brute. A melee weapon deals one extra die of its damage when the bugbear hits with it (included in the attack).
Forest Camouflage. The bugbear has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in forest terrain.
Surprise Attack. If the bugbear surprises a creature and hits it with an attack during the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 7 (2d6) damage from the attack.
ACTIONS
- Morningstar. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage.
- Javelin. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.
- Javelin. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
DESCRIPTION
A bugbear is a hairy, muscular humanoid that resembles a large goblin. It has a broad, flat nose, a wide mouth, and small, sharp fangs. Its fur is usually brown or black, sometimes with streaks of gray or white. It has yellow or red eyes that glow faintly in the dark. A bugbear is about 7 feet tall and weighs about 350 pounds.
Bugbears are born for battle and mayhem. They are savage and cunning predators that enjoy raiding and hunting. They are fond of setting ambushes and fleeing when outmatched. They have a natural talent for stealth and surprise attacks, using their brute strength and ferocity to overwhelm their enemies.
Bugbears are chaotic evil in alignment. They have little respect for law or order, and care only for their own survival and pleasure. They are greedy and selfish, taking whatever they want from others by force or deception. They are cruel and sadistic, delighting in the pain and fear of their victims. They have no loyalty or honor, and will betray their allies if it suits them.
Bugbears have a nose much like that of a bear with the same fine sense of smell. It is this feature which earned them their name, despite the fact that they are not actually related to bears in any way. Their tough leathery hide and long sharp nails also look something like those of a bear, but are far more dexterous.
The bugbear’s sight and hearing are exceptional, and they can move with amazing agility when the need arises. Bugbear eyesight extends somewhat into the infrared, giving them darkvision out to 60 feet.
The bugbear language is a foul sounding mixture of gestures, grunts, and snarls which leads many to underestimate the intelligence of these creatures. In addition, most bugbears can speak the language of goblins and hobgoblins.
Bugbears worship two brother gods: Hruggek the Decapitator and Grankhul the Hunter. Hruggek is the god of violence, savagery, and death. He is depicted as a huge bugbear with a bloody morningstar and a necklace of severed heads. Grankhul is the god of stealth, hunting, and traps. He is depicted as a lean bugbear with a hooded cloak and a javelin.
COMBAT
Bugbears rely on stealth and surprise to gain an advantage in combat. They use their darkvision and camouflage to hide in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. They prefer to attack from behind or from a distance, using their javelins or other ranged weapons. They also use their morningstars or other melee weapons to deliver powerful blows that can crush bones and skulls.
Bugbears have a special ability called Surprise Attack, which allows them to deal extra damage to a creature that they surprise with an attack during the first round of combat. This reflects their skill at ambushing and striking from hiding.
Bugbears are not brave or loyal fighters. They will flee or surrender if they face a superior foe or suffer heavy losses. They will also turn on their allies if they see an opportunity to save themselves or gain an advantage.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
Bugbears live in dark and dismal places, such as caves, ruins, sewers, or forests. They avoid sunlight and open spaces, preferring the cover of darkness and concealment. They are nomadic and opportunistic, moving from one place to another in search of food, treasure, or trouble.
Bugbears are usually solitary or live in small bands of up to a dozen members. They have no formal leaders or hierarchy, but follow the strongest or most cunning among them. They cooperate only for mutual benefit or survival, and often fight among themselves over resources or dominance.
Bugbears sometimes ally with other goblinoids, such as goblins or hobgoblins, forming larger raiding parties or armies. However, they are not loyal or trustworthy allies, and often cause trouble or desertion among their ranks.
Bugbears prefer to live in caves and in underground locations. A lair may consist of one large cavern or a group of caverns. They are well-adapted to this life, since they operate equally well in daylight and darkness.
Bugbears are territorial, and the size of the domains vary with the size of the group and its location. It may be several square miles in the wilderness, or a narrow, more restricted area in an underground region.
Intruders are considered a valuable source of food and treasure, and bugbears rarely negotiate. On occasion, they will parley if they think they can gain something exceptional by it. Bugbears sometimes take prisoners to use as slaves.
If a lair is uncovered and 12 or more bugbears are encountered they will have a bugbear alpha. These individuals have more hit points, better armor class and higher strength than regular bugbears.
If 24 or more bugbears are encountered, they will have a bugbear warlord in addition to their bugbear alphas. Bugbear warlords have even more hit points, better armor class and higher strength than bugbear alphas.
ECOLOGY
Bugbears are omnivorous scavengers that eat anything they can find or kill. They prefer meat over plants, especially fresh meat from their prey. They have no qualms about eating intelligent creatures, such as humans or elves, or even their own kind.
Bugbears reproduce by mating with any female humanoid they can overpower or coerce. They have no concept of family or parenthood, and abandon their offspring as soon as they are born. Bugbear young are left to fend for themselves in the wild, learning to survive by instinct and experience.
Bugbears have a lifespan of about 80 years, but few live that long due to their violent and dangerous lifestyles.
Bugbears have two main goals in life: survival and treasure. They are superb carnivores, winnowing out the weak and careless adventurer, monster and animal. Goblins are always on their toes when bugbears are present, for the weak or stupid quickly end up in the stewpot.
Extremely greedy, bugbears love glittery, shiny objects and weapons. They are always on the lookout to increase their hoards of coins, gems, and weapons through plunder and ambush