Medium humanoid (gnoll), chaotic evil
Armor Class 15 (hide armor, shield)
Hit Points 22 (5d8)
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +3 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 11 (+0) | 6 (-2) | 10 (+0) | 7 (-2) |
Saving Throws (suggested) Str +4
Skills (suggested) Perception +2, Stealth +3
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Gnoll
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Rampage. When the gnoll reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack on its turn, the gnoll can take a bonus action to move up to half its speed and make a bite attack.
ACTIONS
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
- Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage, or 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage if used with two hands to make a melee attack.
- Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) 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
Gnolls are large, evil, hyena-like humanoids that roam about in loosely organized bands. They have greenish gray skin, darker near the muzzle, with a short reddish gray to dull yellow mane. They have spotted fur, pointed ears, yellow eyes, and a long muzzle filled with sharp teeth. They wear crude armor made of hide and bone, and wield primitive weapons such as spears, axes, and bows. Gnolls have their own language and many also speak the tongues of flinds, trolls, orcs, or hobgoblins. Gnolls are often accompanied by hyenas, which they consider to be kin and allies.
COMBAT
Gnolls are fearless and ferocious in combat, attacking without warning or mercy. They prefer to ambush their enemies, using their keen senses of smell and hearing to track them down. Gnolls fight with reckless abandon, caring little for their own safety or tactics. They rely on their strength and speed to overwhelm their foes, and use their bite as a deadly weapon. Gnolls are also known for their rampage ability, which allows them to move and attack again after killing a creature. Gnolls rarely retreat from a fight, unless they are outnumbered or outmatched.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
Gnolls are nomadic and wander from place to place, following the scent of food and plunder. They have no permanent settlements or structures, and make camp wherever they find shelter and water. Gnolls are organized into tribes, led by the strongest and most cunning among them. Gnoll tribes are loosely allied with each other, but often compete for resources and territory. Gnolls have no concept of law or morality, and live by the rule of the strongest. Gnolls worship Yeenoghu, the Demon Lord of Slaughter, who grants them his favor in exchange for blood and carnage. Gnolls are most often encountered underground or inside abandoned ruins. When above ground they operate primarily at night. Gnolls will work together with orcs, hobgoblins, bugbears, ogres, and trolls if there is a relative equality of strength. Otherwise they will kill and eat their partners (hunger comes before friendship or fear) or be killed and eaten by them. They dislike goblins, kobolds, giants, humans, demi-humans and any type of manual labor.
ECOLOGY
Gnolls are carnivorous and omnivorous, eating anything warm blooded, favoring intelligent creatures over animals because they scream better. They have a voracious appetite and consume large amounts of meat every day. Gnolls hunt in packs, using their hyenas as scouts and trackers. Gnolls are not picky about their food source, and will eat animals, monsters, humanoids, or even other gnolls if necessary. Gnolls have a short lifespan, rarely living past 35 years. They reproduce quickly and often, producing large litters of pups that grow to maturity in a few years. Gnolls have few natural predators, but are hated and hunted by many civilized races.