Neanderthal

Neanderthals (also spelled Neandertals, scientific name either Homo neanderthalensis or Homo sapiens neanderthalensis) are one of the last known branches of the homo sapiens family tree to go extinct as modern humanity evolved. They were the dominant hominid within the areas that would later become Europe and the upper Mediterannean until the Upper Paleoithic, some 40,000 years ago, when Cro-Magnon Man, direct ancestor of Homo Sapiens Sapiens (that's you and me) came into contact with them. By the Mesolithic ice age, the Neanderthals were all gone. Why and how is something science is still trying to puzzle out. Recent advances in genetic analysis have revealed that the genome of modern humans is 99.7% identical to the Neanderthal genome.

Regardless, Neanderthals are generally regarded as the "caveman" species by fantasy writers, particularly pulp authors from the 40s and 50s, for looking more "primitive" than Cro-Magnon, but not full-on Frazetta Man like the even older and hairier hominids we've learned about over the decades.

For this, if nothing else, Neanderthals will always have a place deep in the hearts of the oldest of Old School Roleplaying neckbeards. After all, the Neanderthal has been suggested, if not used, as a model for the orc or even the dwarf for a fair while. Hell, even the D&D Hill Giant has long tapped into that "grunting, hairy, savage caveman" archetype popularized by the Neanderthals.

It should be no surprise that Neanderthals appeared as an actual Dungeons & Dragons PC race.

The first version, fitting with the Neanderthal's inspiration for Frazetta Man, appeared in the Hollow World sub-setting for Mystara in D&D Basic. Here, they were called simply "brute-men".

Neanderthals didn't reappear until the 3rd edition splatbook Frostburn. This version of D&D Neanderthal isn't really anything special. Pretty bog-standard "winterlands-dwelling Noble Savage unfortunate primitives" fluff. Big, strong, savage but loyal human-offshoots: what more is there to say, really? Particularly when you take into account the...quality... of other races from similar environmental splats (see: Darfellan, Asherati).

+2 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Dexterity, -2 Intelligence

Medium

Base Land Speed 30 feet

Primitive Weapon Mastery (Ex): +1 racial bonus on attack rolls made with the Boloas, Club, Dart, Greatclub, Goad, Harpoon, Iuak, Javelin, Longspear, Quarterstaff, Ritiik, Shortbow, Shortspear, Sling, Spear, Sugliin, Throwing Axe and Tigerskull Club.

+2 racial bonus on Listen, Spot and Survival checks.

Climate Tolerant (Ex): Neanderthals do not have to make Fortitude saves in environments between -20 degrees F and 140 degrees F. This does not provide protection from actual fire or cold damage. Neanderthals count as having the Cold Endurance feat for purposes of filling prerequisites.

Human Blood: For all effects related to race, a Neanderthal is treated as being human.

Illiteracy: A Neanderthal does not automatically know how to read and write. Must spend 2 skill points to gain the ability to read and write all languages he can speak.

Favored Class: Barbarian