Locathah
One of the less interesting races in Dungeons & Dragons, Locathahs are yet another species of humanoid-bodied fish people, ala the sahuagin and kuo-toa. Unlike those monsters, however, locathahs are a peaceful and friendly race who have no inherent quarrel with anybody who isn't trying to kill them first. Which probably didn't really contribute to their notability, even though they have been playable in both Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition.
Although humanoid in shape, locathahs are clearly more fish than human. The average locathah stands 5 feet tall and weighs 175 pounds. Females and males look very much alike, although the former can be recognized by the two ochre stripes marking their egg sacs.
Locathah worship a deity named Eadro, who is also worshipped by the merfolk.
The locathah first appeared in the 1975 Blackmoor supplement. They appeared in first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the original Monster Manual (1977). They appeared in second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993). The locathah appeared as a player character race for generic AD&D in the Dragon Magazine article "Heroes of the Sea" in issue #250, and then as PCs for the Forgotten Realms setting in Sea of Fallen Stars (1999). They appeared in the third edition Monster Manual (2000), and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003). Most recently they appeared in the Ghosts of Saltmarsh adventure.
AD&D PCs[edit | edit source]
PC stats for Locathah in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition can be found in the article "heroes of the Sea" in Dragon Magazine #250 and, alternatively, in the Forgotten Realms splatbook "Sea of Fallen Stars".
In Heroes of the Sea, locathah stats look like this:
- Ability Score Minimum/Maximum: Strength 3/17, Dexterity 6/18, Constitution 3/17, Intelligence 8/18, Wisdom 6/18, Charisma 3/17
- Ability Score Adjustments: +1 Intelligence, -1 Constitution
- Racial Class & Level Limits: Fighter 10, Shaman 3, Cleric (Specialist priest of Eadro only) 7, Bard (Thief with Humanoid Bard kit) 10
- Available Kits: Tribal Defender, Sellsword, Oracle, Wandering Mystic
- Natural Armor Class: 6
- Swim rate 12
- No movement or attack penalties when in water.
- Totally Water Adapted: A locathah can't even stand up unaided out of water, restricting their movement rate to 1 unless buoyed by Fly or Levitate effects, and their gills dry out and cause them to start suffocating (1 damage/round) after 10 turns.
- Weapon Proficiencies: Lance, Crossbow, Trident, Shortsword
- Nonweapon Proficiencies: Agriculture (Aquatic), Ancient History (Locathah), Animal Handling (Eel, Jellyfish), Animal Lore, Animal Training (Eel), Artistic Ability (Coral Carving, Jewelry-Making), Blind-Fighting, Bowyer/Fletcher, Chanting, Craft Instrument, Danger Sense, Direction Sense, Eating, Fortune Telling, Gaming, Herbalism, Hunting, Local History, Mining, Musical Instrument (Conch), Observation, Poetry, Riding (Giant Eeel), Singing, Survival (Aquatic)
In Sea of Fallen Stars, this variant statblock is given:
- Ability Score Minimum/Maximum: Strength 3/18(00), Dexterity 3/18, Constitution 3/19, Intelligence 3/18, Wisdom 3/18, Charisma 3/18
- Ability Score Adjustments: +1 Constitution, -1 Intelligence
- Racial Class & Level Limits: Fighter 10, Ranger 12, Cleric 14, Specialty Priest 14, Druid Unlimited
- Multiclassing: Cleric/Fighter, Cleric/Ranger
3e PC Stats[edit | edit source]
Lolcats were never given a PC stat block in Third Edition, though their NPC version gave them a Favored Class of Barbarian and a Level Adjustment of +1
5e PC Stats[edit | edit source]
- Locathah Traits
- Your Locathah character has an assortment of inborn abilities, part and parcel of locathah nature.
- Ability Score Increase: Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Dexterity score increases by 1.
- Age: Locathah mature to adulthood by the age of 10 but have been known to live up to 80 years.
- Alignment: Most locathah are true neutral or have some aspect of neutrality in their alignment. They tend toward good, coming from a culture where compassion for the downtrodden is a commonality.
- Natural Armor: You have tough, scaly skin. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 12 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.
- Observant & Athletic: You have proficiency in the Athletics and Perception skills.
- Leviathan Will: You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned, stunned, or put to sleep.
- Limited Amphibiousness: You can breathe air and water, but you need to be submerged at least once every 4 hours to avoid suffocating.
- Size: Locathah stand between 5 and 6 feet tall and average about 150 pounds. Your size is Medium.
- Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a swim speed of 30 feet.
- Languages: You can speak, read, and write Aquan and Common.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
1e -
AD&D Monster Card -
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 2 -
2e Monstrous Manual -
3e -
Much like the Firbolg, the Locathah got a complete design change in 5th Edition. -
Pathfinder, where they are styled after lionfish
| The Races of Pathfinder | |
|---|---|
| Player's Handbook: | Dwarf - Elf - Gnome - Half-Elf - Half-Orc - Halfling - Human |
| Advanced Race Guide: |
Aasimar - Catfolk - Changeling - Dhampir - Duergar Drow - Fetchling - Gillman - Goblin - Grippli - Hobgoblin Ifrit - Kitsune - Kobold - Merfolk - Nagaji - Orc - Oread Ratfolk - Samsaran - Strix - Suli - Svirfneblin - Sylph Tengu - Tiefling - Undine - Vanara - Vishkanya - Wayang |
| Bestiaries: | Android - Astomoi - Caligni - Deep One Hybrid - Gathlain Gnoll - Kasatha - Munavri - Naiad - Orang-Pendak Reptoid - Rougarou - Shabti - Trox - Yaddithian |
| Adventure Paths: | Being of Ib - Kuru |
| Inner Sea Races: | Ghoran - Monkey Goblin - Lashunta - Skinwalker Syrinx - Triaxian - Wyrwood - Wyvaran |
| Ultimate Wilderness: | Vine Leshy |
| Blood of the Sea: | Adaro - Cecaelia - Grindylow - Locathah - Sahuagin - Triton |
| Planar Adventures: | Aphorite - Duskwalker - Ganzi |