Crocodilian

Crocodilians are one of several variant lizardfolk races created for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in issue #268 of Dragon Magazine. As their name suggests, crocodilians resemble humanoid crocodiles, with elongated jaws and tails and far rougher, thicker hides compared to their standard kin. Crocodilians come in two distinctive cultures; the common (or "Brute") variant and the mystical "Master" variant.

Brute crocodilians are a feral, savage race, much like the similarly primitive agrutha; whilst they sometimes gather in small tribes in response to abundant hunting or a strong leader-figure, they prefer to live alone with no company other than normal and giant crocodiles. Brutes often don't even bother with constructing their simple mud-and-straw huts, instead simply lounging in the murky waters and sleeping on the muddy banks of rivers. Though short-tempered, territorial and frightening when roused to battle, they are actually less xenophobic than agrutha; so long as they are shown respect and treated as equals, they will happily exchange goods and information with other races.

Master crocodilians, meanwhile, are smaller and more humanoid looking - though still possessed of powerful crushing jaws. They are scholars of history, religion and magic... unfortunately for the world, the vast majority of the masters are sworn to the service of evil deities, turning their high intelligence and mystical skills to the service of malice, evil and corruption. They often set up hidden lairs within cities, so they might prey on the humanoid races; the flesh of mammalian sapients is a delicacy to the evil majority of this race. Such malevolent crocodilians often work with other evil priestly beings, such as mummies, jackalweres and spirit nagas. Brutes detest their cousins both for their cruelty and for their arrogant disdain of the brutes, but the masters often magically enslave or simply manipulate the brutes to their advantage.

The fact the two races are related is cemented not just by their appearance, but also by the rare "High Priests"; whilst the typical master crocodilian is a 5th level cleric, these superior specimens are 7th level and have the physical stature of a brute.

PC Stats

Brute Ability Score Minimum/Maximum: Strength 16/21, Dexterity 3/18, Constitution 14/20, Intelligence 2/12, Wisdom 2/12, Charisma 2/8

Master Ability Score Minimum/Maximum: Strength 8/18, Dexterity 3/18, Constitution 8/18, Intelligence 3/18, Wisdom 3/18, Charisma 3/18

Brute Ability Score Adjustments: +3 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Intelligence, -1 Wisdom, -2 Charisma

Master Ability Score Adjustments: None

Brute Class & Level Limits: Fighter 12

Brute Class & Level Limits: Mage 12, Cleric 12, Thief 7

Hit Dice: By class, but Brutes gain +6 hit points at first level and Masters gain +2 hit points at first level.

Natural Armor Class: 5

Size: L (8') for Brutes, M (6'-7') for Masters

Movement Rate: 6, Swim 12

A crocodilian suffers no attack or movement penalties when in water, has Swimming as a bonus proficiency, and can hold its breath for rounds equal to 2/3rds of its Constitution score.

A crocodilian of the Brute type can make either a Bite attack (2d4) or a tail slap (1d12 damage) once per round. Master Crocodilians can only use their Bite attack, as their tails are smaller.

A crocodilian must wet its entire body at least once per day, or lose 3 points of Constitution per day due to drying out; it dies if this reduces it to 0 Constitution.

A crocodilian starts with 2 weapon proficiencies as a Warrior class and 1 weapon proficiency as anything else.

A Brute type crocodilian takes damage as if it were a Large creature.

A crocodilian doubles the cost of armor prices, due to requiring custom-fitted gear.

Cold Blooded: A crocodilian takes +1 point of damage per die from cold-based attacks, and if exposed to a low temperature for a prolonged period, it becomes sluggish, halving its movement rate and suffering a -2 attack penalty.

Weapon Proficiencies: Two-Handed Weapons (Great-sword, Halberd, Great-Axe, etc)

Nonweapon Proficiencies: Alertness, Danger Sense, Direction Sense, Fishing, Herbalism, Hiding, Hunting, Natural Fighting, Survival (Rivers, Marshlands and Swamps for Brutes, Urban for Masters)