Centaur Racial Write-up and Progression
by Jamie BatyCentaurs are a proud race, strong in both will and body. They can be prone too excess, but have a culture not often seen or appreciated by those outside of the forests.
Personality: Centaurs see themselves as a union of two disparate forces- often they use the metaphor of the sun and clouds. They make no judgment between the two and except them equally.
The primitive forces, the centaur drive for survival and pleasure and the wildness in them, is the first of these forces. They enjoy feasting and drinking. The wildness of the centaur can easily be aroused, as they are impulsive, proud, easily offended and quickly belligerent when insulted or wronged.
Humans do not understand this aspect of centaurs, but centaurs view this part of their nature as the reason for their race's virility, as it keeps the centaurs strong, quick on the defence, and able to survive and prosper.
The second force is the centaur culture. Centaurs make for excellent, wise sages. Their interests include hunting (it is an art to them, medicine, music, prophecy, astrology, languages, as well as other arts and fields of knowledge. Those attuned with the ways of the forest (elves, rangers and druids, among others) understand the wealth of knowledge the centaur race possesses and treat the centaur sages with immense respect. Centaurs will often share their knowledge with those that are respectful.
Most centaurs spend their time looking for the means to sustain themselves and their families. Once that is accomplished, they focus upon more cultured things. Males tend to be more aggressive, and will act quickly to defend their families and tribes. Tribes usually consist of several families, and the shared duties often allow for more time to pursue cultural interests.
Physical Description: Centaurs have the upper bodies of humans and the lower torso and legs of a horse. A centaur is as big as a heavy horse, but much taller and slightly heavier. A centaur is about 7 feet tall and weighs about 2,100 pounds.
Centaurs wear a variety of clothing to suit their environment, and will often employ armour when trouble is afoot. (They are proficient with light and medium armours, but not shields.) They use weapons in addition to their hooves, and are proficient with all simple weapons, longswords and longbows.
Relations: Centaurs have good relations with elves, and the two races often work together for mutual defence and care of the forests they inhabit. Centaurs also get along well with the fairy races and other sentient woodland races such as treants and hsiao.
Centaurs on the whole shun humans, as the past is littered with conflicts and problems between the two. However most centaurs judge individual humans on their merit and actions.
Alignment: Centaurs are usually neutral and good. They can be wild, prone to excess, and passionate, but they possess a strong sense of family and loyalty to friends.
Centaur Lands: Centaurs can be found throughout the Known World, usually residing in forests or mountainsides. They can occasionally be found on great plains. More specifically, they may most commonly be found in the Alfheim/Darokin region and in the Ethengar Khanate.
Religion: Many centaurs are followers of Ixion, the immortal responsible for their creation according to legend. They are also disposed to follow other natural immortals such as Ordana and Terra. Centaur clerics who do not follow a specific immortal may choose two of the following domains: Air, Knowledge, and Sun. There are numerous centaur druids as well.
Language: Centaurs speak Sylvan and Elvish. They can also communicate with equines (horses, ponies, donkeys, etc...) They may also know Common, Halfling, Gnomish, and other Local languages.
Names: Centaurs names often draw upon the naming styles of the Milenians, though they can seem a bit more pastoral in nature. They do not use surnames, though some do gain epithets
Male Names: Agrios, Amphyon, Chiron, Elympos, Lycopes, Nessos
Female Names: Callippe, Elathia, Hylonome, Nydia, Olyrrhoe, Philodice.
Adventurers: It is not uncommon at all for centaurs to head out adventuring. They are excellent fighters in natural setting, and though they do not like cramped dungeons and caves, they can be of benefit their as well. Often centaurs view adventures as a way to prove themselves, improve their martial prowess, and learn new things. Other centaurs may see it as an opportunity to teach many of the things it has learned to other races in hopes of fostering good relations. And sometimes, it is a matter of helping one's family and tribe to survive.
A centaur's favoured class is ranger, a class that balances their martial prowess with an understanding of the natural world. Centaur's also are drawn to the druid class, and may of the centaurs of myth and legend where druids. It is not uncommon to find fighters, barbarians, clerics, bards, sorcerers and wizards among the centaurs. Paladins and rogues are fewer in number.
Centaur Racial Traits:
Centaur characters possess the following racial traits.
• +8 Strength, +4 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, -2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom.
• Large size. -1 penalty to Armour Class, -1 penalty on attack rolls, -4 penalty on Hide checks, +4 bonus on grapple checks, lifting and carrying limits double those of Medium characters.
• Space/Reach: 10 feet/5 feet.
• A centaur's base land speed is 50 feet.
• Darkvision out to 60 feet.
• Racial Hit Dice: A centaur begins with four levels of monstrous humanoid, which provide 4d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +4, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +4, and Will +4.
• Racial Skills: A centaur's monstrous humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 7 × (2 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Listen, Move Silently, Spot, and Survival.
• Racial Feats: A centaur's monstrous humanoid levels give it two feats.
• Weapon Proficiency: A centaur receives the Martial Weapon Proficiency feats for the longsword, and longbow (including composite longbow) as bonus feats. They are proficient with all simple weapons.
• Armour Proficiency: A centaur has armour proficiency in all Light, and Medium armours.
• +3 natural armour bonus.
• Automatic Languages: Sylvan, Elven, Equine. Bonus Languages: Common, Gnome, Halfling, Other local languages.
• Favoured Class: Ranger.
• Level adjustment +2.
Centaur Racial Progression
The table below gives an optional level progression for centaur players. In this system, starting ability score modifiers and other abilities are granted later or partially granted. At the end of the progression, the centaur will be the same as if created normally.
Table: Centaur Racial Progression
| Class Level | Hit Dice | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Skills | Special |
| 1st | 1d8 | +1 | +0 | +2 | +2 | (2+ Int Mod) x4 | +2 Dex, -2 Int; Medium size; speed 40ft; +1 natural armour; 2 hooves (1d4); Starting Feat. |
| 2nd | 2d8 | +2 | +0 | +3 | +3 | 2+ Int Mod | +2 Str, +2 Wis |
| 3rd | 2d8 | +2 | +0 | +3 | +3 | --- | +2 Str, +2 Con; +2 natural armour |
| 4th | 3d8 | +3 | +1 | +3 | +3 | 2+ Int Mod | +2 Str, +2 Dex; Feat. |
| 5th | 3d8 | +3 | +1 | +3 | +3 | --- | +2 Str, +2 Con, speed 50ft, +3 natural armour |
| 6th | 4d8 | +4 | +1 | +4 | +4 | 2+ Int Mod | Large Size, 2 hooves (1d6) |