This is about to go into my campaign guide as a playable race. The Hodmedod, as seen here.
Hodmedod
by Cab DavidsonHodmedod are hedghehog folk. They are around 4’ tall, with huge black feet and hands, long snouts with sensitive noses, and heavily spined backs. They are, by nature, scavenging creatures of the night, enjoying nothing better than sitting under a hedgerow crunching on nuts, birds eggs, fruits, bugs, worms, indeed anything they can find, and willy happily wile away the moonlit hours among other friendly hodmedods, gossiping in their own rather snuffling language and feasting upon natures bounty.
Attributes: When generated, the initial attribute scores of a hodmedod are modified thus, Strength -2, Intelligence -1, Wisdom -1, Dexterity -1, Constitution +1, Charisma -2
Class: Hodmedods may theoretically pursue any character class, but there are few fighters among them. Most often they are thieves, but hodmedods of every class are known.
Hit Dice: Hodmedods use the standard hit dice of the class they pursue.
Languages: Hodmedods speak their own peculiar language of sniffs and grunts, and they also speak elven, treant and fey.
Combat, Armour and Weapons: Hodmedods can (class permitting) use a shield but they cannot wear armour. They are able to use any small or medium (but not large) weapon, again, class allowing. Hodmedods have a natural armour class of 7, which may be further modified with dexterity, magic items, etc.
Any creature not immune to normal weapons engaging a hodmedod in melee combat using a weapon shorter than a spear must make a saving throw vs. Dragon Breath each round or be struck with 1d4 of the hodmedods spines for 1d2 damage each. The spines of a hodmedod also render them immune to backstabs (but not assassinations).
Senses and Smell: Hodmedods have an excellent sense of smell, and are able to track by scent (as per the general skill ‘tracking’) by making a wisdom check. They also have infravision to a distance of 60’.
Hodmedods are highly aromatic creatures and produce a strong, musky aroma. Many civilised creatures find this smell most unpleasant. Daily bathing (anathema to hodmedods) is required if a hodmedod is to remain welcome in polite society.
