Character Races

(Optional Rule)

Some players prefer to be able to select their character’s race and class separately. This leads to a lengthier character creation process, but gives more flexibility.

If the referee allows this optional rule in their games, each player may decide individually whether to create their character using the standard procedure or using the procedure described below.

Character Creation Procedure

Instead of selecting a human or demihuman character class, a player may select a race and a class separately. At step 2 of character creation (Choose a Class, see Creating a Character in Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy), the player should follow this procedure:

1. Choose a race: Choose one of the races listed in this section, bearing in mind their ability score requirements.

2. Apply ability score modifiers: Some races also list ability score modifiers. Once you have chosen a race, adjust your character’s ability scores as indicated. These modifiers cannot raise an ability score above 18 or lower it below 3.

3. Choose a class: The selected character race determines the classes that are available to choose from. Also bear in mind the ability score requirements of some classes.

Native Languages

When choosing race and class separately, the character’s native languages are determined by the race. The languages listed in the class should be ignored.

Class and Level Restrictions

Not all races are equally suited to every character class. Each demihuman race lists the classes that may be selected, as well as the maximum level to which characters of that race and class may rise. Class and level restrictions represent a race’s suitability to different adventuring professions. For example, dwarves are inherently non-magical and so cannot be magic-users, halflings do not have a natural aptitude to warfare and can only advance to 6th level in the fighter class, etc.

Racial class and level limits also work as a balancing factor in the rules, offsetting the extra abilities granted by demihuman races with strict limits on class choice and level advancement.

Lifting Class and Level Restrictions

(Optional Rule)

In practice, many groups do not enforce the class and level restrictions of demi-human races. For groups who wish to lift these restrictions, it is worth bearing in mind that this change will eradicate the sole advantage of the Human race—its unique access to some classes and its unlimited level advancement—making humans relatively underpowered. For this reason, optional racial abilities are given for the Human race. The referee should consider using these if the group wishes to eradicate class or level limitations for demihumans. (These abilities should also be granted to human PCs who were created without using the rules for separate race and class!)