Bugbear

Chaotic Evil Large Monster (giant) (7+ ft.)

Surprise others 50%; Senses infravision 60 ft.

Armor Class 5

Hit Points 15 (HD 3+1; 3d8+3)

Move 9”

Poison 13, Petrify 14, Wand 15, Breath 16, Spell 16

Special Defenses none

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: 16

Melee morning star (2d4) or spear (1d6, brace)

Missile spear (1d6)

Special Attacks strong, throw weapons; Hits As normal

Morale 61%

Intelligence low to average (5-10)

Languages Alignment language, Bugbear, Goblin, Hobgoblin

Level III

Morning star. 2d4/1d6+1, Speed 7, Space 5, Length 4; vs. AC: 2: (+0), 3: (+1), 4: (+1), 5: (+1), 6: (+1), 7: (+1), 8: (+1), 9: (+2), 10: (+2)

Morning star (thrown). 2d4/1d6+1, ROF 1, Speed 3, Range 2"/4"(-2)/-";

Spear. 1d6/1d8, Speed 7, Space 1, Length 8-11; vs. AC: 2: (-2), 3: (-1), 4: (-1), 5: (-1), 6: (+0), 7: (+0), 8: (+0), 9: (+0), 10: (+0); brace

Spear (thrown). 1d6/1d8, ROF 1, Speed 3, Range 1”/2”/3”, vs. AC: 2: (-3), 3: (-3), 4: (-2), 5: (-2), 6: (-1), 7: (+0), 8: (+0), 9: (+0), 10: (+0)

Strong. A bugbear can also use weapons sized for humans as if they were one category smaller. Thus, a weapon requiring 2-hands is 1-handed, a weapon listed as 1-handed can be used as a "primary" weapon, and a weapon listed as "primary" can be used as "secondary". (See Weapon Table III.)

Throw Weapons. A bugbear can throw melee weapons or hurled missile weapons up to 4" as medium range, with anything under 2" treated as short range. Melee weapons thrown by bugbears have no adjustment for armor rating vs. weapon type.

Bugbears live in loose bands, and are typically found in the same areas as are goblins. Unlike their smaller cousins, however, these hairy giant goblins operate equally well in bright daylight or great darkness, so they are as likely to choose a habitation above ground as they are to select a subterranean abode.

The skin of bugbears is light yellow to yellow brown—typically dull yellow. Their hair ranges in color from lusterless tannish brown to brick red. Their eyes are greenish white with red pupils. The odds and ends of armor they wear, as well as whatever cloth, skins, or hides they drape themselves in, tends to be ill-kept, dirty, and dingy. Grisly trophies of ears or fingers are common bugbear decorations. They live for approximately 75 years.

The bugbear language is a foul sounding mixture of gestures, grunts, and snarls which leads many to underestimate the intelligence of these creatures.

Bugbears prefer to live in caves and in underground locations. A lair may consist of one large cavern or a group of caverns.

Weapons. The arms carried by bugbears range the gamut of available weapons—from swords to wooden clubs with spikes set in them (morning stars). A fair number of spears (2-3 each) are carried by these monsters, and they tend to use them, along with axes, maces, and hammers, as missile weapons.

Surprise. Although bugbears are clumsy looking and walk with a shambling gait, they are actually able to move very quickly and with great stealth, thus surprising opponents 50% of the time.

Leaders. If 12 or more bugbears are encountered there will be a leader with 4 hit dice. If 24 or more are encountered there will be a sub-chief (treat as a leader) and chief.

Bugbear shamans may reach 5th level and bugbear witch-doctors may achieve up to 2nd level. Any particular tribe will posses only one type of spell caster. (See the NPC Appendix.)

Bugbear Leader

Chaotic Evil Large Monster (giant) (7+ ft.)

Surprise others 50%; Senses infravision 60 ft.

Armor Class 4

Hit Points 22 (HD 4; 4d8*)

Move 9”

Poison 13, Petrify 14, Wand 15, Breath 16, Spell 16

Special Defenses none

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: 15

Melee morning star (2d4+1) or spear (1d6+1, brace)

Missile spear (1d6+1)

Special Attacks strong, throw weapons; Hits As normal

Morale 65%

Intelligence low to average (5-10)

Languages Alignment language, Bugbear, Goblin, Hobgoblin

Level III

Morning star. 2d4/1d6+1, Speed 7, Space 5, Length 4; vs. AC: 2: (+0), 3: (+1), 4: (+1), 5: (+1), 6: (+1), 7: (+1), 8: (+1), 9: (+2), 10: (+2)

Morning star (thrown). 2d4/1d6+1, ROF 1, Speed 3, Range 2"/4"(-2)/-";

Spear. 1d6/1d8, Speed 7, Space 1, Length 8-11; vs. AC: 2: (-2), 3: (-1), 4: (-1), 5: (-1), 6: (+0), 7: (+0), 8: (+0), 9: (+0), 10: (+0); brace

Spear (thrown). 1d6/1d8, ROF 1, Speed 3, Range 1”/2”/3”, vs. AC: 2: (-3), 3: (-3), 4: (-2), 5: (-2), 6: (-1), 7: (+0), 8: (+0), 9: (+0), 10: (+0)

* High Hit Points. Bugbear leaders have higher than average hit points (roll 1d4+20 for hit points).

Strong. In addition to the normal bugbear ability, a bugbear leader is exceptionally strong and adds +1 damage to all melee or hurled weapon attacks.

Bugbear Chief

Chaotic Evil Large Monster (giant) (7+ ft.)

Surprise others 50%; Senses infravision 60 ft.

Armor Class 3

Hit Points 29 (HD 4; 4d8*)

Move 9”

Poison 13, Petrify 14, Wand 15, Breath 16, Spell 16

Special Defenses none

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: 15

Melee two-handed sword (1d10+2) or morning star (2d4+2) or spear (1d6+2, brace)

Missile spear (1d6+2)

Special Attacks strong, throw weapons; Hits As normal

Morale 65%

Intelligence low to average (5-10)

Languages Alignment language, Bugbear, Goblin, Hobgoblin

Level III

Morning star. 2d4/1d6+1, Speed 7, Space 5, Length 4; vs. AC: 2: (+0), 3: (+1), 4: (+1), 5: (+1), 6: (+1), 7: (+1), 8: (+1), 9: (+2), 10: (+2)

Morning star (thrown). 2d4/1d6+1, ROF 1, Speed 3, Range 2"/4"(-2)/-";

Spear. 1d6/1d8, Speed 7, Space 1, Length 8-11; vs. AC: 2: (-2), 3: (-1), 4: (-1), 5: (-1), 6: (+0), 7: (+0), 8: (+0), 9: (+0), 10: (+0); brace

Spear (thrown). 1d6/1d8, ROF 1, Speed 3, Range 1”/2”/3”, vs. AC: 2: (-3), 3: (-3), 4: (-2), 5: (-2), 6: (-1), 7: (+0), 8: (+0), 9: (+0), 10: (+0)

Sword, two-handed. 1d10/3d6, Speed 10, Space 6, Length 6; vs. AC: 2: (+2), 3: (+2), 4: (+2), 5: (+2), 6: (+3), 7: (+3), 8: (+3), 9: (+1), 10: (+0)

* High Hit Points. Bugbear chiefs have higher than average hit points (roll 1d3+27 for hit points).

Strong. In addition to the normal bugbear ability, a bugbear chief is exceptionally strong and adds +2 damage to all melee or hurled weapon attacks.

Lair. If encountered in their lair there will always be a chief and sub-chief, and there will be females and young equal to 50% each of the number of males. Neither of the latter types of bugbears will fight unless in a life or death situation. In the latter case the young will fight as kobolds.

The species survives primarily by hunting. They have no compunctions about eating anything they can kill, including humans, goblins, and any monsters smaller than themselves. They are so fond of wine and strong ale, often drinking to excess.

Bugbears are territorial, and the sue of the domains vary with the size of the group and its location. It may be several square miles in the wilderness, or a narrow, more restricted area in an underground region.

Intruders are considered a valuable source of food and treasure, and bugbears rarely negotiate. On occasion, they will parley if they think they can gain something exceptional by it.

Bugbears sometimes take prisoners to use as slaves.

Extremely greedy, bugbears love glittery, shiny objects and weapons. They are always on the lookout to increase their hoards of coins, gems, and weapons through plunder and ambush.

Bugbear Female

Chaotic Evil Large Monster (giant) (7+ ft.)

Surprise others 50%; Senses infravision 60 ft.

Armor Class 5

Hit Points 5 (HD 1+1; 1d8+1)

Move 9”

Poison 14, Petrify 15, Wand 16, Breath 17, Spell 17

Special Defenses none

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: 18

Melee spear (1d6, brace)

Missile spear (1d6)

Special Attacks throw weapons; Hits As normal

Morale 51%

Intelligence low to average (5-10)

Languages Alignment language, Bugbear, Goblin, Hobgoblin

Level I

ENCOUNTERS

Level III.

Frequency. Uncommon; In Lair 25%

Number Appearing. 6-36 (Level I. 1d6+1)

Environment. Sub-arctic (forest); Temperate/sub-tropical, uninhabited/wilderness areas (plain, scrub, forest, rough, hills, mountains)

Treasure Type. Individuals J, K, L, M; In Lair B

Experience. Bugbear. XP 195 (or 135+4 per h.p.), Bugbear Female. XP 46 (or 36+2 per h.p.), Bugbear Leader (sub-chief). XP 223 (or 135+4 per h.p.), Bugbear Chief. XP 276 (or 160+4 per h.p.)