Last time I set out the challenge to create your very own content using the material from the free Basic D&D pdf as the framework. Ever one to rise to a challenge myself, here’s a quick example of what can be done.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you…….. The Wombles!
For those of you who don’t know, The Wombles was a very popular children’s TV program here in the UK during the 1970s. It featured the titular creatures above; small burrowing critters that collected and re-used trash found around their home in Wimbledon Common, London. You can read more about them (and you should) in their Wikipedia entry.
I’d say they’d make a perfect addition as a Basic D&D race, so let’s do just that!
Wombles
Physical Characteristics
Wombles are essentially burrowing animals. They have retractable claws (like cats), but as they mostly live in long-established burrows, they rarely use these even for digging. Their size and physical appearance has changed somewhat over the years: in the original editions of the books, Wombles are pictured as bear-like and between 4 and 5 feet (about 1.5 metres) in height, making them only slightly smaller than adult humans. This changed with the TV series where they were portrayed as being about knee-high to humans, with pointy snouts like those of raccoons. In the book and movie Wombling Free they are described as “short, fat, and furry”, roughly between three or four feet (about 1 metre) in height.
Wombles are herbivores and are very fond of mushrooms. They eat a variety of plants, fungi, and tree products that human beings cannot (or will not) eat, so daisy buns, acorn juice, fir-cone soufflé, elm bark casserole and grassbread sandwiches are part of the Womble menu – augmented by any food left behind on the Common by human beings. All Wombles are strong swimmers and can even survive for long periods in ice-cold water.Several sub-species of Womble are revealed throughout the books: the Loch Ness Monster is actually a clan of water Wombles and the yeti of the Himalayas are giant snow-white Wombles.Wombles have a sixth sense which allows them to sense green spaces and wildlife; this is first mentioned in the Wandering Wombles but developed to a keen long range telepathic sense by Dalai Gartok Womble in The Wombles Go Round The World.
Wombles are extremely long-lived. For example, in The Wombles Great Uncle Bulgaria recalls being “a young Womble” at the time of Queen Victoria’s coronation in 1837 suggesting that he is somewhat – but not very much – older than 140. However the song Minuetto Allegretto begins with the words “Back in 1780 when Bulgaria was a Lad”, indicating that he is at least 200. (However, as this was written by Mike Batt and not by Beresford it could be considered less canonical.) Other sources indicate the life expectancy of a Womble is over 200 years, with some reaching 300. In the feature-length special World Wide Womble Day Great Uncle Bulgaria’s 300th birthday is celebrated – again probably not canonical, as the novels frequently feature Great Uncle Bulgaria complaining that he will never understand humans even if he lives to be three hundred, implying that this age is not common amongst Wombles.
Wombles are essentially Halflings in all but name, so we’ll use that Race entry as the basis for them. It’s tempting to make Wombles a subrace of Halflings and just leave it at that, but I feel that doesn’t do the Wombles justice, and sub-races are mentioned in the entry so they deserve their own recognition as a race unto themselves.
Womble Names
Womble names vary widely. They usually have just a single name, and tend toward being named after human towns, cities and other locations. Wombles in a fantasy setting would most likely follow suit. For example, Forgotten Realms Wombles would have names such as Waterdeep, Blingdenstone, Calimport, Luskan and Menzoberranzan.
Womble Traits
Your womble character has a number of traits in common with all other wombles
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.
Age. A womble reaches adulthood at the age of 20 and generally lives into the middle of his or her second century, sometimes longer.
Alignment. Most wombles are either Lawful or Chaotic Good. They value their family highly, and even the most freedom-loving womble would do nothing to bring bring harm or disrespect to their kin.
Size. Wombles average about 3 feet tall and weigh about 40 pounds. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet. You can burrow up to 5 feet per round through earth or similar material.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey.
Under Their Noses A Womble May Be. You can attempt to hide even when you are lightly obscured by foliage, junk, small rocks and similar items. Additionally you can use your movement to quickly burrow a small hollow in earth and use that to hide if no other cover is available.
At Home With the Wild. You have proficiency in the Survival skill.
Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and Old Womble.
Choose a subrace:
Common Womble
As a Common Womble, you are most at home in the plains and forest close to the homes of other races. You regularly forage at night, and live in well concealed burrows and dens that can spread deep underground. You are vegetarian and subsist on a diet of mushrooms and plants, including many that are indigestible to other races.
Ability score increase. Your Wisdom increases by 1.
Making Good Use Of The Things That We Find. You can spend 15 minutes to create a single-use item from what others would consider to be junk. This item functions in every respect as it should, granting proficiency bonus, doing damage (or offering protection) as applicable. If you spend 8 hours creating an item, it is not single-use but permanent. If a natural 1 is rolled while the item is being used, it falls apart.
Sense Green Spaces. You can sense natural flora and fauna with a range of up to 1 mile when you concentrate.
Extra Language. You can speak, read and write the language of the race closest to your burrow.
Water Womble
Water wombles have become naturally adapted to life in and around the rivers, lakes and waterways. You are thinner and sleeker than your Common cousins, and your diet has extended to include fish and other water produce.
Ability score increase. Your Dexterity increases by 1.
Waterkin. You gain a swim speed of 25 feet, and can hold your breath for up to 1 hour. Holding your breath requires concentration.
Slippery critter. You have advantage on all Dexterity-based saves versus damage, grapples or restraints.
Snow Wombe
Snow wombles, or yetis, are far larger than their other kin. You are at home in the wild dangerous mountain ranges where few other races dare to tread, and fewer still can reach. Only the hardy dwarves know of your existence, and even they consider you something of a legend.
Ability score increase. Your Strength increases by 2.
Largest of all the Wombles. Your size is Large. You are still able to hide with very little cover when in snow, ice or natural rock, but require at least Medium-sized cover in other environments.
Snowshod. Your movement speed is 30′ and is not impeded in any way by snow, ice or harsh wind.
Voice of the Mountains. You can let out a low moan that frightens all enemies in hearing range (Wisdom Save, DC = 10 + your level Charisma bonus). This ability recharges on a Long Rest.
Additional language. You can speak, read and write Dwarf.
All together now…
Underground, Overground, Wombling Free
The Wombles Of Wimbledon Common Are We
Making Good Use Of The Things That We Find
Things That The Everyday Folks Leave BehindUncle Bulgaria
He Can Remember The Days When He Wasn’t Behind The Times
With His Map Of The World
Pick Up The Papers And Take ‘Em To TobermoryWombles Are Organised, Work As A Team
Wombles Are Tidy And Wombles Are Clean
Underground, Overground, Wombling Free
The Wombles Of Wimbledon Common Are WePeople Don’t Notice Us, They Never See
Under Their Noses A Womble May Be
We Womble By Night And We Womble By Day
Looking For Litter To Trundle AwayWe’re So Incredibly Utterly Devious
Making The Most Of Everything
Even Bottles And Tins
Pick Up The Pieces And Make ‘Em Into Something New
Is What We DoUnderground, Overground, Wombling Free
The Wombles Of Wimbledon Common Are We
Making Good Use Of The Things That We Find
Things That The Everyday Folks Leave Behind
Well done, Sir. Before today, I’d never heard of the Wombles. I’m very happy to have made their acquaintance.