Bugbears are a minor spacefaring race in the Spelljammer campaign setting,[1] and are often associated with other goblinoid races, including orcs, ogres, goblins, gnolls and scro.[2]
Overview[]
Bugbears do not have a significant presence in wildspace, and prefer to sign on as mercenaries with other goblinoid fleets. By the time of the Second Unhuman War, the scro had begun employing bugbears as mercenary soldiers, preferring them to ogres.[3]
Description[]
Bugbears are large and very muscular, and are distantly related to goblins. Averaging 7-feet tall, their hides range from light yellow to yellow brown, and their thick coarse hair varies in colour from brown to brick red. Though they are vaguely humanoid in appearance, their features bear some resemblance to an animalistic carnivore. Their eyes are greenish white with red pupils and their wedge shaped ears lie high on their heads. A bugbear has a mouth full of long sharp fangs.
Bugbears have a nose similar to that of a bear, with the same fine sense of smell. It's this feature that earned them their name, despite the fact that they are not related to bears in any way. Their tough leathery hide and long sharp nails also resemble that of a bear, accentuating the resemblance. The typical bugbear has exceptional vision and hearing, and they can move with amazing agility when they want to. Bugbears can see somewhat in the dark, and have infravision out to 60 feet.[2]
Personality[]
Bugbears have two main goals in life: survival and treasure. They are superb predators, winnowing out the weak and the careless. Goblins are especially wary around bugbears, because the weak or stupid end up in the stew pot. Bugbears are also extremely territorial, and consider intruders a valuable source of food and treasure, and bugbears rarely negotiate. On occasion they will parley if they think they can gain some advantage or something valuable out of 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 staging ambushes.[2]
Combat[]
Whenever possible, bugbears prefer to ambush their foes. If a party appears dangerous, bugbear scouts won't hesitate to summon reinforcements. Bugbears are tactically sound, if not brilliant, and will usually begin an attack by throwing ranged weapons before closing with their foes. If they think they are outnumbered or outmatched, bugbears won't hesitate to retreat, preferring to live to fight another day.[2]
Society[]
Bugbears can operate equally well in daylight as well as darkness. Bugbears excell at hunting, and have no compunction about eating anything they can kill, including other sentient creatures such as humans and goblins. They are also inordinately fond of wine and strong ale, often drinking to excess.[2]
Notable Bugbears[]
- Two Gulps is a prominent bugbear stationed onboard Gamaro Base in Moragspace.[1]
Signature Spelljammers[]
None. Bugbears sign on as marines with various goblinoid fleets and serve on whatever ship they get assigned to.
Appendix[]
Gallery[]
External Links[]
- Bugbear article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
- Bugbear article at the Eberron Wiki, a wiki for the Eberron campaign setting.
- Bugbear article at Greyhawkonline.com, a wiki for the Greyhawk campaign setting.
- Bugbear article at the Dungeons and Dragons Lore Wiki, a wiki for official Dungeons & Dragons content from every edition.
- Bugbear article at the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Wiki, a wiki for official Dungeons & Dragons content from 2nd edition AD&D.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bruce Nesmith, SJS1 Goblins' Return, 1991, (TSR Inc.),Bugbear Compound section, chapter 3: Gamaro Base Description, pages 46-48
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Tim Beach et al, Monstrous Manual, 1993, (TSR Inc.), Bugbear entry, page 32
- ↑ Bruce Nesmith, SJS1 Goblins' Return, 1991, (TSR Inc.),Bugbear Compound section, chapter 3: Gamaro Base Description, page 46