Today in Mythological Figures we’ve got the master of the bow, leader of the Merry Men, and maybe the world’s first famous and most beloved outlaw: Robin Hood!
Robin Hood is about as mythological as it gets (with ballads that go back more than 600 years and a 543 year old play) so from the start let’s be clear that this design is intended for the earliest iterations of the character that are available. To whit we’re talking 600-750 years ago: “From 1261 onward, the names 'Robinhood', 'Robehod' or 'Robbehod' occur in the rolls of several English Justices as nicknames or descriptions of malefactors….Leaving aside the reference to the "rhymes" of Robin Hood in Piers Plowman in the 1370s, the first mention of a quasi-historical Robin Hood is given in Andrew of Wyntoun's Orygynale Chronicle, written in about 1420.”
To that end Robin Hood is a true commoner, ridiculously good with a bow, and quite clever--pretty much every story about him involves tricking somebody. As is appropriate for a myth there’s a lot that happens with him from conception to today including the heavy reinforcement of a lightly mentioned theme of charity to the common folk, adding the love interest of Maid Marian, the whole bit about fighting in the crusades and noble background, and more. I’d be genuinely surprised if anyone reading this doesn’t know the story yet, but even if you do there’s a fair chance you’ll learn something new by reading the Wikipedia page on Robin Hood.
Design Notes: Because of the similarity between Robin Hood and Blackbeard’s builds I was a wee suspicious of the Challenge Rating here, ultimately using both the Dungeon Master Guide and Blog of Holding charts to land on CR 8. Note that this definitely assumes that he’s being used correctly--flitting about in the darkness, attacking from hiding, and avoiding engaging in melee combat unless it serves a more important purpose than a simple fight.
Robin Hood
Medium humanoid (human), chaotic good rogue (thief) 5/fighter (archer) 7
Armor Class 16 (studded leather)
Hit Points 61 (5d8+7d10+12)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Dex +8, Int +6
Skills Animal Handling +5, Athletics +5, Deception +9, Investigation +6, Perception +5, Stealth +12, Survival +5
Tools artisan's tools +4, thieves’ tools +4, vehicles (land) +4
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages English, Thieves’ Cant
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Background: Yeoman. Robin Hood is always able to rely on the hospitality of commoners to help him hide or rest provided he poses no danger in doing so, going so far as to shield him from being discovered (though not at the cost of their lives).
Action Surge (1/Short Rest). On his turn, Robin Hood can take an additional action on top of his regular action and a possible bonus action.
Attentive Gaze. Robin Hood can use a bonus action to take the Search action.
Cunning Action (1/Turn). Robin Hood can take a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, Hide, Use Object action, Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check, or to use thieves’ tools to disarm a trap or open a lock.
Excellent Aim (3/Short Rest). Robin Hood can spend a bonus action to aim a wielded ranged weapon at a target within its range. Until the end of his turn, ranged attacks that Robin Hood makes against the target deal an extra 5 damage.
Feat: Stealther. Robin Hood can attempt to hide even when he is only lightly obscured from a creature he’s trying to hide from. In addition, Robin Hood’s position isn’t revealed when he misses with a ranged weapon attack against a creature he’s hidden from, and he does not have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks in dim light.
Feat: Superb Aim. Robin Hood ignores half cover and three-quarters cover when making a ranged weapon attack, and he doesn’t have disadvantage when attacking at long range. When Robin Hood makes his first ranged weapon attack in a turn, he can choose to take a -5 penalty to his ranged weapon attack rolls in exchange for a +10 bonus to ranged weapon damage.
Second-Story Work. Climbing does not cost Robin Hood extra movement. When he makes a running jump, the distance he covers increases by 4 feet.
Second Wind (1/Short Rest). On his turn, Robin Hood can use a bonus action to regain 1d10+7 hit points.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Robin Hood deals an extra 10 (3d6) damage when he hits a target with a weapon attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally of Robin Hood that isn’t incapacitated and Robin Hood doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
ACTIONS
Extra Attack. Robin Hood attacks twice.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage.
Dagger (2). Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft. or thrown 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4+4) piercing damage.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage.
REACTIONS
Uncanny Dodge. When an attacker Robin Hood can see hits him with an attack, Robin Hood can use his reaction to halve the attack’s damage against him.
Robin Hood is about as mythological as it gets (with ballads that go back more than 600 years and a 543 year old play) so from the start let’s be clear that this design is intended for the earliest iterations of the character that are available. To whit we’re talking 600-750 years ago: “From 1261 onward, the names 'Robinhood', 'Robehod' or 'Robbehod' occur in the rolls of several English Justices as nicknames or descriptions of malefactors….Leaving aside the reference to the "rhymes" of Robin Hood in Piers Plowman in the 1370s, the first mention of a quasi-historical Robin Hood is given in Andrew of Wyntoun's Orygynale Chronicle, written in about 1420.”
To that end Robin Hood is a true commoner, ridiculously good with a bow, and quite clever--pretty much every story about him involves tricking somebody. As is appropriate for a myth there’s a lot that happens with him from conception to today including the heavy reinforcement of a lightly mentioned theme of charity to the common folk, adding the love interest of Maid Marian, the whole bit about fighting in the crusades and noble background, and more. I’d be genuinely surprised if anyone reading this doesn’t know the story yet, but even if you do there’s a fair chance you’ll learn something new by reading the Wikipedia page on Robin Hood.
Design Notes: Because of the similarity between Robin Hood and Blackbeard’s builds I was a wee suspicious of the Challenge Rating here, ultimately using both the Dungeon Master Guide and Blog of Holding charts to land on CR 8. Note that this definitely assumes that he’s being used correctly--flitting about in the darkness, attacking from hiding, and avoiding engaging in melee combat unless it serves a more important purpose than a simple fight.
Robin Hood
Medium humanoid (human), chaotic good rogue (thief) 5/fighter (archer) 7
Armor Class 16 (studded leather)
Hit Points 61 (5d8+7d10+12)
Speed 30 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
12 (+1) | 18 (+4) | 12 (+1) | 14 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 12 (+1) |
Saving Throws Dex +8, Int +6
Skills Animal Handling +5, Athletics +5, Deception +9, Investigation +6, Perception +5, Stealth +12, Survival +5
Tools artisan's tools +4, thieves’ tools +4, vehicles (land) +4
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages English, Thieves’ Cant
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Background: Yeoman. Robin Hood is always able to rely on the hospitality of commoners to help him hide or rest provided he poses no danger in doing so, going so far as to shield him from being discovered (though not at the cost of their lives).
Action Surge (1/Short Rest). On his turn, Robin Hood can take an additional action on top of his regular action and a possible bonus action.
Attentive Gaze. Robin Hood can use a bonus action to take the Search action.
Cunning Action (1/Turn). Robin Hood can take a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, Hide, Use Object action, Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check, or to use thieves’ tools to disarm a trap or open a lock.
Excellent Aim (3/Short Rest). Robin Hood can spend a bonus action to aim a wielded ranged weapon at a target within its range. Until the end of his turn, ranged attacks that Robin Hood makes against the target deal an extra 5 damage.
Feat: Stealther. Robin Hood can attempt to hide even when he is only lightly obscured from a creature he’s trying to hide from. In addition, Robin Hood’s position isn’t revealed when he misses with a ranged weapon attack against a creature he’s hidden from, and he does not have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks in dim light.
Feat: Superb Aim. Robin Hood ignores half cover and three-quarters cover when making a ranged weapon attack, and he doesn’t have disadvantage when attacking at long range. When Robin Hood makes his first ranged weapon attack in a turn, he can choose to take a -5 penalty to his ranged weapon attack rolls in exchange for a +10 bonus to ranged weapon damage.
Second-Story Work. Climbing does not cost Robin Hood extra movement. When he makes a running jump, the distance he covers increases by 4 feet.
Second Wind (1/Short Rest). On his turn, Robin Hood can use a bonus action to regain 1d10+7 hit points.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Robin Hood deals an extra 10 (3d6) damage when he hits a target with a weapon attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally of Robin Hood that isn’t incapacitated and Robin Hood doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
ACTIONS
Extra Attack. Robin Hood attacks twice.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage.
Dagger (2). Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft. or thrown 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4+4) piercing damage.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage.
REACTIONS
Uncanny Dodge. When an attacker Robin Hood can see hits him with an attack, Robin Hood can use his reaction to halve the attack’s damage against him.
